Golf Terms Starting With "A"
All Square
When a match is "all square", that means that two golfers are tied.
Alternate Shot
Alternate shot, a popular Ryder Cup golf format, is when two golfers take turns hitting the ball every other shot.
Aggregate Score
Aggregate score is the cumulative score a golfer holds over multiple rounds and is most common in golf tournament scoring.
Aeration
Aeration is the process of "punching" little holes in putting greens to help them stay healthy and grow.
Ace
An ace, also known as a "hole in one" is when a golfer makes their tee shot. This is most common on par 3 holes.
Amateur Golfer
An amateur golfer is anyone who does not earn money from competing in golf tournaments.
Away
"You're away" is golf slang which means you are the furthest from the hole and it is your turn to play.
Approach Shot
An approach shot describes the shot a golfer hits into the green.
Apron
The "apron" of a golf course describes the closely mown area surrounding the green, generally cut shorter than the fairway.
Anchoring
This term is usually about longer putters that "anchor" against the body for stability, which is not legal in professional golf anymore.
Albatross
An albatross describes a score of 3 under the designated par for the golf hole.
Alignment
A golfer's alignment describes how their feet, hips, shoulders, and club face are aimed relative to the target.
Army Golf
A humorous term for erratic play in which a golfer alternates between hitting left and right, similar to how one might march in the army (left, right).
Attend the flag
Attending the flag is when someone stands by the flag when a golfer is putting it so they can see it from far distances.
Aimpoint
Aimpoint is a green reading system and its close sibling, Aimpoint Express has become popular on tour for reading greens.
Address
The address position describes the starting point of the golf swing. In this position, a golfer should stand with proper posture and alignment.
Acey Ducey
After teeing off, players have the option to bet double the original amount if their ball lands in a specific area designated as the "Acey Ducey" spot.
Arnold Palmer
A format similar to "Nassau," but with additional side bets for things like longest drive and closest-to-the-pin.
Golf Terms Starting With "B"
Bogey
A bogey in golf is a golf term to describe a score made on a golf hole where the golfer takes one stroke more than the designated par for the hole.
Blow Up Hole
A "blow-up hole" refers to a hole where you shoot a much higher score than you generally would for that hole.
Birdie
A birdie in golf is a golf term to describe a score made on a golf hole where the golfer takes one stroke less than the designated par for the hole.
Bermuda Grass
A popular warm-season grass that flourishes in hot conditions and is used for fairways, rough, and tees on golf courses, known for its durability.
Bent Grass
A prevalent grass type in the northern United States, often used for fairways, greens, and rough due to its fine texture and ability to withstand close mowing.
Bunker
The "bunker", otherwise known as the "sand trap" is typically found around the green. Typically, you'll hit bunker shots with a sand wedge or lob wedge.
Ball Striking
In golf, "ball striking" is a phrase used to describe how well a golfer hits their irons and approach shots into the green.
Big Ball First
Hitting the big ball first is golf slang for chunking a shot. The "big ball" is the earth (ground) while the "little ball" is your golf ball.
Backswing
The backswing in golf is when the golfer moves the club away from the ball to gain momentum and power before making a downswing into the ball.
Bingo Bango Bongo
Points are awarded for various achievements on each hole, such as being the first to reach the green, closest approach shot, and being the first to hole out.
Bladed Shot
When a golfer makes contact with the lower portion of the club face, causing the ball to fly lower than usual and in most cases, further than intended.
Bump and Run
A bump and run, also known as a chip shot, is where a golfer hits a short and low chip around the green that rolls for most of the shot.
Golf Terms Starting With "C"
Caddie
A caddie is a person who carries a golfer's clubs during a round and in some cases, will give advice to the golfer.
Chip Shot
A short, low-trajectory shot usually played near the green.
Chunked Shot
Also known as a "duff", this is when a golfer hits the ground or turf behind the golf ball, causing poor contact and reduced distance of the shot.
Chicago
Players accumulate points based on their net scores (score minus handicap) on each hole.
Cart Path
Most golf courses have a cart path, which is where carts drive. While playing, golfers get free relief if their ball lands on the cart path.
Chilly Dip
Similar to a chunk, but this specifically refers to when you duff a chip shot.
