Golf Terms for Starting of Golf

19th hole	A worldwide affectionate name given to the bar in the clubhouse. It is considered "good etiquette” to go for a drink with your playing partner after your game. If you have played a matchplay tie it is the winner who should buy the first drink.
9 & 8 5 & 4 3 & 1 etc.	The result of a matchplay tie. i.e. when the amount of holes up exceeds the holes remaining to play. The most you can win by in this sort of match is by ten and eight, as you will have won the first ten holes and only eight remain
Address position	The description of the position you are in when you "set up" to the ball prior to making a swing.
Albatross	Three under the par of the hole... i.e. a score of 2 at a par 5
All weather glove	A glove made of synthetic material which gives a good grip especially when wet
Arc	The path the club head makes during the swing.
Attending the pin	Holding the pin for your playing partner while they are playing a putt, usually to provide a visual aid. When you are attending the pin it is your responsibility to remove it as the ball approaches the hole. If the ball hits the pin your playing partner would incur a penalty.
Back to back birdies	Two consecutive birdies scored by a player
Backspin	The spin delivered onto the ball by the club at impact. Excessive spin will make a ball reverse dramatically towards the player after landing.
Balata	A material used to cover balls to make them feel soft and to provide a high spin rate.
Ball above the feet	When your ball is on a slope where your feet are below the level of the ball.
Ball below the feet	When your ball is on a slope where your feet are above the level of the ball.
Ball spotter	An official hired by the club during competitions. They stand on the course at strategic points to help  players find their balls, this helps the pace of play.
Ball washer	A manual device found on some teeing grounds to clean your ball with
Ballooned	A shot with a very steep trajectory without the normal forward momentum expected. This can be exaggerated and occurs more often when playing into a strong wind
Baseball grip	A grip on the club that does not link the two hands together in any way, similar to the way you would hold a baseball bat handle.
Birdie	A score of one under par on the hole played.
Birdie blitz	A run of more than two birdies scored in a row by a player during a round.
Blade	An iron club that does not have a cavity at the back of its head. A club like this has a very small sweet spot and as a result is used, with more effect by the better swinger. It is easier to shape shots with this type of club.
Block	A shot which starts well to the right of target and continues to fly on that same line missing the target well to the right – for right handed players. For left handed players this would be a Pull. (see push)
Bogey	A score of one over the par of the hole. Also a game very similar to matchplay but this time you are playing against the course and not another player. You win or lose each individual hole by scoring above or below par. If you score below par then you win the hole, if you score over par then you lose the hole. At the end of the round the player who has the highest aggregate of holes won is the winner.  If it is a handicap Bogey competition each player will receive a proportion of their handicap at certain holes throughout the round resulting in a net score on these holes.  Where the strokes are taken is determined by the Stroke Index of the course. If you get a stroke at any hole then the win or loss of the hole is calculated on the net score.
Boondie	Very heavy rough where you are likely to lose your ball
Boron	Material used in the manufacture of graphite shafts to make them more durable, especially at the head end, and to determine where the "kick point" will be in the shaft
Bounce game	A casual game played with friends.
Brassie	Old name given to wooden shafted fairway woods. In terms of modern day equipment this would be a number two wood.
Brick	A ball that feels hard when struck. – (also used for building houses!)
Buffer zone	The maximum score you can achieve in a competition which will not effect your handicap.
Buggy	A purpose built vehicle, also called a cart, you can use to travel around the course. It normally takes two people and their clubs.
Buried	When your ball has landed in heavy rough or the sand in a bunker, and has settled down so much that it would be hard to make an easy contact on the shot.
C.S.S (Competition Standard Scratch)	An adjustment to the standard scratch score calculated from a field of golfers in a competition which is used as the measure of  handicap adjustments.
Cack handed	When a right handed golfer holds the club with the right hand at the top of the grip and the left below- Vice versa for a left handed player
Came in too steep	A poor swing which will produce a large divot, it is  caused by the club head approaching the ball at a sharp angle downwards.
Cart	A purpose built vehicle, also called a buggy, you can use to travel around the course. It normally takes two people and their clubs.
Carved	A ball hit with an excessive shape to the right missing the intended target to the right (or to the left for a left handed golfer)
Cavity backed club/ Game improvement club	An iron club designed with a cavity at the back of the head having perimeter weighting to make off centre hits more forgiving.
Cavity players club	An iron club with only a slight cavity at the back of the head mainly used by more accomplished golfers.
Chip and run	A short shot played to flight the ball onto the green and produce controlled run on the ball after landing
Cleek	A name given to a type of old fashioned wooden shafted iron club
Closed	When your club is aiming to the left of the target, or your feet aiming to the right, at the set up position. Vice versa for left handed players.
CoNGU	Convention of National Golf Unions
Crouched stance	When your back is rounded and your body appears hunched while addressing the ball. Your spine is not comfortably straight
Cut	A controlled shot when the ball moves from left to right in flight. Also called a Fade. Vice versa for left handed players.
Daisy cutter	An unintentional shot when the is ball flighted with a very low  trajectory hardly leaving the ground
Deep faced	A club normally a wood which has considerable height to the hitting area
Didn’t turn through it	A swing where the player has not turned their body round to face the target to finish
Dipped	When a players stoops during the swing, normally while attacking the ball on the down swing
Divot	The piece of turf removed from the ground as a result of a shot being played. This turf should always be replaced so that the grass has a chance to grow again
Dormy	The position in a matchplay tie where a player is up by the same amount of the holes still to play.. i.e. leading by 5 holes (i.e. 5 holes up) with 5 holes to play
Double bogey	A score of 2 shots above par.
Downhill lie	The position of the ball when a shot is played from a place where the ground is sloping downwards towards the intended target.
Drive	A shot played from a teeing ground
Dropping-	Releasing a ball from shoulder height from your hand to the ground, to establish a new playing position
Duck hook	A low powerful ball flight turning viciously right to left and missing the target to the left. Vice versa for left handed players.
Eagle	A score of 2 under par
Fade	A controlled shot when the ball moves from left to right in flight. Also called a Cut. Vice versa for left handed players.
Fat	A shot where the ground has been struck before the ball
Finish position	The position your body is in at the end of the swing
