Golfers often use these phrases out on the golf course whether it is during tournament play or during a friendly round. Another way you can learn simple golf terms is by watching the sports tournaments live. Tune in to any tournament, PGA championship, for example, and spectate the gameplay. You’ll learn fast this way. Scoring Terms Golf Handicap
Full Answer
What are the rules of golf?
Etiquette – Golf is a gentleman’s game and etiquette is the rules that govern a player’s conduct and behavior. Even Par – When a golfer’s score matches the 18-hole par for that golf course Fade – The opposite of a draw, a fade moves from left to right during flight, for a right-handed golfer.
Why is it important to learn vocabulary in golf?
Some of the vocabulary that you will learn here could save you from an embarrassing situation or help you understand what the people you are playing with are saying. The first thing that every golfer needs to know are the commonly used “scoring” terms that you hear out on the course.
What is the winner of a golf tournament determined by?
The winner is determined not by the total strokes but by the number of holes won. Marker – A marker is a small disk of plastic or metal to mark the ball position of a ball on the green. MDF – An acronym for golfers that means that they made the cut but did not finish the tournament.
What is a dogleg right on a golf course?
A dogleg right or left refers to a straight fairway that is followed by an abrupt turn one way or the other. The ability to hit a fade or a draw comes in handy on these holes. Mulligan: An unofficial do-over of sorts.
How do I learn golf terms?
2:314:43Paige Spiranac - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo on your scorecard. It would be a two with a circle. And then minus one so that means you are oneMoreSo on your scorecard. It would be a two with a circle. And then minus one so that means you are one under par. If you make a four on a par. Three that's a bogey or plus one.
What are the terms used in a golf game?
BackThe last nine holes of a golf course. Also a tee position that makes hole the longest.Best Ball / Better BallBest score on a hole by partners in a best-ball match.BirdieOne under par score on a hole.BogeyOne over par score on a hole.9 more rows
What are some of the terms used in golf and what do they mean?
Golf Terms and Definitions. Ace - A hole in one. Address - the final position taken by a golfer just before the swing. Adjusted Gross Score - Your score after you apply your handicap stroke allowance. Alternate Shot - Another twist of stoke play.
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 does F * mean in golf?
What Does F Mean On A Golf Leaderboard? Sometimes, in the blue circle on the image above, you will see the letter “F” instead of a number like a 65 or 1-18. This simply means “Finished” and is another way of saying that player has completed their round for the day.
What does P mean on a golf club?
Drivers are available in a variety of lofts. Wedges typically don't have numbers. Instead that have letters such as P or PW for pitching wedge and S for sand wedge.
What does Turkey mean 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. Click here to return to NCG's Golf Glossary.
How do you cheat on a golf driver?
3:575:083 SET UP 'CHEATS' TO DRIVE IT LONGER - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNice wide stance set the upper body behind the golf ball. And give it a hit. Now you're not reallyMoreNice wide stance set the upper body behind the golf ball. And give it a hit. Now you're not really gonna see the ball flies on that but that was very high. Look like it had quite low spin.
What does lying 3 mean in golf?
'Lie' as Scoring Shorthand For example, "what do you lie?" is a questions that means, "how many strokes have you used to reach this point?" "I'm lying 3" means "I've used three strokes in advancing the ball to this point."
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 does an ostrich mean in golf?
Supposedly, this is the name assigned to completing a hole having struck the ball five fewer times than par. In other words, this is what happens when you hole-out a Par 7 with two strokes or shoot a Hole-In-One on a Par Six. Frankly, this is a case of folklore.
What is 3 birdies in a row called?
So three birdies in a row is either called the hat trick or a turkey.
Where did the word "golf" come from?
Many believe it is derived from the Scots-language word “goulf”.
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.
What is a bogey in golf?
A bogey? Let’s start simply with the golf terms “par”, “birdie” and “bogey”. All three of these golf terms refer to scoring. “Par” represents the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to make on the hole or course. Every golf hole has a “par” assigned to it. Most holes are either a par 3, par 4, or par 5.
What is even par in golf?
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. If a player makes two bogeys to start a round, he is “two over.”. Similarly, if a player makes a birdie on the 1st hole and follows it with a bogey on No. 2, he is “even par.”.
What is the famous link course?
Famous links courses include the Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Turnberry in Scotland. The Open Championship, or British Open, is always played on links courses. Links golf usually requires golfers to play their balls on a lower trajectory, using the ground to their advantage.
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.
What is a mulligan 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.
What does the handicap mean in golf?
The lower the handicap, the better the player. Handicaps allow payers with different skill levels to compete with each other.
What is a links golf course?
Links-style golf courses are courses with a natural and open layout, lying on sandy soil heavily affected by the wind. Traditional links course have no trees but thick rough grasses.
What is the best grass for putting greens?
Also called Turfgrass. It is classified as a “cool-season grass,” which means it grows far better in cooler climates than in warmer ones. Bentgrass is commonly the first choice of grass for putting greens in any location where it can be grown.
What is a fat shot in golf?
Used referring to golf shots where impact was behind the ball. For a good golf shot, your aim to hit the ball first, then the ground. Fat shots travel significantly shorter.
What is a shank in golf?
Many consider this a rude golf term. Used to describe a shot you’ve hit off the hosel of your club. Shanks typically start severely right of your target (for right-handed players) and don’t travel far.
What happens if you hit a golf ball in a hazard?
