Ace – Common term for a hole in one
Approach (or Approach Shot) – Any shot where the player is intending to hit the green
Albatross (also known as a double eagle) – three under par score on a hole, typically two shots on a par 5 or a hole in one on a par 4
Ball Mark – the indentation that your ball makes when your shot hits the green (you should always repair your ball marks)
Better Ball – a team format of playing where each player plays their own ball through the end of the hole and the best score is recorded for the team
Birdie – 1 under par score on a single hole
Blind Shot – any shot where the player cannot see the intended landing area from the point where the shot is being made
Bogey – 1over par score on a single hole
Break – commonly used when putting to describe the curve that the ball will take when putted towards the hole
Bunker (also known as sand trap) – any area of sand on the golf course that is in play, they can be green side bunkers or fairway bunkers
Caddie (or Caddy) – a person that is designated to carry a players clubs and offer advice on playing shots throughout the round
Chip – a short green side shot that that typically rolls more distance than it is in the air, however, the difference between a green side chip and green side pitch is mostly a matter of opinion
Chunk – when a player hits the ground before hitting the ball, also called hitting it fat
Collar – (also known as the fringe) the area around the green that is typically cut shorter than the rough but longer than the green
Condor (also known as a Triple Eagle) – a score of 4 under par on one hole; these are extremely rare and there have only been a handful officially recorded even in competition
Cup – common term for the hole
Divot – area of the ground that is hit when making a shot, ideally the divot is taken in front of the ball
Dogleg – term used to describe a golf hole with a fairway that curves left or right
Double Bogey – 2 over par score on a single hole
DQ – (short for disqualification) term used in tournament play to identify a player that has been removed from the tournament for a rules infraction
Drain – “drain the putt” is a phrase used to describe when a player holes a putt
Drop – the act of dropping ball is a spot specified by the rules; can be for a number of reasons and include free drops (no penalty shot) and penalty drops
Drop Area – an area designated by the committee responsible for the rules of a course or tournament where players are to drop the ball hit into specific areas
Duffer – term commonly used to describe a lesser skilled, beginning, or high handicap golfer
Eagle – 2 under par score on a single hole
Embedded Ball – when a golf shot lands on the ground and the impact (usually on soft ground) causes some part of the ball to indent the ground and sit below ground level
Etiquette – typically unwritten rules about to to conduct one’s self when playing a round of golf
Fade – a shot that curves to the right (for a right handed golfer) and the left (for a left handed golfer)
Fairway – an area of shorter cut grass between the tee and the hole; a player typically tries to stay in the fairway in order to make their next shot easier
Fairway Wood – a club that is smaller than a driver but larger than an iron; typically used for longer shots
Fat – hitting the ground before the ball when attempting to make a golf shot
Flag – marker used to identify a golf hole; typically mounted at the top of the flagstick
Flagstick – pole that holds the flag and is typically placed in the hole but removed during putting
Flat Stick – common term for a putter; comes from the fact that putters have very little loft and the face appears flat
Flier – when a golf shot ends up traveling further than anticipated; typically occurs with shorter clubs and can be caused when grass or moisture gets between the club face and the ball, decreasing the spin imparted to the ball
Fluffy – typically refers to a lie in the rough
Follow-through – the part of a golf swing that occurs after contact is made with the golf ball
Foursome – a group of 4 players
GHIN – stands for “Golf Information and Handicap Network” this is a service run by the USGA that manages handicapping
Gimmie – when the ball is close enough to the hole that your playing partners let you pick it up instead of putting it out; not officially recognized in the rules of golf
Green – area of short grass where the hole is located and a player typically putts the ball
Greens Fee – the amount of money a course charges to play a round of golf; you typically have to pay extra if you want a power cart for the round as well
Golf Ball – little round thing that a player tries to hit into the hole
Halve – in match play when two players have the same score for a hole
Handicap – a measurement of a golfers scoring ability derived from their previous scores; commonly used as a way to let players of differing abilities compete against each other on score
Hazard – an area of the course designated from which a player can take a drop with a penalty or, if they are able, play out of with no penalty; typically consists of water but not always
High Side – on a breaking putt, the side of the hole that is uphill
Hole – a 4.25″ diameter round cut in the ground into which a player must attempt to hit their ball
Hole in One – when a player hits the ball into the hole on their first attempt from the teeing ground on any given hole
Hole High – phrase used to describe when a player hits their approach shot the same distance as the hole is; can be left or right of the hole and still considered “hole high”
Honor – a player has “honor” or “honors” when they recorded the lowest score in their group on the previous hole; typically only used in competition…for casual rounds the player that is ready first should tee off first
Hook – a ball that curves left for a right handed golfer, and right for a left handed golfer
(More coming soon)
