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|
Hack - Hustler |
Hack |
To
chop violently at the ball. To make bad shots. To play bad golf.
Hacker is an unskilled golfer. Same as "duffer". |
Half
or 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. |
Hazards
|
A
hazard is any sand trap, bunker or water on the course that may
cause difficulty. There are other types of hazards such as hollows.
|
Head
|
The
part of the club that makes contact with the ball. |
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. |
Hole
|
A
4 1/2" round receptacle in the green - at least 4" 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.
|
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. |
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. |
|
|
Lag - Loft |
Lag |
To
putt the ball with the intention leaving it short to ensure being
able to hole out on the next stroke. |
Lateral Hazard |
Any
hazard running parallel to the line of play. |
Lay Up |
To
play a shorter shot than normally might be attempted. Would be done
to achieve a good lie short of a hazard rather than trying to hit
the green in one less shot. |
Layout |
The
manner in which the holes are placed on the golf course when designed.
|
Lie |
The
position in which the ball rests on the ground. The lie can be good
or bad in terms of the nature of ground where is rests, the slope,
and the level of difficulty in playing it. The number of strokes
a player is to have played during the hole. |
Line |
The
correct path of a putt to the hole when putting. Also when on the
fairway, the correct direction in which the ball to be played toward
the putting green. |
Line
Up |
To
study the green in order to determine how the putt should be played.
|
Links |
Originally
meaning a seaside course, it is now used to mean any golf course.
|
Lip |
The
top rim of the hole or cup. |
Lob Shot |
A
shot that goes straight up and comes almost straight down with very
little spin or forward momentum. Useful when there is not much green
to play to. |
Loft |
The
elevation of the ball in the air. Also means the angle at which
the club face is set from the vertical and is used to lift the ball
into the air. It is measured precisely as the angle between the
face and a line parallel to the shaft. |
|
|
Mallet
- Mulligan |
Mallet |
A
putter that has a head that is much wider and heavier than that
of a blade putter. |
Marker
|
A
small object, like a coin, that is used to mark the spot of the
ball when it is lifted off the putting green. |
Markers
|
The
objects placed at the teeing round that indicate the area in which
players must tee their balls. |
Marshal
|
A
person appointed by a tournament committee to keep order and handle
spectators. |
Mashie
|
Lofted
iron club that was introduced in the 1880's and is no longer in
use. Used for pitching with backspin. Another name for the number
5 iron. |
Match
Play |
A
competition played with each hole being a separate contest. The
team or player winning the most holes, rather than having the lowest
score, is the winner. The winner of the first hole is "one up".
Even if the player wins that hole by two or three strokes, he is
still only "one up". The lead is increased every time the player
wins another hole. The winner is the one who wins the most holes.
This was the original form of golf competition. |
Medalist
|
The
player with the lowest qualifying score in a tournament. |
Medal
Play |
Same
as "stroke play". |
Mis-Club
|
To
use the wrong club for the shot. |
Mis-Read
|
To
putt wrongly. To not read the green correctly. |
Muff
|
To
mis-hit a shot. |
Mulligan
|
A
second shot that is allowed to be taken in friendly play when the
player has "muffed" (see above) the first one. Not allowed by the
rules. |
|
|
Obstruction - Overlapping |
Obstruction |
Any
artificial object that has been left or placed on the course with
the exception of course boundary markers and constructed roads and
paths. |
Offset |
A
club with the head set behind the shaft. |
One-Putt |
To
hole the ball using only one shot on the green. |
Open |
A
tournament in which both amateurs and professionals are allowed
to play. |
Open Stance |
To
hole the ball using only one shot on the green. |
Out |
1)
The first nine holes of an 18 hole course. The second 9 holes is
going "in". 2) Could also refer to the ball that is farthest from
the hole. |
Out of Bounds |
The
area outside of the course in which play is prohibited. A player
is penalized stroke and distance. That is he must replay the shot
with a penalty of one stroke. |
Overclub |
To
use a club that gives to much distance. |
Overlapping
Grip |
As
used by a right-handed player having the little finger of the right
hand overlapping the space between the forefinger and second finger
of the left hand. |
|
|
Pairings
- Putting Green |
Pairings
|
Groups
of two players. |
Par
|
The
number of strokes a player should take to complete a round with
good performance. Par for each hole is given on the scorecard. |
Partner |
A
golfer who plays together with another in a match. |
Peg |
A
tree. |
Penalty Stroke |
An
additional stroke added to a player's score for a rules violation.