Flag	Used to mark the position of the hole on the green usually tied to a pole called a pin It is also a form of strokeplay competition where the very first player who plays in the competition takes a flag with them. Once they have hit the number of shots that equals the maximum allowed for them to play the complete course (including their handicap) they put the flag in the ground. If any of the following players have not reached their handicap allowance when they pass the flag then they continue until they have played the maximum number of shots they are allowed after which they move the flag to the position of their last shot. This game can lead to 19, 20 or more holes being played!! The winner is the last person to have moved the flag.
Flat lie	Changing the angle of shaft on a club to suit juniors or smaller people.
Flex	The measurement of bend that a shaft produces.
Flicked	A short shot played predominantly with the hands and wrists
Floater	A high trajectory shot that hangs on the wind appearing to float.
Follow Through	The movement hitting the ball to the end of the swing
Foozle	Part of the fun game of ‘oozles’ played on a par 3. Players must reach the green from the tee. If the closest player to the hole then bogies (or worse) he has foozled and loses.  See Oozle
Foursomes	A form of golf that allows two players to compete as one team. Using only one ball, on each hole they will take turn about hitting the ball until it is holed out. The rules allow one player to start the odd numbered holes and the other player the even numbered holes.  The name Foursome relates to the need for two teams to play with each other so cards can be marked legally. This type of game can be used in both Strokeplay and Matchplay.
Full cord	A grip with cord knitted into it to enhance adhesion in especially wet playing conditions or for players who have sweaty hands
Gap wedge	A pitching club with more loft than a standard wedge and less than a sand iron.
Gimmie	A short putt in a casual game or match play tie that is conceded by your opponent. There are no putts ever given in stroke play competitions and all putts and shots must be played to a final conclusion
Going down the grip	Holding the club further down the grip than normal to increase control on a shorter shot. Gripping further down the grip narrows the arc of the swing and has the effect of making your club less powerful as a consequence
Golden Ferret	Phrase used to describe holing out from a bunker.
Good Form	Proper practice used in golfing circles. i.e. it is good from to have a drink with your playing partners after the game.
Got in front of it	Moving laterally on the follow through resulting in your head moving forward of it's starting position, producing a squint or topped shot. It is more likely that this sort of shot will miss the target to the right as the club head is left behind and the clubface remains open to the right target line
Greensomes	This is very similar to foursomes in that two players compete as one team taking turns to hit the ball until it is holed out. Greensomes differs from foursomes in that both players tee off at each hole, pick the best drive and take turn about from then on.
Hacked	Name given to a crude swinging action producing an unstylish, but sometimes, effective result- ie. "I hacked it out of the heavy rough onto the green”
Half cord	A grip with cord knitted into the back of the length of the grip to increase adhesion especially in wet weather.
Halved	When opponents have the same score at a hole or in a match play tie or neither side win after the round is completed you have halved the hole or halved the game.
Head behind ball	When your head has held it's position slightly to the right side of the ball through impact (As it should do)
Head up	When your head rises too early on the follow through causing a poor result. This has the same result as shortening the club you are using it during your swing and as a result the ball is more likely to be hit on the top and run along the ground.
Headcover	A device to cover your clubs in between shots to protect them from damage especially from the other clubs in your bag clanking against each other.
Heathland Course	Description of the land a course  is set out over, usually undulating with heather, gorse and trees. (see also parkland and links)
Heavy	When the ground is struck before the ball at impact resulting in a poor contact and lack of distance
Hook	A shot shaping dramatically from right to left in flight and finishing to the left of the target.
Honour	The order of playing from the teeing ground. The person who plays first is said to have the “honour”
Hozzel	The part of an iron head where the cavity that holds the shaft meets the hitting area. At the heel area of the face of the club.
Impact	The point in the follow through where the club head strikes the ball.
Inland course	A course which is not adjacent to the sea
Interlock	A description of a type of grip used on the club when the last finger of the right hand interlocks with the first finger of the left hand. (See also baseball and overlap)
Inward nine	The last nine holes you play on any course.
Kick point	The measurement of where individual shafts flex (i.e. High- mid- low) Which affects the trajectory of a shot. A high kick point will give a low trajectory and a low kick point will help put loft onto the clubface and promote a high one.
Knifed	When the bottom edge or leading edge of an iron club meets the middle of the equator of the ball at impact and it chases along the ground.
Leather glove	A glove made of leather which performs best in dry weather conditions.
Level fours/fives etc.	A means of easy mental counting of your score in a casual game i.e. If you are counting to fives and you have a six at the first hole you are one over fives etc.
Links course	A course laid out next to the sea where the shape of the holes have been formed by the natural undulations of the terrain and sand dunes.
Lob wedge	A wedge more lofted than a sand iron designed to flight the ball very high quickly to enable the ball to stop on the green with limited run.
Loft	The measured angle of degrees on the face of a club versus the line down the shaft.
Losing height	At any point in the swing where the player has dropped in height from their original stature at the address position, i.e. Before the swing started.
Low profile	An iron club with a shallow hitting area and generous weight distribution towards the sole of the club head designed to flight a ball higher than normal.
Major	There are four "Majors", the premier competitions in the golfing calendar. They are The Masters, The US Open, The Open and The USPGA
Marking your ball	This involves applying a unique mark to your ball to make it easily identifiable from other players balls. This can be done with an indelible marker or products that are sold in golf shops which have been designed for this task. It also means marking your ball on the putting surface in between putts with a flat disc directly behind the ball. Your playing partner may ask you to mark your ball on the green if it is interfering with his line to the hole.
Matchplay	A contest between to sides based on winning more holes than the opposition during the round.
Mulligan	When you get to take a shot again without adding a penalty. This only allowed in a non competitive round.
Nailed	Expression used for the perfect powerful straight shot which does exactly what the golfer wants it to do and flies directly to the target.
Neck	The part of an iron head where the cavity that holds the shaft meets the hitting area.
