Golf Terminology A to H
A hole made in one stroke.
Address
The stance taken by a player in preparing to hit the ball. The positioning of your body in relationship to the golf ball. Same as "addressing the ball".
Address
To position the body relative to the ball just before hitting it.
Aggregate
Refers to a score made over more than one round of play, or by 2 or more players playing as partners.
Air Shot
When a player intends to play a shot but misses the ball completely.
Albatross
Former name of a "Double Eagle" - the score for a hole made in 3 strokes under par. A British term.
Alternate Ball
Format in which players alternate hitting each other's ball on each stroke until the hole is finished. For example, after teeing off, player 1 hits player 2's ball and vice versa.
Amateur
A golfer who plays without monetary compensation.
Angle of Approach
The angle or degree at which the club moves downward, or upward, toward the ball.
Approach Shot
Normally a short or medium shot played to the putting green or pin.
Apron
The grassy area surrounding the putting surface. See fringe.
Attack
To play with purpose and aggressively.
Attend
the flag To hold and then remove the flag while another player putts.
Away
The ball that is the greatest distance from the hole when more than one golfer is playing. It is the first to be played.
The rear of the hole.
Back Lip
The edge of the bunker that is farthest from the green.
Back Nine
The last 9 holes of an 18 hole course.
Backspin
A reverse spin placed on the ball to make in stop short on the putting surface.
Backswing
The backward part of the swing starting from the ground and going back over the head.
Baff
An obsolete term, Scottish in origin, meaning to hit or graze the ground behind the ball.
Baffle
Previous name given to a 5 wood.
Baffy
A lofted wooden club developed from the baffling-spoon no longer in use. Also the alternate name given to the 4 wood.
Bail Out
To avoid trouble, such as a water hazard, in one area by hitting the ball well into another area.
Balata
A hard, resilient sap-like substance from the South American Balata tree that is used to make a cover for rubber-cored golf balls.
Ball
The round object which we attempt to hit into the hole. Prior to the 17th century it was made of wood or wool in a leather cover. After the 17th century feathers were boiled and compressed, then sewn in a leather cover. It continued to evolve to a solid gutta percha (or a mixture with gutta percha other substances) in the 1850's and strip rubber wound around a core in the 1900's. Presently made of solid compressed synthetic rubber with hundreds of surface indentations which aid in the flight of the ball.
Ball at Rest
The ball has come to a complete stop on the fairway or green.
Ball Embedded
A techinical term for a plugged ball.
Ball Holed
A ball is holed when it is entirely below the level of the lip of the hole.
Ball in Play
A ball is in play as soon as the player has made a stroke in the tee off area. It remains in play until it is holed out except when it is out of bounds, lost, lifted or when another ball is substituted in accordance with the rules.
Ball Marker
A token or a small coin used to spot the balls position on the green prior to lifting it.
Ball Retriever
A long pole with a scoop on the end which is used to collect balls from water hazards and other areas.
Ball Washer
A device found on many tees for cleaning golf balls.
Bandit
See hustler.
Banana Ball
A slice that curves to the right in the shape of a banana. An extreme slice.
Baseball Grip
Holding the club with all ten fingers on the grip.
A sand hazard on the course.
Bend
The curve on a shot created by sidespin.
Bend One
To hook or slice a shot by using sidespin.
Bent Grass
Type of grass seen for the most part on Northern courses. It is of the genus Agrostis, native to North America and Eurasia. It is a hardy and resilient type of grass that can be cut very short.
Bermuda
Type of grass seen mostly on Southern courses in North America. Of the type Cynodon dactylon. Originally native to southern Europe. It was introduced to warmer areas of the world to be used on courses where bent grass will not grow.
Best Ball
A match in which one player plays against the better of two balls or the best ball of three players. Also the better score of two partners in a four-ball or best-ball match.
Better Ball
A match play or stroke play gamewhen two players on a side each play their own ball score the better of their two scores at each hole against the other side.
Birdie
One stroke under par for a hole. Also possibly derived from the term "It flew like a bird" to indicate a good shot.
Bird's Nest
A lie in which the ball is cupped in deep grass.
Bite
The backspin imparted on the ball that makes the ball stop dead, or almost so, with little or no roll.
Blade
The hitting part of an iron clubhead, not including the hosel. 2) To hit the ball with the leading edge of the blade of an iron.
Blade Putter
A type of putter with an iron head with the basic form the same as other standard numbered irons.
