The following is a glossary of the terminology currently used in the
sport
Sport pertains to any form of Competition, competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and Skill, skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to specta ...
of
golf
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standardized playing area, and coping wi ...
. Where words in a sentence are also defined elsewhere in this article, they appear in italics. Old names for clubs can be found at
Obsolete golf clubs.
0–9
;
19th hole: The clubhouse
bar
Bar or BAR may refer to:
Food and drink
* Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages
* Candy bar
* Chocolate bar
Science and technology
* Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment
* Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud
* Bar (u ...
.
A
B
; Back nine: The last nine holes of an 18-hole golf course. Playing the back nine is called "heading in".
; Backspin: A backwards spin that occurs when a player strikes the golf-ball. The spin causes the ball to stop quickly or spin backwards after landing on the green.
; Back-swing: The first part of the golf-swing. The back-swing starts with the club-head immediately behind the ball and ends when the club-head travels back behind the player's head. The term ''take-away'' refers to the first part of the back-swing.
; Ball: A small sphere used in playing golf, which is intended to be struck by a player swinging a club. Balls are usually white, covered in dimples, and made of a variety of materials.
; Ball-marker: A token or a small coin used to spot the ball's position on the green prior to lifting it.
; Ball-washer: A device found on many tees for cleaning golf balls.
; Banana-ball: The result of a severe slice that results in a trajectory in the shape of a banana. This is also referred to as an extreme slice.
; Bandit: See ''
Sandbagger''.
; Bare lie: When the ball lies directly on hard ground without any grass to buoy the ball up, (i.e.), where there is no grass creating a gap between ball and the ground. Applicable when practicing off hard mats.
; Best ball: A form of team play using two-, three-, or four-person teams. The team score on each hole is the lowest score obtained by one of the team members. For example, if player A has a 5, player B has a 6, player C has a 4, and player D has a 5, the "best ball" and team score is a 4.
; Biarritz:A hole whose green incorporates a deep gulley that effectively splits the putting surface in two. Named after a famous example at "Le Phare Golf Club" in
Biarritz
Biarritz ( , , , ; Basque also ; oc, Biàrritz ) is a city on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the French Basque Country in southwestern France. It is located from the border with Spain. ...
, France. This original par-3 3d hole by the ocean is long built over.
; Bifurcation:A proposal under consideration since the late 2010s by the sport's rulemaking bodies, The R&A and the USGA, to create separate rules for competitive and recreational play, mostly but not entirely relating to allowed equipment.
;
BIGGA: Is the professional association in the United Kingdom dealing with all matters of golf management from a greens-keeper's viewpoint. For the U.S. equivalent, see GCSAA.
; Birdie: A hole played in one stroke under ''
par''.
; Bisque: A form of handicapping used in private match play games. The higher handicapped player is allowed to choose on which holes they receive their handicap allowance of "free shots". As this is a matter of negotiation between the players involved there are many variations in the number of shots allowed and when (before the start of the round, before playing a hole, during the play of a hole, after playing a hole) the claiming of "free shot" is allowed. Bisque matches are not recognized by the rules of golf.
; Bite: Some players put a great deal of spin on their approach shots causing the ball to stop immediately when it hits the green. This phenomenon is referred to as biting or checking. Depending on the amount of backspin, the ball may stop advancing forward and roll back towards the player after landing. The amount of backspin imparted on the ball is greatly influenced by the ball material, quality of contact with the face of the club, and course conditions.
; Blade: (i) A type of ''iron'' where the weight is distributed evenly across the back of the club-head as opposed to mainly around the perimeter (see ''cavity back'').
(ii) A type of ''putter'' with a striking face considerably wider than the distance from the face to the rear of the club-head.
(iii) a shot struck "thinly" with the bottom of an iron striking high up on the golf ball, causing a low trajectory shot with a lack of control.
; Blast: A bunker shot that sends the ball, and accompanying sand, (hopefully) onto the green. Also known as an ''
explosion
An explosion is a rapid expansion in volume associated with an extreme outward release of energy, usually with the generation of high temperatures and release of high-pressure gases. Supersonic explosions created by high explosives are known ...