No Return	In a strokeplay event when the competitor does not finish the round subsequently not completing the card of the course. You must mark on the card "NR" which stands for no return and sign it, both by the player and the marker.
Off the back foot	When a shot is deliberately played with the ball positioned opposite the foot further away from the intended target to reduce loft on the clubface and produce a low penetrating trajectory.
Off the front foot	When a shot is deliberately played with the ball positioned opposite the foot nearest to the intended target to increase loft on the clubface and produce a high trajectory
Off the heel	An off centre hit coming out of the heel end of the club face i.e. Closest to the shaft
Off the toe	An off centre hit coming out of the toe end of the club face i.e. Further away from the shaft
Open	When the clubface meets the ball and the face of the club is aiming to the right of the intended target or at any point in the swinging action where this may have occurred through faults
Out of bounds	When your ball has come to rest beyond the deemed boundaries of the golf course identified by white markers it is out of bounds. You will then play another ball from where you played your last shot and add one penalty shot
Outward nine	The first nine holes you play on the course in any round
Over par	The amount of strokes over the par of the course
Over the top	When the shoulders have turned too early, towards the target, in the forward swing causing the club head to swing in the wrong direction through the ball
Overlap	This is the name given to a specific type of grip of the club. The point in the grip where the pinkie of your top hand sits on top of the nearest cleft of the lower hand hence joining the hands together. This grip is also known as the Vardon grip, named after it's inventor Mr Harry Vardon
Ozzle	Fun "par three" challenge in a non competitive round where the winner in the group players the ball onto the green and closest to the hole then converts this achievement by one or two putting
Par	The set out amount of strokes deemed to be achievable on any hole allowing for two putts
Parkland course	A course laid out on parkland i.e. gentle rolling terrain with mature trees.
Pegged down	Using a shorter tee on a drive to promote the ball being stuck nearer the bottom of the face of the club to produce a lower trajectory
Pitch	A short lofted shot played in and around the green area designed to get the ball up quickly and to stop abruptly on landing
Playing on the by	A fresh game produced, in a non competitive matchplay tie, after the game is concluded and played over the remaining holes on the course. You would say to your partner "would you like to have a game on the by?"
Plugged	When a ball has landed on soft ground and comes to rest in the hole it made on landing. It is most important that you repair any plug marks you make on the greens by prising the turf using a "pitch fork repairer" tool
Poached egg	When a ball has landed in a bunker and has come to rest in the hole that made in the sand on landing. In this situation only part of the ball will be visible but you should play the ball as you find it. You can declare the ball unplayable in a bunker but the ball will have to be dropped into the bunker for the next shot to be played and a penalty of one stroke added on.
Position at top	The setting or position you are passing through at the top of your back swing and the description of that position. This is a very important part of the swing as it can explain a lot about where your poor shots stem from. In recent years coaches have found these faults easier to explain to pupils with the use of "state of the art" digital visual imagery
Post	After a competitive round on completion and scrutiny of your card it will be "posted" in the competition box normally found in the clubhouse or match secretary's office
Posture	The description given to the way a player sets with their body configuration, good or bad, prior to hitting a shot
Power trolley	Name given to a motorised caddy car or trolley that you put your bag on to assist you in getting it around the course
Practice ground	The area of land found at most golf clubs designated for practising your game. Some players like to warm up by hitting a few shots prior to their round. You will normally have to take your own practise balls there and retrieve them yourself. Practising on the course prior to an official strokeplay event, on the same day, is not allowed and will lead to disqualification from the event. You are however allowed to practise on the course on the same day of a matchplay event.
Pro	Abbreviation of the word “Professional”
Pull	A shot which starts on a line to the left of the target and stays on that same line in flight and misses the target to the left
Pull-hook	A shot starting on a line left of intended target and curving in flight further left. This is also known as a double cross as it usually happens when a golfer is trying to fade the ball.
Punched	A shot played further back in the stance to promote a steeper angle of attack onto the ball to promote a lower trajectory
Push	A shot which starts on a line to the right of the target and stays on that same line in flight and missing the target to the right (see block)
Range	A driving range is a facility where you can go to practise. Some golf clubs have a range as part of their facility but this is not the norm. You will have to pay for the balls you hit at most ranges however you will not have to pick the balls up.
Ranger	A person hired by a club to overview and manage golf on the course paying particular attention the pace of play
Rock	A ball that has a very hard feel when struck
Rub of the green	When your ball is diverted to a position outwith your control ie. Your ball on landing out of bounds lands on a rock and bounces back into play on the course, it is no longer out of bounds
Sandies	A fun challenge in a non competitive round where the winner produces a par on a hole having played one of the shots from a bunker
Scooped	When at impact the clubface has stayed with the ball beyond the initial strike and into the follow through resulting in the ball being sent forward with a weak steep trajectory
Scramble	A fun team event where you play in a team of four players. You all play your tee shots then select the best one and then all play from that position. You continue with this format, including putting, until the hole is played out. In the round you all have to have three counting drives each. The handicap of your team is ten percent of the combined total with a maximum of six allowed
Secretary/Manager	The person employed by the club to look after the daily running of business on behalf of the committee or management committee
Set Make-up	What your set of clubs is composed of.
Set Up x2	The position you are in when you address the ball
Shallow faced	A club head with a shallow depth to the hitting area
Shank	A shot which uncontrollably takes a forty-five degree line to the right of the intended target as a result of the ball meeting the extreme heel of an iron club (At the inside edge of the hozzel)
Shot under the wind	A shot deliberately played on a low trajectory into the wind to avoid resistance and producing increased control
Sky shot	A shot played with a wood where the ball has been struck off the top of the club rather than the hitting area. This causes the ball to have a very steep trajectory without considerable forward momentum
Slice	A shot which starts on a line to the right of the intended target and then curves in flight further to the right
Soft spikes	Screw in plastic or rubber cleets which give traction to golf shoes and minimalise damage to greens
