Dictionary of Golf Terms : R - Golf Terms

R & A	The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews who oversee golf in Europe, Asia and the Commonwealth
Range	An area set aside for practice.
Ranger	A course official who ensures prompt play on a golf course.
Rating Marker	A sign next to the tee which indicates the point from which the holes yardage is measured.
Reading the Green	The act of determining the preferred path the ball must take in order to go in the hole.
Recovery Shot	To bring the ball back into a favourable playing position from an unfavourable one such as a hazard.
Referee	An official who interprets the Rules of Golf during a match or competition.
Regular shaft	A golf club shaft with an average amount of torque.
Release	To hit the ball such that it rolls on impact with the green. Also refers to movement of golfer's hands during a swing.
Relief	To lift and drop the ball without penalty in accordance with the rules.
Reverse Overlap	Gripping the club with the little finger of one hand placed over the index finger of the other.
Rimmed	A shot which circles the lip of the hole without dropping in.
Rough	The high grass area adjacent to the fairway and green.
Round	18 holes of golf.
Round robin	A tournament in which everyone gets to play everyone else.
Royal and Ancient	Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews - golf's primary governing body.
Rub of the Green	An unexpected bounce of the ball after it hits the ground. Sometimes helpful, normally not.
Rule	Official R&A rule or local rule.
Rules of Golf	As published by the R&A.
Run	The distance that the ball continues to travel after it's initial impact with the ground.
Running iron	An iron used to make short shots which roll.
Run-up	To hit the ball along or close to the ground toward and onto the green.

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Dictionary of Golf Terms : Q - Golf Terms

Qualifying School	The process of qualifying for PGA membership.
Quarter Shot	A shot hit with a significantly reduced swing.
Quitting on the ball	Slowing your swing down before hitting the ball.

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Dictionary of Golf Terms: P - Golf Terms

Pairings	Two player groups.
Par	The number of shots a low handicapper should take for a hole or round. The hole par is measured by the number of shots needed to reach the green plus two for the putting. The round par is calculated by adding all the hole par's together.
Partner	Players on the same side in the same group or match.
Penalty Stroke	A stroke added to a player's score due to a rule infringement, taking relief from a hazard or an unplayable lie.
Perimeter Weighting	The weight of the club head is centred in the middle, thus increasing the sweet spot (an area of the club that when hit gives you the most distance).
Persimmon	Wood imported from the USA to make club heads for drivers.
PGA	Professional Golfers Association.
Pin	The pole in the centre of the green with a flag attached.
Pin High	Means that the ball has landed on the green level with the hole as you are looking at it.
Pitch	To the ball is hit high into the air onto the green using a lofted club.
Pitch and Run	To pitch the ball onto the green using a club which enables the ball to roll on impact.
Pitch Mark	The indentation left by a ball on the green after it has landed.
Pitching Wedge	An iron with a club face angel of 48 to 50 degrees. Used to hit a high shot.
Pivot	The rotation of the body during a swing.
Playclub	Old fashioned club used for driving similar to today's woods.
Playing Handicap	The handicap used in a competition.
Playing Through	To allow golfers in the game behind play passed you while you stand to one side.
Plugged Ball	A ball that when it lands remains in it's own pitch mark.
Plumb Bob	Holding the putter in a vertical position and using it as a sight to determine the Line of Putt.
Plus Handicap	The number of shots added to a golfers score at the end of their round.
Pop up	A high shot over a very short distance.
Pot bunker	A small yet deep sand bunker.
Preferred Lie	Play in which a golfer may move his ball to the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole. When playing under winter rules, a player may replace their ball on the fairway within 6 inches of where it came to rest, not nearer the hole.
Press	Increasing an already agreed bet on the result of a match once it has started.
Pro Shop	Shop at golf club where golfing equipment may be purchased.
Pro-Am	A tournament where a professional is partnered by an amateur.
Professional	One who receives monetary remuneration for playing golf.
Provisional Ball	The playing of a second ball from the same place as the first because the player is unsure of what may have happened to the first ball (i.e. it may be lost).
Pull	When the ball flies in an inward direction after being stuck. Not the same as draw/hook as these are shots affected by spin.
Pull Cart	A two wheeled device used to aid the carrying of a golf bag around the course.
Punch Shot	Where the ball is struck on the down-stroke of a partial swing resulting in a short low shot; typically used to hit the ball out of rough or to keep the ball below the wind.
Push	When the ball flies in an outward direction after being stuck. Not the same as fade/slice as these are shots affected by spin.
Putt	Act of hitting golf ball on the green.
Putter	Club mainly used on green for striking the ball.
Putting Green	The area of short grass surrounding the hole way the ball is hit using a putter. © Copyright 1995-2013 WorldGolf.com

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Dictionary of Golf Terms :N - Terms

Narrow Fairway	A Fairway (the cut grass area between tee and green) that is only a few yards across.
Net Score	A player's score after handicap deductions.
Niblick	Another name for a 9 iron.
Nineteenth Hole	The clubhouse bar after playing 18 holes.
Non-Selective Perimeter Weighting	Equal weight over the toe and heel of the club head.

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O - Terms of Golf Dictionary

OB	Dictionary Golf Term:O - Terms  Acronym for Out of Bounds.
Observer	One who ensures that a golf match or round is played in accordance with the Rules of Golf.
Obstructions	Anything which is man-made that obstructs play.
Offset	The gap between the club shaft and the club face when held at address, looking from above.
On the Dance Floor	When the ball has stayed on the green.
Open	A tournament open to both amateurs and professionals.
Open Stance	At address the golfer stands with their front foot further from the ball line than their back foot. An open stance is used by a player when they want to fade or slice the ball.
Out	First nine holes on an eighteen hole golf course.
Out of Bounds	The area on or adjacent to the course where the ball may not be played from. Normally marked by white posts.
Outside Agency	Any object or person that is not part of the current golf match, such as a spectator or observer.
Outward Half	The first 9 holes of an 18 hole course.
Over Clubbing	To use a club which gives more distance than intended.
Over Par	A score higher than the indicated par for a hole or round.
Overlapping Grip	To hold the club such that the little finger of one hands is wrapped around the fore-finger of the other.