''.
; Blind: A shot that does not allow the golfer to see where the ball will land, such as onto an elevated green from below.
; Block: A shot played severely to the right; Similar to the ''
push
Push may refer to:
Music
* Mike Dierickx (born 1973), a Belgian producer also known as Push
Albums
* ''Push'' (Bros album), 1988
* ''Push'' (Gruntruck album), 1992
* ''Push'' (Jacky Terrasson album), 2010
Songs
* "Push" (Enrique Iglesias s ...
''.
; Bogey: A hole played one stroke over ''
par''.
;: A player whose
handicap is in the range 20 to 24.
; Borrow: See ''
break
Break or Breaks or The Break may refer to:
Time off from duties
* Recess (break), time in which a group of people is temporarily dismissed from its duties
* Break (work), time off during a shift/recess
** Coffee break, a short mid-morning res ...
''.
;
Bounce
Bounce or The Bounce may refer to:
* Deflection (physics), the event where an object Collision, collides with and bounces against a plane surface
Books
* Mr. Bounce, a character from the Mr. Men series of children's books
Broadcasting, film and ...
: The measurement of the angle from the front edge of a club's sole to the point that rests on the ground when addressing the ball. In discussing wedges, bounce describes a sole angle where the back edge of the sole is lower than the front edge, keeping them from digging too deep in sand or being stopped by tall grass.
; Bounce Back: Scoring a birdie or better on a hole immediately following a bogey or worse. Also see ''
Reverse bounce back''.
; Break: The tendency of a putted ball to roll left or right of a straight line. This deviation may be a result of a number of factors or combination of factors including uneven surface, grain of the grass, how firmly the putt is struck or, in extreme circumstances, wind. In the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, it is also known as ''
borrow
Borrow or borrowing can mean: to receive (something) from somebody temporarily, expecting to return it.
*In finance, monetary debt
*In language, the use of loanwords
* In arithmetic, when a digit becomes less than zero and the deficiency is taken f ...
''.
; Bullarding: Playing consistently above your regular handicap or regularly failing to achieve in competition play. It is the opposite of ''
sandbagging''.
; Bump and run: A low-trajectory shot that is intended to get the ball rolling along the fairway and up onto the green. Similar to a
chip shot, but played from a greater distance.
;
Bunker
A bunker is a defensive military fortification designed to protect people and valued materials from falling bombs, artillery, or other attacks. Bunkers are almost always underground, in contrast to blockhouses which are mostly above ground. ...
: 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.
; Bunker, Green-side: A bunker next to or even in a green. See ''
bunker
A bunker is a defensive military fortification designed to protect people and valued materials from falling bombs, artillery, or other attacks. Bunkers are almost always underground, in contrast to blockhouses which are mostly above ground. ...
''.
; Bunker, Fairway: A bunker located on or in the fairway. See ''
bunker
A bunker is a defensive military fortification designed to protect people and valued materials from falling bombs, artillery, or other attacks. Bunkers are almost always underground, in contrast to blockhouses which are mostly above ground. ...
''.
; Bye: A short game played over the remaining holes when the main match finishes early because one player or team has won by a large margin. It serves the joint purpose of adding some competitive meaning to the rest of the holes and also for the losing side to attempt to regain some of the pride lost as a result of their humiliation in the main match. It is usual for the loser of the bye to buy the first drinks in the
19th hole afterwards. In this respect it is an almost direct equivalent to a
beer match in
cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...
.
C
;
Caddie
In golf, a caddie (or caddy) is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives the player advice and moral support.
Description
A good caddie is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the ...
or Caddy: A person, often paid, who carries a player's clubs and offers advice. Players are responsible for the actions of their ''caddies''. Players cannot receive advice from anyone other than their caddie or partner. A
Scots form of the French 'Cadet', meaning an assistant or errand-runner.
;
Calcutta
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, the official name until 2001) is the Capital city, capital of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal, on the eastern ba ...