Blast
A shot that takes a large amount of sand with it when hitting out of a sand trap. An explosion shot. An aggressive shot. A powerful drive.
Blind Bogey
A type of competition in which each player tries to come the closest to a score that has been drawn out of a hat.
Blind Hole
If the putting green cannot be seen by the player as he approaches, the hole is called blind.
Block
To play a shot by delaying the rotation of the wrists during a swing. This causes the clubface not to be square at the point of impact resulting in a sliced ball.
Bogey
A score of one over par for the hole. To play a hole in one stroke over par.
Bogey Competition
A form of stroke play in which players play against a fixed score at each hole. Scored as in match play with the winner being the most holes.
Bold
A firmly played approach to a well -protected pin. Also, too strong or long a shot.
Borrow
To play to one side of the hole or the other to compensate for the slope of the green.
The edge of the golf course that defines the area of play.
Bowker
This refers to a shot that appears to be horrible and then hits a tree, a rock, a spectator, etc. and bounces back into play. Sample usage: "I would have bogeyed the fourth hole but I got a bowker." Pronounced "boughkur".
Bramble
A small molded bump on some types of golf balls (gutta purcha and rubber core). Intended to give aerodynamic properties like the dimples on present day balls.
Brassie
Former name given to a 2 wood. A wooden club with a brass sole plate with more loft than a driver and less than the than the spoon.
Break
To make less than a specified score. Such as when you finally broke 90.
Break
The way in which the ball will roll or bounce. Also the sideways slope on the green.
Break the Wrists
To bend the wrists back during a swing.
British Ball
The type of golf ball specified by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Diameter is not less than 1.620 inches and the weight is not more than 1.620 ounces. Now used mainly in amateur play.
British Open
"The Open" - the first one ever held. The National Championship put on by the Royal And Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland.
Bulge
The curve across the face of a wooden club.
Bulger
A wooden club with a slightly convex face. Mainly a driver.
Bull Dog
Former name for a 4 or 5 wood.
Bump and Run
A chip shot including the run of the ball after landing. Also known as 'chip and run'.
Bunker
A depression in bare ground that is usually covered with sand. Also called a "sand trap". It is considered a hazard under the Rules of Golf.
Bunt
To hit an intentional short shot.
Burn
The Scottish term for a creek or stream.
Burried Ball
A ball partially buried beneath the sand in a bunker.
Buzzard
A score of two strokes over par for a hole.
Bye
A term used in tournaments. The player who draws a "bye" is allowed to advance to the next round without playing an opponent. In match play, it is the hole or holes still left to play if the match is won before the 18th hole.
Someone who carries a player's club during play and offers him assistance in accordance with the rules.
Caddie Master
The golf course employee in charge of managing the caddies.
Caddie-Car
A golf car or car.
Calamity Jane
The name that Bobby Jones gave to his putter. Also putters modeled after his hickory-shafted blade putter.
Can
In slang, to hole a putt.
Cap
The top end of a club grip and shaft.
Card
A card used to record scores in stroke play. Also, to make a record of your score.
Carpet
A slang term referring to the putting green or fairway.
Carry
The length of travel by the ball after it is hit to the place where it first hits the ground.
Cart
A two-wheeled trolley on which a golf is fitted and pulled around the course. In some cases trolleys are battery powered. Can also refer to a golf car.
Casual Water
Any temporary accumulations of water that are visible before or after a player takes his stance and is not a hazard or in a water hazard. A player may lift his ball from casual water without penalty.
Center Shafted
Putter in which the shaft is joined to the center of the head.
Charge
To surge from behind and display superior play. Also to play or putt aggressively.
Chart the Course
Pace each hole so that you know how far you are from the green.
Chili-Dip
To hit the ground before the ball, producing a weak lofted shot.
Chip Shot
A short approach shot of low trajectory usually hit from near the green. It is normally hit with overspin or bite.
Chip-and-Run
A chip shot including the run of the ball after landing. Also known as 'bump and run'.
Chip in
A holed chip shot.
Choke
To grip down farther on the club handle.
Choke
A slang term used to indicate a collapse under pressure.
Chop
To hit the ball with a hacking motion.
Claggy
As in "I've got a bit of a claggy lie". A lie that is a bit wet and muddy - of British origin - almost a claim for casual water but not quite!
The term used in match play to denote a protest by a player regarding a possible breach of the rules.