Soft wedge	A pitching club with more loft than a standard wedge and less than a sand iron
Solid ball	A sold ball has a solid core covered with differing outer covers, in terms of feel, with a dimple pattern impregnated
Specials	General terminology for fringe challenges during non competitive rounds i.e. Sandy pars etc.
Spoon	Old name given to wooden shafted fairway wood. In modern terms this would be a number three wood
Stableford	A competition round where the player is awarded one point for a net bogey, two for a par, three for a birdie and so on. The winner of the event has the highest total over the rest of the field
Stance	The description given to the way a player sets up to the ball, good or bad, before a shot is played with an emphasis on the positioning of the feet
SSS - Standard scratch score	On a card you will see "SSS" and a number next to it. This number is the basis of calculating your handicap, not the "PAR" of the course. For example, if the SSS total is one more than the PAR of the course and you go round in one over par you will have played off a zero handicap on that round. On easier courses you may have to play well under the PAR of the course to have played off zero, as their SSS will be lower than the PAR of the course. As a result of this system handicaps are made universal for all golfers playing easy courses and more demanding courses as SSS depicts the degree of difficulty of all courses set against each other
Starter	The person employed by the club to look after the daily running of starting players from the first tee. This could be from the Professionals shop or from a purpose built office sighted at the first tee
Staying behind it	When your head has held it's position slightly to the right side of the ball through impact
Stiff shaft	A shaft that has been designed not to have much give in it in terms of flex. This is advantageous for strong players to maintain accuracy while swinging firmly throughout he impact area. Over flex due to a strong swing can cause wayward results, even if the swing has been technically good
Stimey	An old matchplay rule that is no longer used where you were allowed to play a strategic shot or putt to deliberately block your opponents clear route to the hole by getting your ball in the way. In the modern rules your opponent will ask you to mark your ball in this event which is compulsory
Straight faced	The measured angle of degrees on the face of a club versus the line of the shaft depicts the loft of the club. A straight faced driver has minimal loft showing on the face normally eight degrees or less. This is not a club that a beginner will find easy to play to get the ball air born
Stroke Index	Each hole on the course is rated on id difficulty relative to the others. This is shown on the scorecard as the “Stroke Index”. The stroke index indicates which holes golfers will receive a stroke at in matchplay or stableford competitions.
Strokeplay	Most golf competitions played around the world, whether by amateurs or professionals, uses strokeplay. This is the simplest way to play. All you have to do is count the number of times you hit the ball (including penalty shots) during your round of golf and the player with the lowest total is the winner. Certain competitions give prizes for the total score (called scratch or gross score) but most club competitions will take your handicap off your total giving a net score. Prizes are then awarded for the lowest net scores.
Sub par	Alternative terminology for "under par"
Swing paths	The route the club head takes through the ball relative to the line to the target. I.e. From inside the line to out side the line (The line being the line from the ball to the target)
Swing Plane	The description of the circle, and it's angle relative to the player, that the shaft of the club makes during the swing as seen while looking at the player and beyond down the target line
Take Away	The initial movement away from the ball in the swing
Taking a drop	When you have to move your ball from a hazard or unplayable lie you will have to “take a drop” to get into back into play
Tee	The term tee refers to two things. The first is the teeing ground that you play your first shot on each hole from and secondly the wooden or plastic platform object that you balance your ball on to play this shot from
Tee holder	A product that some golfers use to hold tees in that normally can be attached to the outside of your golf bag
Tee markers	The markers that you play from on the teeing ground. They are colour coded to depict different areas of play for different days players or events. You should always confirm before your round which tees the club would like you play from
Texas Scramble	See “Scramble”
The Captain	The Captain is the figurehead at any golf club who heads the management committee. This person on route to becoming captain will have worked towards this position over years of being involved in most departments  in the running of the club
The Committee	The group of people who manage the club and look after each department of the workings of the club
The grip	The way a player positions their hands on the club. It is also the word to describe the replaceable rubber or leather handle at the top of the shaft
The R&A	The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews are the governing body of the game of golf. They are based in St Andrews, Scotland, the home of golf. They make the rules of the game and any adjustments to the rules. They verify the equipment that can be legally used to play the game.
The Vice Captain	The Vice-Captain is the Captains "right hand man" and will be "Captain elect" as per the clubs constitution. This person will stand in for The Captain in the event of his or her absence
Thin	When the bottom edge or leading edge of an iron club meets the middle of the equator of the ball at impact producing a low powerful uncontrollable running shot. This shot can cause the shaft to vibrate and give the player a stinging feeling in their hands (see daisy cutter)
Topped	When the bottom edge or leading edge of an iron club meets the ball above it's equator at impact. In varying degrees this can make the ball bounce upwards and without much forward momentum it will roll forward with the forward spin you have imparted
Torque	The flex of graphite shafts is measured in terms of torque. Manufacturers can tailor the amount of torque they allow in a shaft during manufacture. A strong player should use a shaft with limited torque and the opposite applies to the slow swinger. The stronger swinger playing with over torque would result in the clubface arriving at the ball in an open position causing the ball to miss the target to the right, even if the swing was good
Under par	Alternative terminology for sub par. It is when you have scored lower than the par of the course
Uphill lie	A shot to be played from a position where the ground is sloping upwards towards the intended target
Upright stance	When a player is standing too tall to the ball in terms of the posture position. This will be indicated by the lack of clearance between the top of the inside of the left thigh (If you are right handed). The clearance measurement should be around five to six inches
Whippy shaft	A shaft that has been designed to have considerable give in it in terms of flex. This is advantageous for slower swingers to increase their club head speed through the ball
Woodland course	A course laid out in mature woodland area
Wound ball	A wound ball has a liquid centre with elastic windings around it. It is covered on the outside with a surlyn or balata cover with a dimple pattern impregnated on the surface