|
PGA |
Professional
Golfers Association. |
Pick Up |
To
take up one's ball before holing out. In match play this concedes
the hole or in stroke play incurs disqualification. |
Pitch |
A
short shot lofting the ball into the air in a high arc and landing
with backspin. |
Pitch and Putt |
A
short golf course designed primarily for approaching and putting.
|
Pitch and Run |
The
same as a pitch shot but hit with a lower-numbered club to reduce
loft and backspin. This allows the ball to run after it lands on
the putting green. |
Pitching Wedge |
An
iron club designed for making pitch shots. |
Pivot |
The
rotation of the shoulders, trunk and pelvis during the golf swing.
|
Placement |
Accuracy
in the targeting of a shot. |
Play |
To
strike the ball with a club. The action of playing the game of golf.
|
Play Off |
To
determine a winner in a tie match by playing further holes or a
further round. |
Plus |
This
means number of strokes over par. A golfer wants to be under par.
|
Pop Up |
A
short, high shot. |
Pot
Bunker |
A
small, deep sand trap with steep sides. |
Professional
|
A
player who receives payment for teaching or playing in tournaments.
Usually shortened to Pro. |
Pro-Am
|
A
competition which pairs professional players with amateurs. |
Pro
Shop |
The
golf course shop operated by the head professional where equipment
is sold. |
Provisional
Ball |
A
ball played if the previously played ball may be lost or out of
bounds. |
Pull
|
A
ball that goes to the left of the target with little curve as hit
by a right-handed player. |
Punch
|
Low,
controlled shot into the wind. It is made by slamming the club down
into the ball with a short swing. |
Push
|
A
ball that goes to the right of the target with very little or no
curving for a right handed player. Or the converse for a left-handed
player. As opposed to "pull". |
Putt
|
The
shot made on the putting green. From a Scottish term meaning to
push gently or nudge. |
Putt
Out |
To
hole the ball with a putt. |
Putter
|
A
short-shafted club with a straight face for putting. |
Putting
Green |
The
surface area around the hole that is specially prepared for putting.
This is where a player would practice putting. |
|
|
R
& A - Run-Up |
R
& A |
Royal
and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. |
Rabbit |
An
amateur golfer with little success. A touring professional who has
no tournament exemptions and must compete in qualifying rounds for
chances to play in tournaments. |
Rake |
1)
A high-lofted iron club that is no longer in use. It was used for
playing from sand and out of water. 2) The tool used to rake bunkers,
smooths the surface. Must be done after not before playing a shot
from sand. |
Range |
Practice
Area, See "Driving Range". |
Rap |
To
firmly hit a putt. |
Reading the Green |
Determining
the path which the ball will take on its way to the hole by analyzing
the contour and texture of the green. |
Recover |
To
play back into a satisfactory position on the fairway or onto the
green from an undesirable position. |
Release |
The
point in the downswing where you uncock your wrists. |
Rifle |
To
play a shot accurately and for a great distance. |
Rim Out |
To
run around the edge of the cup and fail to fall in. |
Rough |
Long
grass areas. |
Round |
A
complete game of golf - 18 holes is one round. |
Rub of the Green |
Any
accident, not caused by a player or caddie, that moves or stops
a ball in play and for which no relief is given under the rules.
