
What does it mean when a golf ball is holed?
So, that means a ball is not considered holed until the ball is completely in the cup and has remained in the hole. A golfer shouldn't pluck their ball out of the hole until the ball has come to a rest or is certain not to bounce out, otherwise that would be a one-stroke penalty.
What is a hole bet in golf?
A type of wager between golfers that is essentially three separate bets. Money is wagered on the best score in the front 9, back 9, and total 18 holes. The number of strokes taken for a hole (or round) after accounting for a golfer's handicap.
What do you say when a ball goes past the hole?
If a ball appears to be going past the hole a player may shout “pray” or a more humorous way can be to shout, “grow teeth!”. To be prepared for a different situation where you need to hit a certain shot you will need to take additional clubs – one higher and one lower known as a Bracket.
What is a hole in the ground called?
Hole A circular hole in the ground which is also called “the cup”, 4.25 inches in diameter. Hole in One Getting the ball directly from the tee into the hole with one stroke. [I] Iron A club with a flat-faced solid metal head generally numbered from 1 to 9 indicating increasing loft.

What are terms used in golf?
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 is it called when you make it in the hole one shot over par?
Bogey: A hole played one stroke over par. Or you could end up with a double bogey (two over par), a triple bogey (three over) or worse — it is not uncommon to suffer from a bogey five. Chip: A short shot intended to play the ball onto the green and as near to the hole as possible.
What is a hole-in-one on a par 6 called?
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.
What is to par and thru in golf?
Under Par - The term "under par" describe a player's score when they've taken fewer strokes than par up to a given point of the golf course. If a player took 3 strokes to complete a par-3, 3 strokes to complete a par-4, and 4 strokes to complete a par-5 hole, their score could be described as "two under par" or "-2".
What does "hole" mean in golf?
The term "hole" has several meanings in a golf context. It can refer to the hole in the ground on the putting green; to the whole hole, from tee to green; or, used as a verb, "hole" or "to hole" means to get the golf ball into the hole on the green. That's the object of the game.
How deep is a hole in golf?
In other words, the hole is literally the hole in the putting green. The hole on the green is 4.25 inches in diameter and is at least four inches deep according to the rules. 2. One of the units of play on a golf course: That area from the teeing ground, down the fairway and to the putting green constitutes one hole.
How far down should a hole be in a putting green?
The lining must be sunk at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) below the putting green surface, unless the nature of the soil requires that it be closer to the surface. The word “hole” (when not used as a Definition in italics) is used throughout the Rules to mean the part of the course associated with a particular teeing area, putting green and hole. ...
What is a dimple in golf?
Dimples, by reducing drag, allow a golf ball to stay in the air for a longer flight than would be possible with a smooth ball. Divot (i) The chunk of grass and earth displaced during a stroke. (ii) The indentation on the green caused by the ball on an approach shot; more properly called a pitch mark or ball mark.
What is a bogey in golf?
Bogey A hole played one stroke over par. Break The tendency of a putted ball to roll left or right of a straight line. This deviation may be a result of a number of factors or combination of factors including uneven surface, grain of the grass, how firmly the putt is struck or, in extreme circumstances, wind.
How many tees are there on a golf course?
Most courses have at least three sets of tees, some have more than twice that many. The areas where tee markers are placed are called “tee boxes”. Tips The championship tees on a golf course are known as “the tips”. At Silverstone, the tips would be our set of silver tees.
What does curved shape mean in golf?
The curved shape of the flight of the ball is a result of sideways spin. For that reason “slice” does not refer to a putt which “breaks”. Slope Rating Slope Rating is a number, from 55 to 155, used to determine the level of difficulty of a golf course for a bogey golfer. An “average” course has a slope rating of 113.
How many clubs can a golfer carry?
A player is allowed to carry up to fourteen (14) clubs during a round of golf. (ii) An organized group of golfers, usually owning or managing a golf course. (iii) The entirety of a golf facility, including course, club-house, pro-shop, practice areas etc. Clubhead The part of a club that used to strike the ball.
What is a short shot 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.
What is a whiff in golf?
Whiff An attempt to strike the ball where the player fails to make contact with the ball. A whiff must be counted as a stroke. Wood A type of club where the head is generally bulbous in shape except for the flatter clubface. Named because the head was originally made of wood, although almost all are now metal.
What is it called when a player leads by as many holes as there are holes left to play?
For example, four up with four holes to play is called "dormie-four".
Why are there back nine holes in golf?
The back nine holes of a golf course, so named because older links courses were designed to come back "in" toward the clubhouse after going "out" on the front nine.
