Snowman – Of all the golf phrases listed, this is definitely the one you don’t want to be connected with. When you get an 8 on a hole, you make a snowman. Texas Wedge – is another word for utilizing a putter while you are off the green.
What are the different terms used in golf?
The list, although not exhaustive, is designed to be a complete A to Z of all Golf Terms/Lingo used in golf. Ace – Otherwise known as a hole in one an ace is when the ball finds the hole from the tee in a single stoke. It is the dream of many golfers. Address – The way you stand and position your club before a shot is known as address.
What does it mean to hole out on a golf course?
Hole Out – A term that happens when a golfer shoots the ball into the hole from off of the green. Home course – This is the club/course to which the player is a member and houses their handicap. Honors – The person with the best score on the previous hole has the honors of teeing off first on the next hole.
What do the numbers mean in golf?
Handicap: A number representing a golfer’s general playing ability. Army Golf: used when someone putts back and forth past the hole, overhitting their shot again and again. Afraid of the Dark: used to describe when a golfer’s ball seems to avoid going in the hole. Barkie: used when a golfer hits a tree and still makes par on the hole.
Can you fill a dictionary with golf terms?
You could fill a dictionary with golf-specific terms. We explain the most common ones below. You won’t be a scratch handicapper the first time you pick up a club. (If you don’t know what “scratch handicapper” means, keep reading, you’re in the right place!)
What are some golf phrases?
19 Different Golf Sayings For Good LuckGood Luck.Enjoy The 19th Hole.Hit 'Em Long And Straight.May The Fores Be With You.Play Well.Swing Easy.Only Birdies.Have A Great Round.More items...•
What do you call a missed swing in golf?
In golf, a "whiff" is when you swing at the golf ball and ... miss. If you were trying to hit the ball but missed, you just whiffed it.
What are the 7 golf scoring terms?
We've compiled a list of 100+ golf terms that are useful to know, but the golf scoring terms we'll cover in this guide are among the most essential when you're out on the course or watching televised golf.
What is a short putt called in golf?
Chip A short shot (typically played from very close to and around the green), that is intended to travel through the air over a very short distance and roll the remainder of the way to the hole.
Do whiffs count in golf?
Under the Rules of Golf, any stroke in which you intend to hit the ball counts. It doesn't matter how far the ball goes. If you swing and miss, and you were trying to hit the ball, then it counts. If you take another swing at it, then you're counting your next stroke after the whiff.
What is a duff in golf?
A duff, also known as a chili dip, happens when you hit way too far behind your intended impact area and lay the sod over the ball. This often occurs when players are nervous and feeling pressure.
What are golf scoring terms?
A birdie is a score of 1-under par on a hole (for example, scoring 4 on a par-5). A bogey is 1-over par on a hole. An eagle is 2-under par on a hole. A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole.
What is 4 birdies in a row called?
1 = Strike. 2 = Double. 3 = Turkey or Gobbler. 4 = Hambone. 5 = Recently heard referred to as yatzee or five bagger.
What are the shots in golf called?
Fade (aka Cut Shot):A golf shot (right handed golfer) in which the ball gradually moves left to right.Fly the green:A shot that goes over the green.Fore:Shouted when the ball is heading towards someone.Forward tees:The teeing ground located closest to the green.9 more rows
What is a mulligan in golf?
The basic definition of mulligan, a term most associated with golf, is a "do-over," a second try after your first has gone awry. Every weekend golfer has taken a few mulligans in their lifetime, and there's no shame in that.
What is a turkey in golf?
Its origin is almost certainly American in nature. In ten-pin bowling, a trio of consecutive strikes is called a turkey, while six in a row is known as a wild, or golden, turkey. It wouldn't be the first time golf has borrowed from another sport to expand its lexicon.
What does Ld mean in golf?
Landing angle: Landing angle refers to the angle at which, relative to the ground, the ball first lands and hits the ground after a shot. That angle will change based on the club being used and the amount of spin put on the ball, where spin increases the landing angle.
What is the easiest golf term to understand?
Par is likely the term that you are most familiar with and is one of the easiest golf terms to understand. The reason that we’ve started with par, is that many of the other terms that you’ll encounter in this guide build upon and are defined by their relation to par.
What does it mean when a golf ball is shanked?
This occurs when the golfer strikes the ball not with the head of the club, but rather with the shaft before the head. You have to have a pretty strange swing to accomplish this, but it can certainly be done.
What is par in golf?
The term par refers to the number of strokes that a golfer would be expected to take to complete a hole. Different holes will require a different number of strokes, and par is determined by the length, difficulty, and terrain of any given hole. It’s a rule of thumb that par will always account for two putts.