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Golf Terms

Ever wonder what all those golf terms mean? What’s a bogey? What is all this talk about the back side? How much does a free drop cost? Unless you know the answers to these questions, you had better read up here. We’ve tried to make it a little easier for you and even inserted a couple of funnies too. We’ve researched our massive memories (that is the 1st funny!) and come up with a whole bunch of golf terms to assist you on the course and in the clubhouse. That’s right, you can be that guy who knows all the cool things to say… read on!

ACE – This is a term used when a golfer makes a hole in one! In other words, the tee shot is hit and it goes into the hole – how about that!

ADDRESS – Contrary to popular belief, this is not where the mailman delivers to but it is the position of one’s body taken just before the golfer hits the ball. You will often hear the term “addressing the ball” which means the golfer is standing there preparing to hit the ball.

ALBATROSS – An old British name for a double eagle. What’s that you say, two eagles? No, it means you scored 3 under par on a single hole! In other words, you scored a 2 on a par 5 hole. It’s a very good score and doesn’t happen very often.

APPROACH – This is a short or medium iron which is played into the green. Often referred to as an “approach shot”.

APRON – The closely cut area just around the edge of the green. Often referred to as the “Fringe”.

BACKSPIN – This is a reverse spin, which causes the ball to stop very quickly on the green.

BACKSWING – The backward part of the swing starting from the ground and going back over the top of the golfer’s head.

