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Ace - Away |
Ace(s) |
A
hole made in one stroke. |
Address |
Refers
to a score made over more than one round of play, or by 2 or more
players playing as partners. |
Airball |
A
swing and a miss. You knew the ball was there, you just couldn't
find it. |
Albatross |
Former
name of a "Double Eagle" - the score for a hole made in 3 strokes
under par. A British term. |
Amateur |
A
player who doesn't play for money. |
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. |
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. |
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Back Door - Bye |
Back Door |
The
rear of the hole. |
Back Lip(s) |
The
edge of the bunker that is farthest from the green. |
Backspin |
A
reverse spin placed on a ball to make it stop quickly on the putting
surface. |
Backswing |
The
backward part of the swing starting from the ground and going 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 that is used to make a cover for
rbber-cored golf balls. |
Ball |
The
round object which we attempt to hit into the hole. Prior to the
17th century it was made from wood or wool in a leather cover. After
the 17th century feathers were boiled and compressed, then sewn
in a leather cover. In the 1850's it was made of strip rubber wound
around a core. Presently made of compressed synthetic rubber with
hundreds of surface indentations which aid the flight of the ball.
|
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, lost, hit out
of bounds, or lifted when allowed by the rules of golf. |
Ball Marker |
A
circular token or small coin used to mark the spots on the green
that the ball rests on. Purpose of this is to clean or replace the
ball, also so opponent doesn't have to putt around your ball. |
Ball Retriever |
A
long pole with a scoop at the end which is used to collect balls
from water hazards and other areas. |
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. |
Beach |
A
sand hazard on the course. |
Bent Grass |
Type
of grass seen for the most part on Northern courses. It is native
to North America and Eurasia. It is very hardy and resilient allowing
it to be cut very short. |
Bermuda |
Type
of grass seen mostly on Southern courses in North America. It was
introduced to warmer areas of the world 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. |
Birdie |
One
stroke under par for a hole. Possibly derived from 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 imarted on the ball that makes the ball stop dead, or almost
so, with little or no roll. |
Blade |
1)
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. |
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 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. |
Borrow |
To
play to one side of the hole or the other to compensate for the
slope of the green. |
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. Pronounced
"boughkur". |
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 |
The
way in which the ball will roll or bounce. Also the sideways slope
on the green. |
Bulge |
The
curve across the face of a wooden club. |
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. |
Burn |
Scottish
term for a creek or stream. |
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. |
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Caddie - Cut |
Caddie (caddy) |
Someone
who carries a player's club during play and offers him assistance
in accordance with the rules. |
Can |
In
slang, to hole a putt. |
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. |
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. |
Chip in |
A
holed chip shot. |
Choke |
1)
To grip down farther on the club handle. 2) A slang term used to
indicate a collapse under pressure. |
Chop |
To
hit the ball with a hacking motion. |
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.
|
Closed Face |
When
the clubface is pointed to the left of the target when you address
the ball. |
Closed Stance |
The
left foot extends over the balls line of flight while the right
foot is back. |
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. |
Cock |
To
bend the wrists backwards in the backswing. |
Collar |
The
grassy fringe surrounding the putting green. |
Come Back Shot |
The
shot you make after you have overshot the hole. |
Compression |
The
flattening of the ball against the clubface at impact. Also the
degree of resilience of a ball. |
Control Shot |
A
shot that is played with less than full power. |
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. |
Cross Bunker |
A
lengthy bunker that is situated across the fairway. |
Cross-Handed Grip |
A
grip where your left hand is below the right. |
Cut |
1)
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. 2) A controlled shot that results in the ball stopping
almost immediately on the green without roll. |
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Deuce - Dunk |
Deuce |
A
controlled shot that results in the ball stopping almost immediately
on the green without roll. |
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. |
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. |
Drain |
To
sink a putt or chip. |
Draw |
1)
The pairing of golfers for a match play tournament. 2) The pairing
of golfers for a match play tournament. |
Drive |
To
hit the ball with maximum force and full stroke. Usually with a
driver from the tee. |
Driver |
The
longest-hitting modern wooden club, used primarily from the tee
when maximum distance is required. Also called the No. 1 wood. |
Driving Range |
An
area or building used for the purpose of practicing tee-shots and
other strokes. |
Drop |
1)
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. 2) Lose a shot to par. 3) To drop in standings in
a tournament. Such as from 1st to 3rd. |
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.
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Dunk |
To
hit ball into a water hazard. |
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Face - Front |
Face |
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. |
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. |
Fetherie (feathery) |
An
old leather ball stuffed with compressed feathers. Replaced by the
gutta percha after 1848. |
Fescue |
Grass
of the genus Festuca, widely used on for rough on golf courses.
|
Field |
The
players in a tournament. |
Flag |
The
marker attached to the flagstick. |
Flagstick |
A
movable marker to show the location of the hole. |
Flagstick Color |
Flagstick Color helps to identify where the hole is on the green.
- Red = Front area of green
- White = Middle area of green
- Blue = Back portion of green
|
Flex |
The
amount of bend or the degree of stiffness of the club shaft. |
Flat Swing |
The
type of swing that occurs when the club head is carried back in
a flat manner - usually inside-out. |
Flier |
A
ball is hit without spin and goes for a greater distance than normal.
|
Flight |
1)
In tournament play, the division of players with players of equal
ability being placed in the same flight. 2) Could also refer to
the flight of the ball. |
Flip Shot |
A
short shot played with a high trajectory with a highly lofted iron.
Usually played with a nine iron. |
Flub |
A
poorly hit shot usually caused by hitting the ground before the
ball. |
Follow-Through |
The
continuation of the swing after the ball has been hit. |
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. |
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. Standard grouping in recreational play. |
Free Drop |
A
drop where no penalty stroke is incurred. |
Fried-Egg |
A
ball half-buried in the sand. |
Fringe |
Short
grass surrounding green. Same as "apron". |
Front |
The
first nine holes of an 18 hole course. |
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Gallery - Gutta Percha |
Gallery |
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. |
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 Fee |
The
charge made by the course to allow the player to use the course.
|
Greenkeeper |
The
charge made by the course to allow the player to use 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 |
The
total number of strokes required to complete a round of golf after
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. |