Cut Shot
A cut shot, also known as a "fade" is when a right-handed golfer curves the ball left-to-right, or a left-handed golfer curves the ball right-to-left.
Chapman System
A team format where both players tee off, then they switch balls and play each other's second shot.
Course Rating
In golf, the "course rating" is a term related to golf handicaps and describes how difficult a golf course is relative to other courses.
Course Record
Every golf course keeps track of its course record, generally from the championship tees. This is the lowest documented score ever on the course.
Golf Terms Starting With "D"
Dead Hands
When someone plays a "dead hands shot", it generally refers to a short game shot where they use as little wrist action as possible.
Divot
A divot is the mark made on the fairway or tee box when you hit a full golf shot and the club displaces grass behind the ball.
Double Bogey
A double bogey is when a golfer makes a score of two over the designated par for the hole.
Draw
For right-handed players, this is a shot that starts right of the target, curves right to left, and ends at the target.
Driver
A driver, also referred to as "the big stick" is the longest club in your bag and hits the ball the furthest.
Draw Shot
For right-handed players, this is a shot that starts right of the target, curves right to left, and ends at the target.
Golf Terms Starting With "E"
Eagle
An eagle is when a golfer makes a score that is two shots under the designated par for the hole. An eagle is most common on par 5 holes.
Golf Terms Starting With "F"
Fade
Also known as a "cut", for right-handed players, this is a shot that starts left of the target, curves left to right, and ends at the target.
Flop Shot
Also known as a "lob shot", a flop shot is where a golfer opens the face of a wedge and hits a high shot that lands and stops immediately on the green.
Flat Stick
A "flat stick" is a common golf jargon that refers to a player's putter (a type of golf club). A putter's face is relatively flat, unlike other clubs.
Fescue
Fescue, also known as "cabbage" is longer grass famously found on links golf courses, but also common on regular golf courses worldwide.
Free Drop
A free drop is when a golfer gets to move their golf ball without taking a penalty stroke. Most commonly, this happens when taking relief from a cart path.
Foot Wedge
A play on words, the "foot wedge" is where a golfer who dislikes his/her lie kicks the ball to a more favorable position. This is not legal to do in golf.
Fairway Wood
A fairway wood, also commonly referred to as a "fairway metal" or just "wood" is the second-longest club in your bag behind the driver.
Fringe
The "fringe" is slightly longer grass than the putting green, typically found on the "collar" (edge) of the putting green.
Fade Shot
Also known as a "cut", for right-handed players, this is a shot that starts left of the target, curves left to right, and ends at the target.
Fore
When a golfer yells "Fore", watch out, because a golf ball is about to land near you. Golfers use this phrase to alert other golfers of an incoming ball.
Fairway
The fairway is the short grass between the tee box and the green.
Fourball
Also known as "better ball" or "best ball", each golfer on a team plays their own ball, and the lowest score among the team members is recorded for each hole.
Golf Terms Starting With "G"
Go-to Shot
Golfers refer to their "go-to shot" as the type of shot they are most comfortable hitting, especially when they are a bit nervous.
Grounding the club
Grounding the club is when you set up to a shot and your club touches the ground behind the ball. This is not allowed in the bunker or hazards.
GIR
When you hit a "green in regulation", this means you landed your ball on the putting surface in the designated number of strokes based on the par.
Glove
To get a better grip on your golf clubs while swinging, you'll wear a golf glove.
Ground Under Repair
When a golf course is performing maintenance, there may be unplayable areas that the greenskeepers will mark as "ground under repair".
Gimme
Also known as "in the leather", this golf term is used in recreational golf where your playing partner "gives you a freebie" and you don't have to putt.
Gruesomes
Teams of two players tee off, and opponents choose which ball the team must use for their next shot.
Golf Terms Starting With "H"
Handicap
Based on the score a golfer shoots and the assigned difficulty rating of the golf course they played, they will get a "handicap".
Headcover
A headcover is a "glove" made of soft material that you put over your golf clubs to keep them clean and protected from various weather conditions.
Hook
Also known as a "snap hook", a hook shot for a right-handed golfer is one that curves severely right to left and is generally an erratic shot.
Hole in One
A hole-in-one, also known as an "ace" is when you hit a shot from the tee box and make it in the hole.
