
Key Takeaways: Dogleg Golf Holes
- In golf, "dogleg" refers to a hole that bends, as opposed to running in a straight line of play from the tee to the green.
- The bend, often called the corner of the hole, can be modest or, on the other end of the scale, close to a right angle.
- Such holes are considered fun to play by many golfers, who like the different look and different strategy.
What is a dogleg hole in golf?
A dogleg hole is one that is crooked or bends like the hind leg of a dog. Doglegs tend to be strategic holes where the player must aim to find a suitable spot on the fairway from the tee with which to get around the bend, or dogleg of the hole, with the next shot.
How do you use dogleg in a sentence?
"Dogleg" can also be used as a verb: "This hole doglegs to the right about 260 yards up the fairway.". A hole that has two bends in its fairway — which only happens on par-5 holes — is called a "double dogleg.".
Why are doglegs so popular in golf?
Such holes are considered fun to play by many golfers, who like the different look and different strategy. Doglegs are very common in golf. They are favorites of golf course architects because they present challenges and options to the golfer. And for the same reason, golfers often enjoy them as well.
What happens when you play a dogleg on the fairway?
When playing a dogleg you will typically be forced to aim in a different direction from the hole as the fairway is not in a straight line towards the hole. Why is it called a dogleg in golf?

Why is it called a dogleg in golf?
Dogleg. Some holes are deliberately designed with no direct line-of-sight from the tee to the green. A hole may bend either to the left or to the right and this bend is called a "dogleg", in reference to the similarity to a dog's ankle.
What does dogleg right mean?
Dogleg right is a golf hole with a fairway that bends to the right in order to obscure the green from the tee. The term comes from the resemblance of the bend of the fairway to a dog's leg.
How do you play dogleg golf?
Follow these four steps to dominate a dogleg rightConsider you options. As with most doglegs, the worst trouble lurks on the inside—but two bunkers guard the elbow, too. ... Stick to your go-to shot. If you struggle to hit the fade, this probably isn't the time to learn how. ... Don't be a hero. ... Swing through it.
What is a dogleg shape?
Definition of dogleg (Entry 1 of 3) : crooked or bent like a dog's hind leg a sharp dogleg bend in the fairway.
Why does a golf course have 18 holes?
Andrews formalized the rules and stated, “One round of the Links, or 18 holes is reckoned a match, unless otherwise stipulated.” Legend has it that the reason for 18 holes is that a bottle of whiskey contained the same number of shots as holes on a course, thus providing just enough drink for a shot on each hole.
What is a worm burner in golf?
worm burner (plural worm burners) (baseball) A hard-hit ground ball. Jones smashes a worm burner between third and short. (golf) A low, hard-hit shot.
How do I hit dogleg left?
Use your normal grip. Don't overthink the dogleg left hole. You have to know your range. If you are trying to hit a draw so that your ball flies into the part of the hole that bends to the left but it is past where you can drive the ball, just hit a straight shot and make your adjustment on the second shot.
What's a birdie in golf?
Birdie: In the 19th century, the term "bird" was the equivalent of "cool" or "excellent" - golf scholars believe this is where the term came from. An Atlantic City, New Jersey, course claims that the term originated there in 1903. The meaning being a score of one under par.
How the right leg works in the downswing?
0:448:18GOLF: How The Right Leg Works In The Downswing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe right leg would extend. Then as we come down it flexes. And then it would extend again and thenMoreThe right leg would extend. Then as we come down it flexes. And then it would extend again and then start turning the knee. And the um. The femur bone would start turning through the ball.
Should left leg be straight at impact?
Hit a very light shot, twisting your hips as you follow through and feeling the pressure come to the front leg. Try and straighten the left leg out at impact. As you follow through, keep the left leg straight the whole way through.
What is a dogleg hole?
our editorial process. Brent Kelley. Updated January 05, 2019. A "dogleg" or "dogleg hole" is a golf hole that is crooked, like the hind leg of a dog: A hole that bends at some point along its length. The golfer tees off to a fairway that goes (generally) straight until reaching the bend, and then the fairway veers left or right ...
What holes are doglegs?
Doglegs can be par-4 holes or par-5 holes .
How are Doglegs Measured?
Dogleg holes are measured along their most likely playing route. That is to say, they are not measured as-the-crow-flies from tee to green, but rather from the teeing ground to the corner, and from the corner to the green, generally down the middle of the fairway. The measurement is a sight-line measurement (today, most likely using survey equipment and/or GPS), not an along-the-ground measurement that takes into account contours of the fairway.
How to play dogleg holes?
To make good decisions about playing a dogleg hole, you need to know: 1 The distance from the teeing ground to the turning point of the hole; 2 What direction the hole turns after the corner, and how sharply it turns.
What is a hole with two bends called?
A hole that has two bends in its fairway — which only happens on par-5 holes — is called a "double dogleg. ". The Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms cites a 1902 article that appeared in Golf Illustrated as an early example of comparing such a hole to the shape of a dog's leg:
How many degrees are dogleg bends?
The bend in a dogleg hole can be small (20 to 30 degrees), significant (45 degrees) or in some cases severe (rarely, up to 90 degrees). The area where the dogleg bends is called the turning point or the corner.
Why are doglegs so popular?
Doglegs are very common in golf. They are favorites of golf course architects because they present challenges and options to the golfer. And for the same reason, golfers often enjoy them as well.
What is a dogleg?
A dog’s leg is not straight. A dogleg is a hole that isn’t straight. We wouldn’t go as far as saying that straight holes are dull but variety is the spice of life. Golf is made more interesting by holes that change direction.
Any other business?
Doglegs add a strategic element to golf. Sometimes, they can tempt you to cut off the corner and make the next shot that much shorter. Often, they pivot around a bunker that sits inside the angle of the dogleg.
What is a dogleg hole?
A dogleg is a par-4 or par-5 hole that curves left or right (and occasionally both) from tee to green. Designers build dogleg s to introduce strategic elements that most straight holes lack. Understanding and identifying these strategic elements is the key to success on holes that dogleg. [>>>]
What is the first hole of the Masters?
Named Tea Olive, the first hole is a 445 yard Par 4 with a slight ~[ ⇑] right with a bunker guarding the right side of the fairway. The opening hole of any tournament is nerve racking, and that will be more accentuated here for the players at the Masters. [>>>]