: A wager, typically in support of one team to win a tournament. In a ''Calcutta'' golfers bid, auction style, on the team (or golfer) who they think will win the tournament (you can bid on your own team or yourself). All the money raised through the auction goes into an auction pool. At the end of the tournament, those who bet on the winning team (or golfer) that won the tournament receives a predetermined payout from the auction pool.
; Carry: How far the ball travels through the air. Contrasted with ''
run''. Typically regards a shot over a hazard. For example, "This shot requires a 200 yard carry to get over that water."
; Cart: (i) A four-wheeled electrical or gas-powered vehicle for use in transporting players and their equipment from hole to hole.
(ii) A hand-pulled (2-wheel) or hand-pushed (3-wheel) cart for carrying a bag of clubs, also available in powered versions controlled by remote.
; Casual water: Any temporary standing water visible after a player has taken their stance. Snow and ice can also be taken as casual water, as well as water that overflows the banks of existing water hazards.
; Cavity back: Any iron whose design characteristic is such that the weight is distributed primarily around the outer edges of the club-head in order to maximize forgiveness on off-center hits.
; Chip: A short shot (typically played from very close to and around the green), that is intended to travel through the air over a very short distance and roll the remainder of the way to the hole.
; Champions Tour: The name used by
PGA Tour Champions
PGA Tour Champions (formerly the Senior PGA Tour and the Champions Tour) is a men's professional senior golf tour, administered as a branch of the PGA Tour.
History and format
The Senior PGA Championship, founded in 1937, was for many year ...
from 2002 through 2015.
; Chunk: A swing that results in the club-head hitting the ground before the ball, resulting in a large ''chunk'' of ground being taken as a
divot
The following is a glossary of the terminology currently used in the sport of golf. Where words in a sentence are also defined elsewhere in this article, they appear in italics. Old names for clubs can be found at Obsolete golf clubs.
0–9 ...
. Also called a ''
fat
In nutrition science, nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such chemical compound, compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food.
The term often refers spec ...
'' shot, or "chili-dipping".
; Clone: Budget brand golf clubs that look similar to, and emulate the characteristics of, more expensive clubs without breaching any patents.
; Closed face: When (in relation to the target-line) the club-face is angled toward the player's body, i.e., angled left for right-handed players.
; Closed stance: When a player's front foot is set closer to the target-line. Used to draw the ball or to prevent a slice.
; Club: (i) An
instrument used by a player to hit a golf ball. A player is allowed to carry up to fourteen (14) clubs during a round of golf.
(ii) An organized
group of golfers, usually owning or managing a golf course.
(iii) The entirety of a golf facility, including course, club-house, pro-shop, practice areas etc.
; :The part of a club that is used to strike the ball.
; : The surface of the ''
club-head'' which is designed to strike the golf ball. Striking the ball with the center of the clubface maximizes distance and accuracy.
; Clubhouse: A building on a golf course providing facilities for golfers, typically including changing rooms, bar, restaurant, offices for club officials and noticeboards with information about local rules, the conditions of the course, upcoming events etc. A clubhouse may incorporate a ''pro shop'' and ''dormie house''. The clubhouse is normally located adjacent to the first and final holes of the course.
; Come-backer: A putt required after the previous putt went past the hole.
; Compress: To hit the ball with a slightly downwards angle of attack of the golf club.
; Compression: The measurement for expressing the hardness of a golf ball, normally 90 compression. Harder balls (100 compression) are intended for players with faster swings but may also be useful in windy conditions.
; Condor: A four-under ''
par'' shot; for example, a hole-in-one on a par 5. Might also be called "a triple eagle".
; Count-back: A method of determining a winner of a competition in the event of a tie. There are several different methods used, but typically the scores in the last nine, last six, last three and final hole are compared in turn until a winner emerges.
; Course: A designated area of land on which golf is played through a normal succession from hole #1 to the last hole.
;
Course rating
A golf handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's potential that is used to enable players of varying abilities to compete against one another. Better players are those with the lowest handicaps.
Historically, rules relating to handicaps have v ...
: Course rating is a numerical value given to each set of tees at a golf course to approximate the number of strokes it should take a ''
scratch golfer
The following is a glossary of the terminology currently used in the sport of golf. Where words in a sentence are also defined elsewhere in this article, they appear in italics. Old names for clubs can be found at Obsolete golf clubs.