If you hit your ball into a hazard or out of bounds, you’ll add a penalty to your score. Usually, in the form of adding 1-2 points to your score, for the hole, the penalty occurred.
How to maintain golf greens?
Method of maintaining golf greens. Done by punching tiny holes into the greens that open up growing room for grassroots. Aerating greens make them roll less pure but are a necessity for maintenance.
What does "away" mean in golf?
Away – The player that is farthest away from the hole and is up to play.
What is the importance of alignment in golf?
Alignment – This refers to the position of the player’s body relative to the intended target. Good alignment is critical for accurate shots.
What is a baseball grip?
Baseball Grip – A type of grip that resembles a baseball bat grip. Others might call it a 10-finger grip. Below the Hole – A term that refers to a putt where the hole is at a higher elevation than the ball. Big Dog – A Driver. Bite – A term used by golfers for a golf ball to stop rolling.
Why is backspin important in golf?
It is important for distance and accuracy. Backspin – Spin is very important in most aspects golf and you will often come across the term when comparing clubs or in golfing instructions. Simply put, more backspin will give you a high ball with a fair amount of control.
What is an ace 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.
What is bump and run golf?
Bump and Run – A chip shot around the green involving a low lofted iron. This type of chip is great for a large part of the green to work with.
What is the center of gravity in golf?
Center of Gravity – While this term can also be used to talk about a player it is generally related to the design and balancing of the golf club. To keep the concept simple, the farther back and lower the center of gravity (CG), the higher the trajectory will be according to the loft angle. This will give golfers an easier launch that generally has good backspin. Low handicap players do not need this advantage as much and tend to prefer a progressive CG with a higher CG on the longer irons.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
What are Golfing Terms
I am sure you have watched golf and it might seem like a foreign language because we have all this terminology for all these different shots that we hit and how we hit them. This might sound confusing but once you read this golf terminology guide, it will all make sense.
Golf Shot Shapes
When golfers think about golf shots they often imagine a perfect shot that just flies straight down the fairway. In reality, golf is all about controlling your ball to get it where you want it to go and golf shots come in many different shapes. Let’s look at some of the different golf shot shapes and discuss what they mean.
What is PAR in Golf
According to USGA the “Par” reflects the score a scratch player is expected to score on a given hole and may be allocated depending on the playing difficulty of the hole, including any effective length correction factors, for example, elevation changes, forced lay-ups, and prevalent wind.
Course Management
Course management is the key to avoiding any unnecessary shots off the golf club. Hitting into areas where you can advance towards your target will help reduce how many times you need to use your putter on each hole.
Final Thoughts
If golf is a sport that you enjoy playing or want to get into, then it’s important to know the different golf terminology. Learning golf terms will not only help you understand what your friends are talking about when they’re out on the course but can actually make golf more fun and enjoyable for everyone.
Why is it important to understand golf?
A complete understanding of all the various terms used in golf will help you enjoy the sport more, and it’ll also ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises in any golf bet you make. It wouldn’t be fun to think you’d won a bet on how many birdies a player would score during a round, only to realize after the fact that you’d actually wagered on how many bogeys he would get instead.
What does "putt" mean in golf?
The word “putt” is based on a Scottish word that means “shove” or “push,” describing the different style of shot golfers use while on the green. 7. Birdie, Eagle, and Albatross. Birdie, eagle, and albatross are all terms used when a golfer completes a hole in fewer shots than par.
What is par in golf?
1. Par. Par is a standard number of shots in which golfers are expected to finish a hole. For example, if par on a hole is 4, it suggests a golfer should typically complete the hole in 4 shots.
How many shots to finish above par?
If the golfer were to complete the hole in 3 shots, he or she would be finishing the hole below par, while needing 5 shots or more would be finishing above par. Par on a hole can be as low as 3 and as high as 5, although the majority of holes on a golf course have a par of 4.
Why are bunkers important in golf?
Although bunkers at courses today are planned and built by course designers in an attempt to make the holes more challenging and penalize errant shots (especially around the green), their inclusion in golf came naturally. Most early golf courses were located near bodies of water, and sand either blew towards the sea or was carried towards it by small rivers, often settling in spots around the course.
Where is the tee box?
Tee Box. A tee box is located at the start of every golf hole , marking the only time on a hole that golfers are permitted to use a tee (a wood or plastic peg that holds the ball off the ground) when hitting a shot.
Why is the fairway used in golf?
Although it’s unclear why the word “fairway” is used in golf, some believe its usage is based on an old nautical term for a navigable channel or best course to take.
Keeping Score
- Ace
Ace, or also known as Hole-in-One, is the best score you can make on any hole. Ace’s happen most often on Par 3 holes but can come up on Par 4s or short Par 5s. Your odds of making a hole-in-one are about 12,500 to 1. - Albatross
More common than an ace, but still very rare, is an albatross. You need to hole out on a par 5 with your second shot to score an eagle.
Describing The Shot
- Chip
A short golf shot, typically made from around the green. - Drive
The first shot you take on a hole. A drive can be played with any club – not just your driver.
Describing The Golf Course
- Fairway
The short grass, between tee box and hole. - Flag / Pin
Marks the hole location. A long stick with a flag on top, used to indicate wind direction from a distance.
Golf Terminology
- Fore
Shouted after mistakenly hitting your ball towards a group of people. The word fore originated during the Middle Ages and indicates something is “ahead” or “in front of.” - Address
Position you take just before hitting your shot.