BAIL OUT – A shot played to the “safe” part of the course. For example if the flag is right next to the water and the golfer intentionally shoots away from the flag to avoid the water – thus “bailing out”

BALL MARKER – A token or small coin which is placed directly just behind the ball in order to mark the position of the ball on the green. This is usually done to allow another player who is farther away to putt without hitting any other balls.

BALL RETRIEVER – A long pole with a scoop on the end of it used to get balls out of water hazards.

BALL WASHER – Come on, this one is self explanatory. These are found all over the golf course usually at the tee boxes. They clean and wash your ball.

BANANA BALL – A slice that curves in a banana like shape from left to right (for right-handed golfers).

BASEBALL GRIP – Holding the golf club like one would hold a baseball bat. All 10 fingers are on the grip.

BEACH – An expression for sandtrap. (i.e. I’m in the beach)

BENT GRASS – Type of grass which is found in mostly in northern climates.

BERMUDA GRASS – Now think about this one for just a minute. This is a type of grass found mostly in southern climates, as it is tougher and more resilient to harsh sunlight. Kind of like you would find in… that’s right Bermuda! You are a genius!

BIRDIE – A score of 1 under par for a hole. (i.e. a score of 3 on a par 4 hole)

BITE – A term used for the action of the backspin on the ball stopping it very quickly on the green.

BOGEY – A score of 1 over par on a hole. (i.e. a score of 5 on a par 4 hole)

BUNKER – Another name for a sandtrap.

CADDIE – A person who carries a player’s clubs during play and offers assistance in accordance with the rules.

CARRY – The distance in the air that a ball must travel before it hits the ground. (i.e. you need 160 yards to carry the water means you need to hit the ball 160 yards in the air to clear the water)

CASUAL WATER – No this is not water dressed in blue jeans and T-shirt but rather any temporary puddles of water on the course which are not supposed to be there, like say for instance after a rainstorm. There is no penalty for a player to move his ball out of casual water.

CHIP SHOT – A short approach shot with a low trajectory usually hit from close to the green.

CHIP IN – This happens when you hit a chip shot (see above) into the cup. (Note: this is usually good!)

CHOKE – This word has two meanings. One is to grip lower on the club than normal (you may hear the term “choke down” on the club) The other definition in golf (and most other sports) means to collapse under pressure (i.e. he “choked” under the pressure of the Master’s).

CHOP – To hit the ball with a hacking motion or the word immediately after “pork”.

CLUBHEAD – The hitting area of the golf club.

CLUBHOUSE – The main building at the golf course where players usually go to have refreshments and tell about their 2 under par round (note: at times, you can actually see their noses grow!)

COURSE RATING – The difficulty of a course. Usually the higher the course rating the harder it is.

CUP – The thing in the hole that holds the flagstick.

DEUCE – Hmmm, now lets see, if an ace is a hole in one, then a deuce must be a hole in two! That’s right Sherlock! It is a score of 2 on a hole!

DIMPLE – The small round indentations on the golf ball. A lot of really smart guys (some call them scientists) got together and figured out how many dimples would help the ball fly straight and true.

DIVOT – A piece of ground that is taken up by the club after hitting the ball. A good golfer ALWAYS replaces his divots and tamps them back down so they will grow back again!

DOGLEG – This is one of two things. It is either one of four things that Rover walks on or it is a hole that goes straight for a while then has a bend (or “dogleg”) to the left or right. You decide which fits here!

DOUBLE BOGEY – A score of two over par for one hole. These are not very good!

DOUBLE EAGLE – NO, this is NOT two eagles, but it is a good score for one hole! In fact it is an excellent score for one hole – three under par for one hole! (i.e. a two on a par five!) This is also referred to as an “albatross”.

DOWNHILL LIE – The ball is on the downslope of a hill. When a right handed player addresses the ball his right foot will be higher than his left foot.

DRAIN – To make a putt (“drain it”).

DRAW SHOT – This is when a right handed player hits a controlled hook, which goes from right to left.

DRIVE – This is the term which means your tee shot. It is also usually the way you get to the golf course.

DRIVER – This is the club known as the 1 wood. It is usually the club that hits the ball the farthest. It is also a person that very rich people have to haul them around.

DROP – This is a way that you get the ball back in play after hitting a shot into the water or out of bounds. This also happens to waitresses when they carry too many plates.

DUB – A poorly hit shot. I “dubbed” that shot.

DUFFER – One who hits a lot of bad shots. Can also be called a “hacker”.

EAGLE – This is a bird in real life, but in golf it means a score of 2 under par on a hole. (I.e. a score of 3 on a par 5 hole)

FACE – This is what you see when you look in the mirror and it is also the part of the clubhead that makes contact with the ball.

FADE – This is a shot (for a right-handed golfer) which curves gradually from left to right.

FAIRWAY – This is the area on the golf course which lies directly between the tee box and the green and is cut really short and maintained really nice. You want to hit from this area if at all possible.

FAT SHOT – This is a shot which is not good. The club hits the ground behind the ball and results in a poorly struck shot that usually doesn’t go very far.

FLAGSTICK – Come’on, you gotta know this one.

