Term Definitions

Ace - A hole in one.

Amateur - A golfer who is not paid for playing.

Approach - Normally a short or medium shot played to the putting green or pin – commonly referred to as the "approach shot."

Attend the flag - To hold and then remove the flag while another player putts.  A common courtesy performed when playing a round of golf.

Away - The player farthest from the hole is the first to play, as in "Who's away?"

Bermuda - A type of durable grass seen mostly on courses in the southern states.

Best ball (better ball) - The best score on a hole -- by two or more partners -- in a best ball match.

Birdie - A score of one under par on any given hole.

Bogey - A score of one over par on any given hole.

Break - In reference to putting.  It is the curve due to the slope of a green.

Bunker - A sand trap on a golf course, defined as a hazard.

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.  Carry is especially important when judging the distance to the green over a hazard (water, bunker, etc.).

Cart fee - The rental fee a player pays for using a golf cart during a round of golf.

Chip - A short, lofted shot, from around the green.

Course - The slang term for golf course.  An area of land designed for playing golf, occupying anywhere from 50 to 300 acres, and having fixed boundaries (houses, fences, etc.).

Course rating - The comparison of playing one course, as opposed to another, in terms of difficulty, used in USGA (United States Golf Association) handicapping.

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.  Many courses provide a container of sand in golf carts to fill your divots.

Dogleg - A left or right bend in the fairway.

Eagle - A score of two under par on any given hole.

Executive course - A shorter golf course in overall length (typically measured in yards) in comparison to a regulation length golf course.  An executive golf course predominantly features par 4 and par 3 holes.  These courses are excellent for beginning golfers to play before they move on to a regular course.

Fairway - The area defined on a golf course where the grass is cut at a shorter length than the rough.  The rough is usually along both sides of the fairway.  Playing a golf shot from the fairway typically makes for an easier shot.

Fore - A warning call/shout yelled out by a player when their shot threatens another player.

Foursome - Four golfers playing together.

Gimme - A short putt so close to the hole that your playing partners allow for you to simply pick it up – without taking the time to actually putt the ball into the hole.  You'll hear, “That's a gimme!” during a casual and friendly round of golf, but it is not within the actual rules of golf.  A “gimme” still counts as a stroke.  It is just typically used as a time-saving and friendly gesture -- that is offered by your fellow playing competitors.

Grain - This term is important when determining your putting strategy on the green.  It is the direction in which the blades of grass point on the green, which contributes to the speed and direction of your putt.

Green - The area of a golf hole on the course designed for putting.  The grass is extremely short and well manicured.

Greens fee - A fee charged a golfer to play on a golf course.  Prices do vary.  A public course is usually less expensive than a golf resort.

Grip - The top part of the club held by the golfer, usually made from leather or rubber.  Also, commonly used in reference to the manner in which the club itself, is held.  The two most common grips are the “Vardon”/overlapping grip (named after golfer Harry Vardon, in which the pinky finger of the bottom hand overlaps between the index and middle finger of the upper hand), and the “Interlocking” grip, in which the index finger of the top hand is interlocked with the pinky finger of the bottom hand.

Handicap - Designed to allow golfers of all playing levels to compete together on an equitable basis.  This is an allowance of strokes given to a player, based on their past and current performance.  For example, someone with a 10 handicap would typically shoot 82 -- if par for the 18-hole golf course is 72 (72 + 10 = 82).

Hazard - Any obstructive or difficult feature of a golf course.  This may include lakes, ponds, fences, molehills, bunkers, etc.

Hook - For the right-handed golfer, it is a golf shot that curves strongly from right to left.  Moreover, for the right-handed golfer, this shot usually lands left of their target (the direction would be opposite for the left-handed golfer).  Note:  a lesser hooking action is commonly referred to as a “draw”.  A draw is a controlled right to left shot with a moderate curving action.

Hosel - The hollow portion of the clubhead where the shaft is attached.  The hosel is also often referred to as the “neck”.

Impact - The exact moment in which the clubface makes contact with the golf ball.