What is a scramble in football?
A system of team play whereby each player takes a tee shot, after which the most favorable ball position is chosen. All the team's players then take a shot from this new position, and so on. (Also known as a Texas Scramble)
What is a dormie in golf?
A possible occurrence in match play when a player or team converts a lead into a victory without passing through dormie, a guaranteed minimum of a tie at the end of regulation play—for example, converting an 8-hole lead with nine to play into a 9-hole lead with eight to play, or converting a 1-hole lead with two to play into a 2-hole lead with one to play.
What is a clubhouse on a golf course?
A building on a golf course providing facilities for golfers, typically including changing rooms, bar, restaurant, offices for club officials and noticeboards with information about local rules, the conditions of the course, upcoming events etc. A clubhouse may incorporate a pro shop and dormie house. The clubhouse is normally located adjacent to the first and final holes of the course.
How many clubs can a golfer carry?
A player is allowed to carry up to fourteen (14) clubs during a round of golf. (ii) An organized group of golfers, usually owning or managing a golf course. (iii) The entirety of a golf facility, including course, club-house, pro-shop, practice areas etc.
How do you play a 3 player golf game?
Players begin all playing against one another until one player wins a hole outright by posting a better score than all other playing partners on a hole. That player is then 1 up versus all of their combined playing partners who now form a team against the player leading and try to get the match back to all-square. In a 3 player game, after someone goes 1-up, the match then takes the form of the leading player versus the scores of the other two players.
When is a golf ball holed?
Under the Rules of Golf, the golf ball is holed or considered to be in the hole when the ball "is both at rest within the circumference of the hole and the entire ball is below the level of the lip.".
What is the object of golf?
The object of golf is a pretty simple one: get the golf ball in the hole in the fewest number of strokes possible. However, as any golfer could tell you, playing golf is a whole lot more complicated than that one-liner -- including defining when the golf ball is actually in the hole. When most weekend warriors play golf, ...
What happens if you put a ball in a hole with a flagstick in?
If a player's ball goes in the hole -- either partially or entirely -- with the flagstick in, they must make sure the ball get to the bottom of the cup and comes to a rest without touching the ball.
Why do golfers wiggle flagsticks around?
Golfers typically wiggle the flagstick around in its place to get the ball to a stop at the bottom of the cup. Then the golfer can take the ball from the hole, and it's considered in the hole.
Is it good to play golf if the ball goes in the cup?
When most weekend warriors play golf, they're not thinking about the technicality of when the golf ball is actually considered to be in the hole under the Rules of Golf. If the ball goes in the cup, it counts. If the ball grazes the lip, or even goes part of the way down, many amateur golfers will call that good enough for their edification.
Why is it called a bite in golf?
Bite: If a ball has lots of backspin it is said to “bite” because it stays close to where it landed or may spin back toward the player. If a ball appears to be going past the hole a player may shout “pray” or a more humorous way can be to shout, “grow teeth!”. Bogey: A score of one over par. Bracket:
What does "double eagle" mean in golf?
Albatross (aka Double Eagle): This means a score of three strokes under Par, which as you can imagine is very rare. All square: Tied score in match play. Army Golf: Like a marching rhythm: Left-right-left, in the game of golf it means hitting the ball out of bounds to the left then to the right the next time.
What is the best game of golf?
A golfer’s best game which is executed on a regular basis. Hitting the ball into the hole in one swing of the club. When the putted ball refuses to fall into the hole. A golf shot which travels a considerably longer distance than planned.
What is a cabbage in golf?
Cabbage (aka Spinach): If you hit the ball into inescapable thick rough. Can: Refers to the “Cup” on the Green. Carpet: Term which refers to the “Green”. Casual water: A build-up of water on the golf course after heavy rain that is not part of a water hazard. The player can move the ball without penalty.
What is a stick in golf?
A stroke made above the equator of the ball which is mis-hit, resulting in a line-drive trajectory. Sticks: The plural “sticks” means golf clubs not to be confused with flagstick. Stroke play: A golf format in which the objective is to finish the game using the fewest total shots.
What is Mickey Mouse golf?
Mickey Mouse course: Refers to a course with many short holes and bad maintenance. Mulligan: Referring to a second shot from the Tee, after a bad first shot. Match play: A golf format where the goal is to win individual holes rather than tallying the total of all the strokes.
What is the front foot of a golf ball?
The "front foot" is the left one, closest to the target. Back in the Stance - At address means that you stand with the ball closer to your right foot than to your left foot (right-handed golfer). When hitting a wedge, for instance, it is generally accepted that you should have the ball back in your stance.