FLUB – See dub above.

FOLLOW-THROUGH – The continuation of the golf swing to the end.

FORE – This is spelled differently than the number 4. This is the term yelled when one hits a shot toward another person on the golf course to alert him/her of impending doom from being hit by the ball.

FOURSOME – A term given to a group of… come’on how many do you think players? (hint: 4!)

FREE DROP – A drop that you don’t have to pay for, really that is correct, you get to drop the ball and don’t have to add a stroke to your score. This can happen when there is casual water on the course or ground under repair.

FRINGE – The closely cut area just around the edge of the green.

FRONT SIDE – The first nine holes is usually referred to as the “front side”.

GIMME – A term for a putt that is close enough to the cup that it will certainly be made so the other player says “it’s a gimme” and the player doesn’t have to putt it. However, he does need to add this stroke to his score!

GRAIN – This is the direction that the grass on the green is growing.  A golf ball will roll faster with the grain and slower against it.

GREEN – This is a color and also the term used to describe the putting surface on the golf course.

GRIP – This refers to either the part of the shaft by which the club is held by the golfer or the manner in which the golfer holds the club. (i.e. an overlapping grip)

GROSS – The total number of strokes a player takes on his round.

GROUNDING THE CLUB – Placing the clubhead on the ground behind the ball at address position.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR – An area on the golf course that is being repaired. Golfers are able to take a “free drop” if their ball ends up in ground under repair.

HACKER – A golfer who is not very skilled. Same as a duffer.

HANDICAP – The number of strokes a player may deduct from his actual (or gross) score to adjust his score to that of a scratch golfer.

HAZARD – A hazard is any sand trap, lake, pond, bunker, etc. that may cause problems on the golf course. It is normally a good idea to avoid a hazard on the golf course.

HEEL – What you tell your dog to do when walking him/her OR the part of the clubhead nearest the shaft.

HOLE – A 4 inch round receptacle on the green that you try to get your ball into.

HOLE HIGH – An approach shot which is even with the hole but off to one side.

HOLE-IN-ONE – See ACE above.

HOLE OUT – the process of a player completing the hole.

HONOR – the privilege of hitting first on the next tee. The “honor” is gained by having the lowest score on the preceding hole.

HOOK – To hit the ball and have it curve gradually from right to left (for right-handed golfers).

HOSEL – The hollow part of the clubhead that the shaft fits into.

INTERLOCKING GRIP – A type of grip where the little finger of the lower hand is interlocked with the index finger of the upper hand.

IRON – A club with a metal head which is not a wood!

JAIL – A golfer’s term for a ball hit into a lot of trees which makes it very difficult to hit your ball out of…”in jail”

JUNGLE – A golfers term for heavy rough or in the woods. (i.e. in the jungle)

KICK – A golfer’s term for bounce. (I got a bad kick means I got a bad bounce)

LAG – To putt the ball with the intention of leaving it short of the hole so that the golfer is able to have a very easy putt on the next shot.

LATERAL HAZARD – Any hazard that runs parallel to the fairway.

LIE – This is what you tell your wife when she asks if you went to work and you really went golfing OR it is the position that the ball ends up when it comes to rest on the ground.

LINKS – Another word for a golf course. This originally meant a seaside course.

LIP – The top rim of the cup or what you have two of on your face.

LOB SHOT – A shot that goes straight up in the air and stops very quickly on the green.

LOCAL RULES – A set of rules for a particular golf course as determined by that course.

LOFT – This is an apartment in England OR it is the angle of the clubface from vertical.

MATCH PLAY – This is a form of competition by holes. Each hole is worth one point no matter how many strokes one player beats another by.

MEDAL PLAY – This is a form of competition decided by the overall number of strokes. This may also be referred to as stroke play.

MULLIGAN – An extra shot which your opponent MAY allow you to take if you hit a really bad first shot. NOTE: this is NOT the way we suggest to play golf.

MUNICIPAL COURSE – A public course which is owned by a local government agency.

NASSAU – A form of competition which breaks down the play into front nine, back nine and overall 18 holes. A point is allowed for each nine and the total 18.

NINETEENTH HOLE – Another term for the clubhouse or in particular the bar at the clubhouse.  This is Waggle’s favorite hole!

OFFSET – A club with the head slightly behind (or offset) the shaft.

OUT-OF-BOUNDS – The area outside of the golf course limits in which play is prohibited. If you hit the ball out of bounds you must hit again from the same spot and take a penalty stroke.

OVERCLUBBING – Using a club that will hit the ball farther than necessary.

PAR – The number of stokes that is recommended to take to complete a hole (or 18 holes).

PENALTY STROKE – An additional stroke which is added to a golfer’s score for a rules violation, going out of bounds, losing a ball, or various other situations.

PIN – This is the flagstick or the pole that is in the cup.

PITCH – A short high arcing shot that lands on the green and usually stops quickly.

PITCH AND RUN – Same as a pitch but hit with a lesser lofted club which causes it to roll farther.

PIVOT – The rotation of the shoulders, waist, and pelvis during the golf swing.