Lie - The position of the ball on the course.  You'll often hear a player say, “I have a good/bad lie”.  It is also used when a player has played a certain number of strokes on any given hole – “She is lying three, and she still has the chance to par the 17^th”.  With lie, in reference to equipment, it is the angle at which the clubhead is set on the shaft.

Links - A golf course situated on a seaside terrain.  Also slang for golf course.

Loft - The angle on the face of a golf club.

LPGA - Ladies Professional Golf Association.  This organization includes tournament operations and a teaching and club professional division.

LPGA Tour - Ladies Professional Golf Association of America for touring women golf professionals.  The Ladies Tour conducts over 40 events a year.

Majors/Major Championships - The Professional tournaments considered the most important within the golfing community.  For the Women's Tour: The Dinah Shore Classic, the LPGA Championship, the du Maurier Classic, and the U.S. Women's Open.  For the Men's Tour: The Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship.  Note: Golf purists refer to the British Open as “The Open”.

Mulligan - The chance to replay your last shot – penalty free.  A mulligan is not within the actual rules of golf.

O.B. - Out of Bounds.  The area lying outside of the defined golf course.

Par - The set score, in strokes, assigned to each hole on the golf course.  The par for each hole is displayed on the scorecard.  You'll have a great round if you score “the par” on any course!

Penalty stroke - An additional stroke added to a player's score for any of the many possible rules violations.

PGA of America - The Professional Golfers Association of America.  They are the governing body of American professional golf.

PGA Tour - Based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.  The PGA Tour governs the men's professional Tours within the United States.  They conduct almost 150 tournaments a year.

Pin - Slang for the flagstick.

Pin-high - Reference to a ball on the green that is even with the pin, but off to either side of the pin.

Pitch - An approach shot to the green.  The player does not use a full swing during a pitch shot.  This shot is shorter than a normal swing, but longer than a chip shot.

Play through - When a group or player will pass a group of slower golfers playing on the same hole, or the hole ahead.  In terms of proper etiquette, it is recommended that you ask permission before playing through other golfers.

Professional - A player who receives payment for teaching golf or playing in tournaments.  Often, usually referred to as “the Pro” or a “Pro”.

Putter - The club specifically designed for putting.  It has very little loft (the angle on the clubface itself) and is usually shorter than other clubs.

USGA - United States Golf Association.

Range - A commonly used slang word used to describe the practice area on the property of a golf course.

Rough - The area on the golf course where the grass is longer and thicker than the fairway.

Scramble - A format in which all golfers hit the ball, starting at the tee (beginning of each golf hole).  The ball in the best position is selected after each shot, and the process starts all over again, until the ball is putted/holed out.  This format is good for beginners, as it alleviates the pressure of playing with better players.

Scratch - Used when referring to a player’s handicap.  A scratch golfer is a player who has a 0 handicap.  In other words, a person who plays “par golf”.

Semi-private course - A course that has members, but is still open to the public.

Shank - A shot struck on the clubs hosel that travels dead right (for a right-handed player).  The shank is typically considered the worst shot in golf – even worse than a “whiff”.

Slice - A shot that curves violently to the right (for a right-handed golfer).  Unfortunately, this is the most common ball flight in golf.

Slope (slope rating) - Adjusts your handicap to the difficulty of the course you play.  The more difficult the slope rating on the course, the more strokes the player will need.

Tee - Typically, a wooden peg, on which the golf ball is placed for striking the ball at the beginning of any given golf hole.  The tee/teeing ground is also referred to as the point from which the play of any given hole begins.

Threesome - Three players playing a round of golf together.

Top/topped - To hit the golf ball above its center.  A topped shot will dive downward, and roll, or hop along the ground rather than rise into the air.

Twosome - Two golfers playing together.

Whiff - To swing and miss the golf ball completely.  A whiff is counted as a stroke – because the intent to hit the ball was there.  A “practice swing” invokes no intent to hit the ball.

Yips - A slang word for missing many short putts – typically due to nerves or just simple uncertainty.

Thank you,

"Keep it in the short grass!" - The Golf Channel

Feel free to contact / e-mail me (bottom right-hand corner of this page) with any and all comments regarding these tips/notes.  With your suggestions, I can continually make these tips as helpful to all of you as often as possible!