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M -Golf Terms

Majors	The most significant golf championships. In the men's game these are:- The Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship. - see major championships in almanac.
Make the cut	To qualify for subsequent rounds in a tournament.
Mallet	A putter shaped like a mallet.
Marker	The person responsible for recording the score of a player (normally another player) - see Tee Marker.
Marshall	One who controls the crowd during tournaments.
Mashie	Old fashioned hickory shafted iron varieties of which were similar to today's 5,6 and 7 irons.
Match	A medal round or game of golf between opponents.
Match Play	Form of competition where each hole is won, lost or halved. The winner is whoever won the most holes. A winning score of 3 and 2 means that the winner won by 3 holes with 2 left to play. The highest score possible is 10 and 8.
Medal	A score play competition where all shots are recorded and the winner is the one who took the least number.
Medal Day	A calendar day during which you are entitled to play a medal round in a competition.
Medal Play	A score play competition where all shots are recorded and the winner is the one who took the least number.
Medalist	One who has the lowest tournament qualifying score.
Middle Wedge	A medal iron with loft between that of a pitching wedge and a sand wedge.
Mid-iron	Another name for a 2 iron.
Mixed foursome	Two teams of a male and female golfer playing alternate shots.
Mulligan	When a player is allowed to reply any one shot pre hole.
Municipal Course	Golf course owned by local government and open to the public.

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Golf Terms of K & L

Dictionary of Golf Terms: K - Golf terms

Kitty Litter	Colloquialism for sand bunker.
Knockdown Shot	A shot played low into the wind.

Dictionary of Golf Terms: L- Golf terms

Lag	When a golfer attempts to putt the ball near to the hole not caring whether it goes in or not.
Lateral Water Hazard	A water hazard which runs parallel to the fairway.
Layout	The design of the course.
Lie	The position of the ball at rest.
Line	The intended trajectory of the golf ball.
Line of Play	The intended travel of the ball after it has been struck.
Line of Putt	The intended travel of the ball after it has been struck on the green.
Links	Golf course within 4 miles of the coast.
Lip	The edge of the hole.
Lob Shot	A shot where the flies to maximum height and minimal distance, normally used to hit the ball from close range when trying to avoid an obstacle.
Local Rules	Additional rules pertaining to a given course.
Loft	The angle of the clubface in relation to the ground which dictates the trajectory of the ball as it rises in the air. 0 degrees loft is perpendicular to the ground.
Long Game	That part of a golfer's game which involves hitting the ball over 180 yards.
Loose Impediments	Natural objects on the course which are not fixed into place such as stones.
Lost Ball	Any ball which cannot be located once struck.
LPGA	Ladies Professional Golfer's Association.© Copyright 1995-2013 WorldGolf.com

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The H & I - Golf terms

Hack or Hacker	A poor golfer.
Halve A Hole	In match play, refers to a draw when both opponents take the same number of shots to complete the hole.
Halve A Match	In match play, refers to a draw when both opponents have won the same number holes in the round.
Handicap	The number of strokes a player is given to adjust his score to that of standard scratch. It allows golfers of different abilities to compete on equal terms.
Handicap Allowance	Your adjusted handicap depending on the type of competition you have entered.
Handicap Player	A golfer who has a recognised handicap awarded by a Golf Club.
Handicap System	A method of adjusting golfers' scores to a baseline such that they can compete on equal terms.
Handicap-Stroke Hole	A hole where in match play an opponent receives a shot. It is determined by the stroke index of the hole.
Hanging lie	When the ball is resting on the upside of a slope.
Haskel	First incarnation of the modern golf balls with rubber straps wound around core encased in gutta percha - rendered Gutties obsolete
Hazard	Permanent features on the golf course designed to obstruct play.
Hcp	Handicap
Head	The end of the club that includes the club face.
Heel	Where the club head is attached to the shaft.
Hit a Brick	To strike the ball on the green such that it does not roll past the cup.
Hit a House	see Hit a Brick
Hogans	A game where you have to achieve par by hitting the green in regulation, par the hole, having never hit the fairway.
Hole High	Means that the ball has landed on the green level with the hole as you are looking at it.
Hole In One	The ball goes straight into the hole from your tee shot.
Hole Out	To putt the ball into the hole.
Holed	A ball which is putted into the hole.
Home	Getting the ball onto the green.
Home Pro	Resident professional at golf club.
Honour	The honour goes to last player to win a hole or take the least number of shots. The player with the honour tees off first.
Hooded Club	Turning the club face slightly inward in order to hook the ball or prevent a slice.
Hook	To induce topspin onto the ball causing in to move from outside to in on your swing. Opposite is slice.
Hustler	One who maintains an artifically high handicap in order to win bets.                        Dictionary Golf terms: I - Golf terms

Impact When the club strikes the ball. In The last nine holes of an 18 hole course. In play When the ball is within the playing area of the course. Inactive Season That part of the golfing calendar where a player cannot use his scores to adjust his handicap. Interlocking Grip To hold the club such that the little finger of one hands is wrapped around the fore-finger of the other. Investment Cast To cast metal club heads from wax moulds. Inward Half The last nine holes of an 18 hole course. Iron A metal headed club that is not a wood.

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