High-Low
Teams of two players compete. On each hole, the higher handicap player's net score is paired with the lower handicap player's net score to create a team score.
Hitting Bombs
Made famous by Phil Mickelson's social media accounts, "hitting bombs" refers to hitting the driver a far distance in golf and swinging hard.
Hybrid
A "hybrid" is a mix between a fairway wood and an iron.
Golf Terms Starting With "I"
It's your honor
According to the rules of golf, the player who had the lowest score on the previous hole "has honors" and should hit the first tee shot on the next hole.
Iron
Irons are the most common club in your bag. Typically, you will carry a 4-iron, 5-iron, 6-iron, 7-iron, 8-iron, and 9-iron.
Golf Terms Starting With "L"
Links Courses
Courses located near coastlines, featuring natural dunes, sandy soil, and often exposed to the elements. They offer open layouts and firm turf.
Lip Out
A lip out is when a putt rolls over the edge of the hole, almost goes in, then "lips out" and misses.
Lost Ball
A lost ball is when a golfer hits a shot and then cannot find it. When a ball is declared lost, the golfer must take penalty strokes and play a provisional.
Lie
In golf, a "lie" describes how your golf ball sits on the grass. There are good and bad lies, plugged lies, and more.
Las Vegas
Players compete as partners against an opposing team. Scores of both partners are combined for a two-digit number.
Golf Terms Starting With "M"
Match Play
In this golf format, golfers compete against each other on a hole-by-hole basis. The golfer who wins the most holes wins the match.
Maxed my Handicap
"Maxed out my handicap" is where a player's actual score on a hole or for a round is so high that it exceeds the maximum allowable score for their handicap
Golf Terms Starting With "N"
Nassau
A common betting game divided into three matches: front nine, back nine, and overall 18 holes. Bets are placed on each match separately.
Golf Terms Starting With "O"
Out of Bounds
Marked with white stakes, out-of-bounds areas on the course require the golfer to re-hit and add 2 penalty strokes to their score.
On a Rope
When a golfer says, "that shot was on a rope", it means they hit it perfectly straight, like a rope.
Golf Terms Starting With "P"
Poa Annua Grass
A cool-season grass found on golf courses worldwide, recognized for its adaptability and ability to thrive in various climates.
Par
In golf, each individual golf hole has a designated "par" based on the hole's distance.
"Putt for dough"
"Drive for show, putt for dough" is a common phrase in golf that highlights the importance of putting in golf.
Pot Bunker
A special type of bunker that is commonly found on links golf courses and is characterized by its steep "walls" that are tough to hit over.
Push Shot
For the right-handed player, a push shot is where the ball starts right of the target and flies relatively straight.
Putting Green
The "putting green" represents the area on the golf course where the hole is cut. This is the shortest grass on the course and golfers hit putts on it.
Practice Green
Typically, the "practice green" refers to the putting green located near the first tee box, but NOT on the actual golf course.
Peoria System
A handicapping system where a golfer can allocate their handicap strokes on any hole before the round starts.
Plugged
A "plugged" golf ball is one that makes an indentation into the ground and rests in that indentation. Except for in hazards, golfers get free relief from this.
Penalty Stroke
A penalty stroke is when a golfer gets penalized for hitting a bad shot or committing a rules infraction and must add 1 or more strokes to their score.
Pull Shot
For a right-handed golfer, a pull shot is one that starts far left of the target and travels straight.
Punch Shot
A punch shot is a partial, low golf shot that helps a golfer escape from trouble scenarios like being under or behind a group of trees.
Pitch Shot
The pitch shot is a shot generally played between 20-50 yards, but there is no exact yardage that determines this.
Putting
In golf, putting is the part of the game where you hit short shots that stay on the ground on the "putting green" with your "putter" club.
Pitch Mark
Also known as a "ball mark", this is the small indentation the ball makes when it lands on the green.
Play it as it lies
Also known as "playing the ball down", this means the golfer must hit the ball where it comes to rest, no matter how bad the lie is.
Provisional
A provisional is when a golfer hits a second golf ball from the original shot location in case they can't find their first ball or it is out-of-bounds.
Putter
The shortest club in the bag, the putter is what golfers use on the green and occasionally from the fringe.
Golf Terms Starting With "R"
Rough
The rough describes the longer grass that golfers must hit out of if they miss the fairway and hit their shot off-target.
