Golf Terms
Ace:
A hole in one!
Back 9:
The last 9 holes on a golf course.
Birdie:
A score of one stroke under par on a hole.
Bogey:
A score of one stroke over par on a hole.
Bunker/Sandtrap:
A hollow comprised of sand or grass or both that exists as an obstacle and, in some cases, a hazard.
Dog-Leg:
A fairway that bends to the right or left towards the green.
Double Bogey:
A score of two strokes over par.
Double Eagle:
A score of three strokes under par.
Drop:
When the ball is dropped back in play after having gone out of bounds or lost to a water hazard.
Eagle:
A score of two strokes under par on a hole.
Fairway:
The tightly mown area of grass that runs between the tee box and the green, represented in Par Out by the parallel lines.
Fore!:
A term typically called out when you make an errant shot.
Front 9:
The first 9 holes on a golf course.
Green:
The final area of play, where the cup is located.
Honors:
A player who has “honors” is the player who hits first from the tee box. On the first tee, honors can be determined randomly or by any means desired. Thereafter, the player with the lowest score on the preceding hole gets honors on the next tee. In the case of ties, order of hitting from the previous tee carries over.
Hook:
On a shot, a severe right-to-left (for a right-handed golfer) or left-to-right (for a left-handed golfer) curve of the ball.
Lay-up:
When a shot is intentionally hit short to avoid a hazard or set up the next shot.
Lie:
Where your stroke (ball) comes to rest.
Mulligan:
The custom of hitting a second ball, without penalty on a hole, usually on the first tee.
Par:
The score an accomplished player is expected to make on a hole: either a three, four or five. This is used as the basic measure of success on a hole.
Pin:
Also known as the flagstick. This marks the location of the hole on the course.
Rough:
The longer section of grass typically surrounding the fairway.
Round:
Typically, 18-holes is considered one round of golf.
Slice:
On a shot, a severe left-to-right (for a right-handed golfer) or right-to-left (for a left-handed golfer) curve of the ball.
Split Fairway:
A fairway that is split. The fairway branches into two separate fairways each approaching the same green. It can be split by a natural feature or a manmade feature. It is also called a double fairway.
Wood-Iron-putter:
The three subsets of clubs used by a golfer (some call the wedge clubs a fourth subset but they are usually classified as irons).
Yips:
A psychological condition that causes a player to lose control of his or her hands and club.