Cleek
Any one of many narrow-bladed iron clubs used for long shots through the green from the rough or sand. Another name for the # 1 iron. Also, a shallower faced lofted wooden club. Another name for the #4 wood.
Closed Stance
The left foot extends over the balls line of flight while the right foot is back.
Cleat
The spike on the sole of a golf shoe.
Closed Face
When the clubface is pointed to the left of the target when you address the ball.
Closed Stance
A stance taken with the right foot pulled back, away from the ball.
Club
The implement used in golf to strike the ball. Consists of a shaft, grip and a clubhead of wood or metal.
Club Head
The hitting area of the club.
Clubhouse
The main building on the course.
Clubhouse Lawyer
A self-appointed caller or arbiter of the rules.
Cock
To bend the wrists backwards in the backswing.
Collar
The grassy fringe surrounding the putting green.
Colorball
A team game with teams of 3 or 4 players in which one player uses a colored ball. Team score comprises the score with the colored ball plus the best of the other 2 or 3 players. Players alternate holes playing with the colored ball.
Come back shot
The shot you make after you have overshot the hole.
Committee
The collective name for those in charge of a competition or a course.
Compression
The flattening of the ball against the clubface at impact. Also the degree of resilience of a ball.
Condor
A four-under par shot. A hole-in-one on a par 5 for example. Has occurred on a hole with a heavy dogleg, hard ground and no trees. Might also be called "a triple eagle".
Confusion
A game in which a point is awarded to the first player of the group to get to the green, one for the players closest to the pin and one for the first player to hole out. The winner is the player with the highest number of points.
Control shot
A shot that is played with less than full power.
Core
The center of the golf ball.
Course
The playing area which is usually made up of 9 or 18 holes with each hole having a tee off area, fairway and green
The comparison of playing one course as opposed to another in terms of difficulty. It is expressed in strokes or decimal fractions of strokes. The yardage of the course and the ability of a scratch golfer are the basis for determination.
Crack
To allow one's good play to suffer when under pressure.
Cross-Bunker
A lengthy bunker that is situated across the fairway.
Cross-Handed Grip
A grip where your left hand is below the right.
Cup
The container in the hole holds the flagstick in pace.
Cuppy
A deep and enclosed lie.
Cut
The score that reduces the field to a pre-determined number and eliminates players in a tournament. Usually made after 36 of a 72 hole tournament.
Cut Shot
A controlled shot that results in the ball stopping almost immediately on the green without roll.
As in 'you're on the dance floor'.
Dawn Patrol
Golfers who tee off early to avoid the heavy traffic.
Daytona
A game for 4 players divided into 2 sides. The scores of a side for each hole are combined to form a number of points; if one plyaer has a score of par or better then the lower score of the team is placed first - if the scores on a par 3 are 3 and 4 then the team score is 34. But if the best score for the hole is over par then the higher must be placed first - if scores on a par 3 are 4 and 5, the team score is 54. The side with the lower number of points for the round wins.
Dead Ball
A ball is said to be dead when there is no doubt that it will be sank on the next shot.
Deep-Faced
Pertaining to a clubface and meaning having a club face that is relatively thick from top to bottom.
Deuce
A hole made in two strokes. Primarily used in the United States.
Dew Sweepers
The first groups of golfers on the course in the morning.
Dimple
The round indentations on the golf ball cover which are scientifically designed to enable the ball to make a steady and true flight.
Divot
A piece of turf removed with by the club when making a shot. It is always replaced and tamped down.
Dogleg
A left or right bend in the fairway.
Dormie
When playing in match play, being five up with five to go, four up with four left, etc. To be as many holes up as there are to play. Sometimes spelled dormy.
Double Bogey
A score of two over par for a single hole.
Double Eagle
A score of three under par for a single hole. Same as "albatross".
Down Being
a specific number of holes behind your opponent.
Downhill Lie
When addressing the ball and your right foot is higher than your left (for right-handed players).
Downswing
The motion of swinging a club from the top of the swing to the point of impact.
DQ'd
Slang for a golfer being disqualified.
Drain
To sink a putt.
Draw
The pairing of golfers for a match play tournament.
Draw Shot
A controlled "hook" used to get in position for the next shot or get out of trouble. A shot that curves from left to right. To play a shot so that it curves owing to sidespin from right to left with a right-handed player. Conversely from right to left for a left-handed player.
Drive
To hit the ball with maximum force and full stroke. Usually with a driver from the tee.