Round Robin
Players rotate partners on each hole, resulting in different teams for every hole. Bets can be placed on each hole individually or on the overall outcome.
Rangefinder
A rangefinder, or "laser rangefinder" is a device you carry along with you to measure the distance from your golf ball to the hole.
Read the Break
Reading the "break" of a putt means the golfer is evaluating the slope of the green to determine which way the putt will curve.
Red Hazard
Also known as a "lateral hazard", this can be a water hazard, tall grass, a creek, or other unplayable spots on the course.
Golf Terms Starting With "S"
Strokes Gained
Strokes gained is a golf stats methodology popularized by Mark Broadie and adopted by the PGA Tour which measures a golfer's skill by each part of their game.
Shamble
Similar to a scramble, but in this golf format, after selecting the best drive, each player plays their own ball for the remainder of the hole.
Stableford
In this golf format, points are awarded based on the number of strokes taken on each hole.
Sixes
Teams of two players compete, and the lower score between the partners is used. Bets are placed on the lower score for each hole.
Shot my age
You may hear older golfers say, "I'm just trying to shoot my age today". This is generally a good thing.
Slice
For right-handed players, this is a shot that curves left to right and ends right of the target. Generally, this is an inconsistent and erratic shot.
Skins
Players compete for a "skin" on each hole. The player with the lowest score on a hole wins the skin.
Soft Hands
When someone has "soft hands", that means that they have great feel around the greens and are good at chipping and pitching.
ShotLink
The ShotLink System is a revolutionary platform for collecting and disseminating scoring and statistical data on every shot by every player in real-time.
Slope Rating
Similar to course rating, the slope rating is an approximation of how difficult a course will play for a high handicapper, or "bogey golfer".
Shank
Also called a "hosel rocket", this is when you hit the ball with the hosel (club's neck) instead of the clubface, resulting in an erratic shot.
Scramble
A team format where all players tee off, then they choose the best shot and all play their next shots from that spot. This continues until the ball is holed.
Stinger
Made famous by Tiger Woods, the "stinger" is a low, penetrating shot with a controlled trajectory, often used for accuracy in windy conditions.
Stroke Play
Also called "medal play", this golf format requires each golfer to play their own ball the entire round.
Short Putt
A "short putt" describes a putt in golf that is generally between 3 and 8 feet. It is longer than a tap-in, but still makeable for most golfers.
Starter
On some golf courses, there will be a "starter", which is a person that checks you in at the first tee and gives you instructions for the course that day.
Golf Terms Starting With "T"
Topped Shot
A topped shot is when a golfer hits the top of the golf ball, causing it to only travel a short distance forward.
Tee Box
A tee box is where you hit your first shot on a single golf hole from.
Tee Shot
A tee shot is when the golfer hits from the designated "tee box". There are multiple tee boxes on each hole for men, women, and senior golfers.
Tap In
In golf terms, a "tap in" is a very short putt (typically less than 1 foot) where the golfer doesn't have to line anything up because the putt is so easy.
Texas Wedge
This isn't a golf club, but rather a technique where a golfer hits a putter from off the green, typically from the fringe.
Golf Terms Starting With "U"
Unplayable
An unplayable lie is when a golfer finds their golf ball, but determines it cannot be hit due to natural obstructions like trees, rocks, or other impediments.
Up and Down
If you hit a chip shot close to the hole and then make the putt, it's called an "up and down".
Golf Terms Starting With "W"
Whiff
A "whiff" is when a golfer swings but misses the ball entirely.
Wolf
Players take turns being the "Wolf," who chooses a partner or plays against the other three players on each hole. Bets are placed on individual hole outcomes.
Wedge
Golf wedges are the shortest full swing clubs in your bag and are used for full shots and short game shots around the green.
Golf Terms Starting With "Y"
Yip
This is less of a swing fault and more of a mental game problem and describes a golfer who makes involuntary movements during the swing.
Yellow Hazard
Also known as a "regular hazard", this is usually a water hazard of some kind and will be played similarly to a red hazard.
Golf Terms Starting With "Z"
Zoysia Grass
A warm-season grass known for its dense growth and resilience to heat, making it suitable for fairways and tees in warmer climates.