This is when your ball is deflected by agencies beyond your control
that are not part of the match. A bit of bad luck. |
Run |
The
distance the ball rolls on the ground or when it lands on the ground.
|
Run-Up |
An
approach shot that is close to the ground or on the ground. |
|
|
Sandbagger
- Swing Weight |
Sandbagger |
A
golfer who lies about his ability to gain an edge in the game. |
Sand Trap |
The
common name for a bunker. A hazard that is usually made of a hole
partially filled with sand. |
Sand Wedge |
An
iron with a heavy flange on the bottom that is used primarily to
get out of sand traps. |
Sandy |
Making
par after being in a bunker. |
Scoop |
An
improper swing in which the club has a digging or scooping action.
|
Scratch |
Par
play. A zero handicap. Scratch player - A player who has
no handicap. |
Scruff |
To
misplay the ball by hitting or grazing the ground with the clubhead
prior to hitting the ball. |
Set |
A
full set of golf clubs. |
Set Up |
To
position yourself for the address. |
Shaft |
The
part of the club joined to the head. |
Shagging |
Picking
up golf balls from practice ranges. |
Shank |
Picking
up golf balls from practice ranges. |
Short Game |
The
part of the game that is made up of chip shots, pitching and putting.
|
Shotgun Start |
In
tournaments when players are to start at different holes; a firing
of a shotgun may be used as a signal to start play. |
Shotmaker |
A
player who has the ability to play a great many different shots.
|
Side |
Can
mean the first 9 holes (front side) or the last 9 (back side) of
an 18 hole course. Also two or more players who are partners. |
Sidehill Lie |
A
lie with the ball either above or below your feet. |
Sink a Putt |
Make
a putt. |
Skulling |
Hitting
the ball at or above its center causing the ball to be hit too hard
and travel too great a distance. |
Sky |
To
hit underneath the ball sending it much higher than intended. |
Slice |
A
shot that curves strongly from left to right as a result of sidespin
for a right-handed. |
Slope |
Adjusts
your handicap to the difficulty of the course you play. The more
difficult the course, the more strokes you'll need. Under slope,
golfers will no longer have a handicap. You will have an index.
An average course will have a slope rating of 113. Your index is
a mathematical calculation of your playing ability on an average
course. Maximum index allowed is 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women.
|
Slump |
A
prolonged period of bad play. |
Smother |
To
hit down on the ball so that it travels a short distance on the
ground. |
Snake |
A
very long putt that travels over several breaks in the green. |
Snap-Hook |
A
very long putt that travels over several breaks in the green. |
Sole |
The
bottom of the club head. |
Spike Mark |
Mark
made on the green by the cleats of a golf shoe. |
Spoon |
Old
term for a 3 wood. |
Spray |
To
hit the ball erratically off line. |
Square Stance |
Placing
your feet in a line parallel to the direction you which the ball
to travel. |
Stance |
The
position of your feet when addressing the ball. |
Stick |
The
pin in the hole. |
Stimpmeter (Stimpmetre) |
Superintendents
measure green speed with a stimpmetre. Its readings give a snapshot
of the green speed at that time of day. Stimpmetre readings in the
five to six range mean slow greens, seven to eight mean medium,
nine to 10 fast and above 11 extremely fast. |
Stony |
To
hit a ball close to the flagstick. |
Straightaway |
A
hole having a straight fairway. |
Stroke |
The
forward motion of the club head made with the intent to hit the
ball whether contact is made or not. |
Stroke Play |
A
competition in which the total number of strokes for one round,
or a pre-determined number of rounds, determines the winner. |
Stymie |
When
an opponent's ball is in the line of the other player's putt. Since
the ball may now be lifted, the term is used these days to refer
to a tree or object in the way of a shot. |
Sudden Death |
When
in a match or stroke competition the score is tied after completing
the round, play continues until one player wins a hole. |
Swale |
A
moderately contoured depression or dip in terrain. |
Sweet Spot |
The
dead center of the face of the club. |
Swing |
The
action of stroking the ball. |
Swing Weight |
The
measure of a club's weight. |