Drive-and-Pitch
The type of hole on which the green can be reached with a drive and a pitch. Could also refer to a course where all holes are of this type.
The longest-hitting modern wooden club, used primarily from the tee when maximum distance is required. Also called the No. 1 wood.
Driving Iron
Another name for the number one iron. Formerly one of various iron clubs used for shots through the green.
Driving Mashie
Obsolete club with less loft than a mashie iron and used for driving and long shots through the green.
Driving Putter
Obsolete wooden club used primarily for low shots into the wind.
Driving Range
An area or building used for the purpose of practicing tee-shots and other strokes.
Drop
To deposit the ball on the course after which you put the ball back in play after it has been declared unplayable or after the ball has been lost.
Dub
A missed or badly-hit shot.
Duff
To mishit a shot by hitting the ground behind the ball and then top the ball.
Duffer
An unskilled golfer. Also called a hacker.
Dunch
A fat hit from a claggy lie. British origin.
Dunk
To hit your ball into a water hazard.
Two strokes under par for a single hole. To play a hole at 2 under par.
Eclectic
An individual stroke play game comprising a defined number of rounds. At the end of the series each of the competitors records his best score of the series at each hole.
Eight-Iron
An iron club giving distance of between 115-150 yards. Also called a pitching niblick.
Equipment
Anything that is used by a player or is carried or worn. His ball in play is not included.
Explode
To hit the ball from sand using a steeply lofted club with the club hitting into the sand behind the ball and spraying a large amount of sand.
Explosion Shot
A shot that takes large quantities of sand out of a sand trap.
Extra Hole
As with extra innings, golfers play extra hole to break a tie.
The hitting area or surface of the club head
Fade
A term used to describe the slight turning of the ball from left to right (by a right-handed player) at the end of its
Flight
From right to left for a left-handed player.
Fairway
The area of the course between the tee and the green that is well-maintained allowing a good lie for the ball
Fairway Wood
Any other wooden club other than a driver.
Fan
To miss the ball completely
Fat Shot
When the club hits the ground behind the ball. This results in high or low shots with a loss of distance
Featherie
An old leather ball stuffed with compressed feathers. Replaced by the gutta percha after 1848. Also spelled feathery.
Fescue
Grass of the genus Festuca, widely used on for rough on golf courses.
Field
The players in a tournament.
Five-Iron
An iron club used for distances between 145-180 yards for men's clubs. Also known as a mashie.
Five-Wood
A wooden club used for distances between 190-210 yards for men's clubs.
Flag
The marker attached to the flagstick.
Flag Competition
A stroke play game in which each player has a flag. When the player has played the number of strokes equal to the par of the course plus his handicap, he places a flag in the course at that point. The winner is the player who goes farthest around the course with the alotted number of strokes.
Flagstick
A movable marker to show the location of the hole.
Flange
The additional surface of the club head which protrudes at the sole.
Flash
Trap A shallow and small sand bunker.
Flat Swing
The type of swing that occurs when the club head is carried back in a flat manner - usually inside-out.
Flex
The amount of bend or the degree of stiffness of the club shaft.
Flier
A ball is hit without spin and goes for a greater distance than normal.
Flier
Lie A good lie in the rough.
In tournament play, the division of players with players of equal ability being placed in the same flight. Sixteen is usually the number of players in a flight however any number of players may be placed in a flight.
Flip Shot
A short shot played with a high trajectory with a highly lofted iron such as an eight or nine.
Flub
A poorly hit shot usually caused by hitting the ground before the ball.
Fluffy
A ball that is sitting up in grass.
Follow-Through
The continuation of the swing after the ball has been hit.
Fore
A warning shouted out to warn anyone who may be in danger from the flight of the ball.
Forecaddie
Someone employed by the course or tournament committee to mark the position of a player's ball.
Form
A golfer's standard of play based on past performance.
Four Ball
A match in which the better ball of two players is played against the better ball of their opponents.
Four-Iron
An iron club used for distances of between 155-190 yards for men's clubs. Also known as a mashie iron.
Four-Wood
A wooden club used for a distance of between 200-230 yards - for men' clubs. Also called a spoon.
Foursome
A term given to four players playing together. Also a match in which two players play against another two players with each side playing one ball.
Free Drop
A drop where no penalty stroke is incurred.
Fried-Egg
A ball half-buried in the sand.