What does "par" mean in golf?
Par. Par is likely the term that you are most familiar with and is one of the easiest golf terms to understand. The reason that we’ve started with par, is that many of the other terms that you’ll encounter in this guide build upon and are defined by their relation to par. The term par refers to the number of strokes that a golfer would be expected ...
What is the most common stroke required to complete a hole in golf?
Most of the time, a hole will be either a par-3, par-4, or par-5. Scorers assessing golf courses have determined that these are the most common amount of strokes needed to complete holes on a golf course. It is possible for you to play a par-6 hole, but these are extremely rare.
What is double cross golf?
Double Cross. A double cross is a slightly more complicated term. This actually refers to the direction that your ball goes after you make contact with your club. A fairly common situation for beginners, in particular, is when you are trying to curve the ball one way, and it ends up going the complete opposite way.
Why is an eagle important in golf?
In a game like golf, every stroke matters because the leaders are often so closely grouped together. That’s why an eagle is considered to be incredibly valuable and is well sought after during a round of golf.
Where does the term ‘golf’ come from?
Many believe it is derived from the Scots-language word “goulf”.
What does ‘mulligan’ mean in golf?
A mulligan is a golf term that only applies to recreational golfers. Sometimes (and sometimes often) amateur players will hit a poor drive on the 1st hole, whether it is due to nerves or failing to warm up properly. Rather than start off on a bad note, golfers in casual games will sometimes “take a mulligan” and re-play their first shot with a new ball without counting the original bad shot.
What is a forecaddie in golf?
Some think it comes from the golf term “forecaddie”, which is a person that stands in a forward position on each golf hole to pinpoint where the players’ balls go. “Forecaddies” are often in the line of fire and need to be warned when a ball is flying toward them.
Why do you yell "fore"?
But if you hit a wild shot that flies toward golfers on other holes, bystanders, or spectators, you must yell “fore” loudly to warn them about the incoming ball. Like many other golf terms, the origin of “fore” is not entirely known.
What is an ace in golf?
An “ace” is one of the most coveted accomplishments in the golf. It is simply an alternate golf term for “ hole-in-one “, which is when a player needs only one shot to get his ball in the hole. Virtually all “aces” or “holes-in-one” occur on par 3s. That’s because all players are expected to reach the green on par 3s with their tee shot ...
How do you keep your cumulative score?
Players often keep their cumulative score for an entire round by tracking how many shots over or under they are relative to par. If a golfer makes two pars to start a round, he is “even par” for the round. If a player opens with two birdies, he is “two under” for the round.
Where are links golf courses located?
Links courses are also usually located on ocean coasts, where strong, changing winds play a major factor. “Links” golf courses began in Scotland with the very first golf courses ever built.
How many golf terms are there?
Below you’ll find 100+ golf terms commonly used on courses and in clubhouses around the world.
What is a hole in golf?
Hole – “Hole” can both describe the physical hole on the green that you have to hit the ball into or the (usually 18) individual sections of the golf course. The latter meaning includes everything from the tee box to the green (and the physical hole in the green). Examples of both uses:
What is the fairway in golf?
Fairway – The “Fairway” is the portion (s) of a golf hole where the grass is cut the shortest between the tee box and the green. On golf holes where you can’t reach the green in one stroke (most par-4s and all par-5s), your goal should be to keep your ball on the fairway before getting to the green.
What is a tee box?
Tee Box/Tees/Teeing Ground – The “Tee Box,” “Teeing Ground,” or “Tees” is the area of a golf hole where players begin the hole. This area is the only area that you can use a golf tee to “tee up” the golf ball. Golf courses use color-coding systems for their tee boxes. Historically, the most commonly used colors are red, white, and blue.
What is a course rating?
Course Rating – “Course Rating” represents an estimate of the average strokes a scratch golfer is expected to make in the best 50% of rounds they have for a given course. Therefore, a golf course with a higher course rating should be more difficult than a course with a lower rating.
What does "out of bounds" mean in golf?
Out of Bounds – “Out of Bounds” is the area of a golf course that the course staff or tournament committee has ruled play is not allowed. In casual play, many golfers will just drop a ball where they think their ball went out of bounds and add a penalty stroke to their score.
How many strokes can you subtract from your handicap?
The handicap system can get a bit complicated, but here are some examples to give you the general idea: If you’re a 20-handicap golfer competing in a stroke-play golf tournament that factors in handicaps, you can subtract 20 strokes from your score. Golfer A has a handicap of 20 and Golfer B has a handicap of 10.
What does "up and down" mean in golf?