What is a divot in golf?
Divot - A piece of turf removed with a golf shot. It is proper etiquette to always replace the divot, and to step the turf back in its original place. No relief is allowed for a ball coming to rest in a divot mark. Many courses provide a container of sand in golf carts or at the tee box to fill your divots.
What is a scratch golfer?
A scratch golfer is a player who has a 0 handicap. In other words, a person who plays “par golf”. Shamble - Like in a scramble, all members of a team (usually four) tee off and the best ball of the four tee shots is selected. All players move their balls to the spot of the best ball.
What is the rough in golf?
The rough is usually along both sides of the fairway. Playing a golf shot from the fairway typically makes for an easier shot. Fat - H itting the ground before the ball, usually resulting in the ball not going as far as intended. Also called: chunky, fat, thick, heavy.
What is a four ball?
Four ball - A match in which the better ball of two players is played against the better ball of their opponents. Foursome - Four golfers playing together. Also a match in which two players play against another two players with each side playing one ball. Fried Egg - A ball half-buried in the sand.
What does "one up" mean in golf?
One Up - Used in match play to mean having scored one hole more than your opponent. Also, the score of the player who is one up. Open Stance - The left foot is dropped behind the imaginary line of the direction of the ball. This allows the golfer to face more in the direction the ball is going to travel.
What does Caddie mean in golf?
Caddie - A person who carries clubs for a golfer. Could also be defined as a person who gives a golfer advice -- with club selection and course strategy. Carry - The distance a golf ball must travel from impact (the moment the golf ball leaves the clubface) to the point where it first hits the ground.

Overview
T
T An abbreviation on a scoreboard for "Tied", indicating that a player has the same score as another player. A scoreboard showing a T2 for example means that the player is tied for second place with one or more other players. Tap-in Often called a "gimme", a tap-in is a ball that has come to rest very close to the hole, leaving only a very short putt to be played. Often, recreational golfers will "concede" tap-ins to each other to save time. Target-line The target line is the straigh…
0–9
19th hole The clubhouse bar.
A
ace When a player hits the ball directly from the tee into the hole with one stroke. Also called a hole in one. address The act of taking a stance and placing the club-head behind the golf ball. If the ball moves once a player has addressed the ball, there is a one-stroke penalty, unless it is clear that the actions of the player did not cause the ball to move on purpose. If the player addresses the ball and places the head of the club behind it and in doing so causes the ball to m…
ace When a player hits the ball directly from the tee into the hole with one stroke. Also called a hole in one. address The act of taking a stance and placing the club-head behind the golf ball. If the ball moves once a player has addressed the ball, there is a one-stroke penalty, unless it is clear that the actions of the player did not cause the ball to move on purpose. If the player addresses the ball and places the head of the club behind it and in doing so causes the ball to m…
B
Back nine The last nine holes of an 18-hole golf course. Playing the back nine is called "heading in". Backspin A backwards spin that occurs when a player strikes the golf-ball. The spin causes the ball to stop quickly or spin backwards after landing on the green. Back-swing The first part of the golf-swing. The back-swing starts with the club-head immediately behind the ball and ends when the club-head travels back behind the player's head. The term take-away refers to the first …
C
Caddie or Caddy A person, often paid, who carries a player's clubs and offers advice. Players are responsible for the actions of their caddies. Players cannot receive advice from anyone other than their caddie or partner. A Scots form of the French 'Cadet', meaning an assistant or errand-runner. Calcutta A wager, typically in support of one team to win a tournament. In a Calcutta golfers bid, auction style, on the team (or golfer) who they think will win the tournament (you can bid on you…
D
Dead TV-broadcaster slang for a shot in which there is no favorable outcome possible. Dimples The round indentations on a golf ball cover which are scientifically designed to enable the ball to make a steady and true flight. Dimples, by reducing drag, allow a golf ball to stay in the air for a longer flight than would be possible with a smooth ball. Divot (i) The chunk of grass and earth displaced during a stroke. (ii) The indentation on the green caused by the ball on an approach sh…
E
Eagle A hole played in two strokes under par. Epson Tour The current sponsored name for the official developmental tour for the LPGA Tour. Even Having a score equal to that of par. Explosion bunker shot A bunker shot that sends the ball, and accompanying sand, (hopefully) onto the green. Also known as a blast. European Tour One of the world's leading professional golf tours, along with the PGA Tour. Based in Europe, but also co-sanctions the major championships and …