Fringe
The area surrounding the putting green which is sometimes cut to a height lower than the fairway but not as short as the green itself. Same as "apron"
Frog Hair
The short grass that borders the edge of the putting surface.
Front Side
The first nine holes of an 18 hole course.
Full House
A game in which a player is set a points target calculated by deducting his handicap from 36. The winner is the one who surpasses his target by the most points. Scoring is 8 points for an eagle, 4 for a birdie, two for a par and 1 for bogey.
The group of tournament spectators.
Gimme
A putt that is certain to be made on the next shot and will most likely be conceded by an opponent.
Golf
The game. Played by playing a ball from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules of Golf.
Golf Glove
A glove generally worn by a right-handed golfer on the left hand, and by a left-handed golfer on the right hand, to improve the grip.
Gobble
An obsolete slang term meaning a hard-hit putt that holes out.
Goose-Neck
Having the neck of a club curved so that the heel is slightly offset from the line of the shaft.
Gorse
A shrub primarily found on linkland type courses. It is a spiny evergreen with bright yellow flowers. Same as whin.
Grain
The direction in which the grass on a putting lies after it has been shortly cut.
Grand Slam
The four major championships: the British Open, the U.S. Open, PGA Championship and the Masters.
Graphite
A lightweight material used to make shafts and clubheads.
Green
The whole golf course according to golf rules. However, in popular usage, it refers to the putting surface.
Green Committee
Members of a golf club who are responsible for the maintenance and management of the course.
Green Fee
The charge made by the course to allow the player to use the course.
Green Jacket
The prize awarded to the winner of the Masters Tournament.
Greenkeeper
The employee of the club who is responsible for the maintenance of the course.
Greenside
Adjacent to the putting green.
Grip
The part of the shaft by which the club is held. Covered with leather or other material. Also means the manner in which you hold the club.
Groove
Linear scoring on a clubface.
Gross score
The actual number of strokes taken by a player for hole or round before the player's handicap is deducted.
Grounding the Club
Placing the clubhead behind the ball at address.
Ground Under Repair
Any part of the course being repaired is ground under repair. A ball that lands in such an area must be removed without penalty.
Gutta Percha
Material used in the manufacture of early golf balls. It was a hard, molded substance made from the sap of several types of Malaysian trees. These balls were in use from 1848 until the early 1900's.
To chop violently at the ball. To make bad shots. To play bad golf. hacker An unskilled golfer. Same as "duffer"
Half
Used in match play when score is tied on a hole. Each side credited with a half.
Half Shot
A shot played with a less than full swing.
Halved
When a match is played without a decision. A hole is "halved" when both sides play it in the same number of strokes.
Handicap
The number of strokes a player may deduct from his actual score to adjust his scoring ability to the level of a scratch golfer. It is designed to allow golfers of different abilities to basically compete on the same level.
Handicap Certificate
A document issued by the player's home club or golfing association that indicates his current handicap.
Hanging lie
A ball resting on a downhill slope.
Hazard
A hazard is any sand trap, bunker or water on the course that may cause difficulty.
Head
The part of the club that makes contact with the ball. Usually made of wood, iron or some substitute material.
Heel
The part of the club head nearest the shaft.
Hickory
Wood from a native North American tree used at the beginning of the 19th century to make club shafts. Use continued until the 1920's.
Hit
To play a shot or stroke.
Hog's Back
A ridge of ground or a hole having a ridge on a fairway.
Hold
To hit the ground and stay in place with little roll or bounce.
Hole
A 4 1/4" (108 mm) round receptacle in the green - at least 4" (100 mm) deep. Also refers to one of the nine or eighteen areas between the tee and the green.
Hole High
A ball that is even with the hole but off to one side.
Hole in One
A hole made with one stroke. Same as "ace".
Hole Out
To complete the play for one hole by hitting the ball into the cup.
Home and Home Match
A match made up of rounds played on the home course of each participant or group.
Home Green
The last hole green.
Home Pro
A professional who holds a position at a golf club, teaches, and plays only in local events.
Honor
The privilege of hitting first from the tee. Usually assigned at the first tee. After the first tee, the privilege goes to the winner of the last hole.
Hook
To hit the ball in a manner that causes it to curve from right to left in the case of a right-handed player or left to right for a left hander.
Hosel
The hollow part of an iron club head into which the shaft is fitted.
Hustler
A golfer with greater ability who purposely maintains a higher handicap in order to win more bets.