Up and Down – If you have missed a green in regulation, and you are still able to make par. For example, if you hit your approach shot in the rough, and then pitched the ball on the green and made your putt – you have successfully gotten up and down for par.
What does it mean when a golf putt rolls around the cup?
Lip Out – When your putt rolls around the edge of the cup causing it to change directions. This is terribly frustrating because that means you almost made the putt! Slice – This is probably the most popular of golf terms as it relates to a player’s swing. A slice is occurs when a golfer puts excessive curve on the ball.
What does it mean when a golfer says "I chunked it"?
Chunk – When a golfer says “I chunked it” that usually means that they made contact behind the golf ball, and their club had dug into the ground too deeply. Also could be referred to as hitting it fat. Greenie – If you are playing a gambling format like Nassau usually groups will make side bets.
What is double cross in golf?
Double Cross – When a golfer intends to hit a fade, or a draw but does the complete opposite. For example, if a golfer wanted to hit a fade and then ends up hooking it. Instead of the ball flying from left to right, it goes from right to left. Gimme – When your putt is close enough to the hole that it is considered to be made.
What is sandbagging in golf?
Sandbagging – When a golfer claims they have a handicap that is much higher than their actual playing ability. If golfers compete against each other based on handicap this practice is frowned upon because that golfer will get extra strokes that they technically don’t deserve – don’t be a sandbagger, be honest!
What is a divot in golf?
Divot – The small piece (sometimes large) of turf that comes out when your club makes contact with the ground. Sometimes you don’t even need to take a divot. Flyer – When your ball is in the rough, but propped up a bit then you might have a “flyer” lie. This will cause the ball to travel farther than it normally does.
What is a block in golf?
Block – A block is when a golfer hits a shot directly to the right (for a right-handed golfer)
What are some common golf terms?
From common golf terms like, “par,” ‘birdie” and “mulligan,” to uncommon golf terms like “line,” “break” and “dogleg” having a diverse golf vocabulary might not make you a better golfer, ...
What does "out of bounds" mean in golf?
Out of Bounds: Golf’s point of no return; white stakes designate an area that is out of play for golfers.
What is a gimmie putt?
Gimmie: A putt so short that you wouldn’t miss it, so your golf buddies give it to you. The rule of thumb for measuring gimmie is often “in the leather” which is the length of the grip of your putter.
What is the 19th hole in golf?
19th hole: Golf lingo for the clubhouse bar where your rounds are always enjoyable. Ball Mark: The indentation left behind after your golf ball lands on the green (best to fix these). Break: The movement your golf ball will make on the green after you putt it (or what you will do to your putter after you missed).
What does "you do not want to be visited by the ranger" mean?
You do not want to be visited by the ranger, that means you are a slowpoke which will not win you fans on the golf course. Rough: The areas of longer grass that line the fairway (it’s where you don’t want to be). Sand Trap: The sand-filled pits of despair that line fairways and guard the greens. Slang for bunker.
How many putts to get golf ball in hole?
Three-Putt: When it takes you three putts to get your golf ball in the hole; also the quickest way your putter earns a trip to the time-out closet.
What is match play in golf?
Match Play: A one vs. one format where golfers compete against each other on a hole-by-hole basis.
What is a golf tip?
Playing the Tips: A term referring to a golfer’s decision to play from the tee boxes that are the farthest from the hole. This is not recommended for beginners because playing longer also gives you different angles and hazards.
What does "shank" mean in golf?
Shank: When you hit the ball with the rounded hosel of your club rather than the face. This almost inevitably sends your ball directly to the right and is one of the most embarrassing things you can do in golf. You may be familiar with the “Shank” scene in Tin Cup which is a perfect explanation of the term.
What does sandbagging mean in golf?
Sandbagging: When a golfer claims he is much worse at golf than he actually is. If you are playing in a tournament based on handicap, sandbagging your handicap is frowned upon.
What is the par in golf?
Par: The number of strokes that a golfer should need to complete a hole. Every hole on a golf course is rated either a par-3, par-4, or par-5. Anything below that number adds to your score in tournament play and anything below that number subtracts from it.
What is a bogey in golf?
Bogey: When you make 1 stroke above par. For instance, if it takes you 5 shots to get the ball in the hole on a par 4, you have just bogeyed that hole. For many golfers, this is a more than respectable score.
What is a divot in golf?
Divot: The hopefully small piece of turf that comes up with when your club head makes contact with the ground. Divots are normal and natural, but replacing your divots is very important, especially the larger ones.
What is match play in golf?
Match Play: Match play is a 1-on-1 format in golf. Rather than taking an overall score, players compete against each other hole after hole and whoever wins a hole gets a point for that hole. The goal of this style of play is to simply win the most holes.