PLAYING THROUGH – The process of slower players in front of faster players allowing the faster players to move ahead of the slower group.

PREFERRED LIE – A lie that may be improved by a player.

PRO SHOP – The golf course shop operated by the golf pro.

PROVISIONAL BALL – An additional ball which is hit in case the first ball can not be found. If the first ball is found, it is played. If the first ball is not found, the provisional must be played and the player is assessed a penalty stroke.

PULL – A ball that is pulled (or hit) to the left of the target (for right handers).

PUSH – A ball that is pushed (or hit) to the right of the target (for right handers).

PUTT – A shot that rolls on the green hit with the putter.

PUTTER – The club with a flat face used to putt. Often called the “flat stick”

PUTTING GREEN – The surface area around the hole that is specially prepared for putting.

RANGE – This is the area where you go to practice. It usually has many stations to hit practice shots.

READING THE GREEN – Determining which way the putt will curve based upon the slope of the green.

ROUGH – Long grass area adjacent to the fairway. Normally you try to avoid the rough.

ROUND – Complete 18 holes of golf. (i.e. a round of golf is the playing of 18 holes)

RUN – The distance the ball will travel along the ground after it lands.

SANDBAGGER – This is a golfer who purposely tells others that he is a worse golfer than he really is in order to gain an edge in competition.

SAND TRAP – The common name for a sand hazard. These are areas that are filled with sand and should be avoided.

SAND WEDGE – An iron normally used to hit the ball out of the sand. It can also be used on short pitch shots.

SANDY – A player makes a sandy when he hits a shot out of the sand and sinks the following putt.

SCRATCH GOLFER – A player who has a handicap of 0. This player will theoretically shoot even par or better every time out.

SHORT GAME – The part of the game made up of chipping, putting and other shots around the green.

SHOTGUN START – A method of starting play where players go to every tee box on the golf course and hit their tee shots at the same time. Sometimes a horn is sounded to start play.

SIDE – This is a term, which is interchangeable with the word “nine” as in front side which means the front nine or front nine holes. Now if you are really smart, you can also figure out that the back side is the back nine or last nine holes!

SIDEHILL LIE – This refers to a lie when the ball is resting on a slope and the golfer’s feet are either above or below the ball.

SLICE – This is either a piece of bread or a shot struck by a golfer which curves pretty severely from left to right (for a right handed golfer).

SLOPE RATING – USGA term that represents the difficulty of a course for bogey golfers relative to the USGA Course Rating (which represents the difficulty for scratch golfers). The higher the slope, the more difficult the course plays for bogey golfers. Slope ratings range from 55 to 155 and 113 is considered average.

SNAKE – An award given to a player in a friendly game when the player three putts. Whoever has the snake at the end of the round usually ‘gets’ to treat the other players to a beverage.

STARTER – The person who is responsible for sending the groups of players off the first tee. Usually the starter is located somewhere close to the first hole.

STIMPMETER – This is a device which is used to calibrate the speed of the greens. Often referred to as ‘stimp’. A reading of 5 to 11 is the normal range with 5 being slow and 11 being extremely (PGA) fast!

STROKE – This is often used in the following context, “how many STROKES are you giving me” which means how many shots or additional swings are you giving me to even out the match. It can also be the term used for the actual process of swinging the club through the ball.

SUDDEN DEATH – This is a method of breaking a tied match by playing extra holes. The first player to win a hole is the winner.

SUMMER RULES – Ordinary rules according to the rulebook.

SWEET SPOT – The center point on the face of the club. When you hit it here it feels really good!

TAKEAWAY – This is what a golfer does when he starts the backswing.

TEE – This is the wooden (usually) peg which is used to hold the ball up for driving. It is also the term for the area where play begins on a particular hole (i.e. the third tee is where the third hole starts)

TEXAS WEDGE – The term for the putter when it is used from off the green.

THREESOME – Hmmm… now if you think about this you might just get it. Hint: it refers to three players playing in the same group.

TIGHT FAIRWAY – A narrow fairway with not much area on either side to miss.

TOE – This is a term for what you have on your feet OR it refers to the part of the club farthest from where it joins the shaft.

TRAJECTORY – The flight path of the ball. If it goes way up in the air it is referred to a high trajectory.

TURN – To start the back nine holes. To “make the turn” means you have finished the 1st nine holes and are “turning” to the 2nd nine.

UNDERCLUBBING – Using a club that does not provide enough distance to hit the ball to the intended target.

UNPLAYABLE LIE – A lie from which the ball can not be hit. (i.e. it is up against a tree and the player can not hit it)

WAGGLE – The movement of the clubhead just prior to the player taking a swing.

WEDGE – An iron with a high loft used for short shots requiring a high trajectory.

WHIFF – Swinging and missing the ball.

WINTER RULES – Local golf rules that permit the player to improve the lie of the ball in the fairway. There may be additional winter rules allowed depending on the golf course condition.

WOOD – A club (either wood or metal) which is used for shots requiring a lot of distance.

WORMBURNER – A shot which skims very low along the ground.  Thus killing any worms that may be poking their heads up.

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