0–9 ...
'' to complete the course under normal conditions.
;Courtesy of the course: The waiver of the ''green fee''. Sometimes extended to visiting golfers playing in official competitions, visiting professional golfers and staff of other golf clubs.
; Cross-handed: A putting (and, occasionally, full-swing) grip in which the hands are placed in positions opposite that of the conventional grip. For right-handed golfers, a ''cross-handed'' grip would place the left hand below the right. Also known as the "left-hand low" grip, it has been known to help players combat the ''
yips
In sports, the yips (in gymnastics, lost move syndrome or the twisties) are a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced athletes. Symptoms of the yips are losing fine motor skills and psychological issues that ...
''.
;
Cut: (i) The reduction in the size of the field during a multiple round ''
stroke play
Stroke play, also known as medal play, is a scoring system in the sport of golf in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 holes. In stroke play, the winner is the player who has taken the fewest strokes over the ...
'' tournament. The ''cut'' is usually set so that a fixed number of players, plus anyone tied for that place, or anyone within a certain number of strokes of the lead will participate in the subsequent round(s) (typically 65–70 and ties; The Masters is top 50 and ties). Rarely, tournaments may have more than one cut with players missing the secondary cut commonly designated as "
made cut, did not finish", or "MDF".
(ii) A shot similar to a ''
fade
Fade or Fading may refer to:
Science and technology
* Fading, a loss of signal strength at a radio receiver
* Color fade, the alteration of color by light
* Fade (audio engineering), a gradual change in sound volume
* Brake fade, in vehicle brakin ...
'', a cut curves from left to right (for a right-handed player), but is generally higher in trajectory.
D
; Dead: TV-broadcaster slang for a shot in which there is no favorable outcome possible.
; Dimples: The round indentations on a golf ball cover which are scientifically designed to enable the ball to make a steady and true flight. Dimples, by reducing drag, allow a golf ball to stay in the air for a longer flight than would be possible with a smooth ball.
;
Divot: (i) The chunk of grass and earth displaced during a stroke.
(ii) The indentation on the green caused by the ball on an approach shot; more properly called a ''
pitch mark'' or ball mark.
; Dogleg: A hole where the fairway is straight for some distance and then bends to the left or right. These holes are so-named because they resemble the shape of a dog's leg.
; Dog licence: A
match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 h ...
contest ending with the winner winning by seven holes, with six remaining (known as 7 and 6), after 12 holes in an 18-hole match or 30 holes in a 36-hole match. Named because the cost of a dog license in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
before
decimalisation
Decimalisation or decimalization (see spelling differences) is the conversion of a system of currency or of weights and measures to units related by powers of 10.
Most countries have decimalised their currencies, converting them from non-decimal ...
in 1971 was seven
shilling
The shilling is a historical coin, and the name of a unit of modern currencies formerly used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, other British Commonwealth countries and Ireland, where they were generally equivalent to 12 pence o ...
s and
sixpence (written 7/6, 37½p in new money), commonly known as ''seven and six''.
;
Dormie or Dormy: A situation in ''
match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 h ...
'' when a player or team leads by as many holes as there are holes left to play. For example, four up with four holes to play is called "dormie-four".
;Dormie house: A building at a golf club providing overnight accommodation.
; Double bogey: A hole played two strokes over ''
par''.
; Double cross: A shot whereby a player intends for a ''fade'' and hits a ''hook'', or conversely, intends to play a ''draw'' and hits a ''slice''. So called because the player has aimed left (in the case of a slice) and compounds this with hitting a hook, which moves left as well.
; Double eagle: A hole played three strokes under ''
par''. Also called an Albatross.
; Downswing: A motion involving the body and golf club used to move the club from the top of the swing to the point of impact.
;
Draw: A shot that, for a right-handed golfer, curves to the left; often played intentionally by skilled golfers. An overdone ''draw'' usually becomes a ''
hook
A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one e ...
''.
; Drive: The first shot of each ''hole'', made from an area called the ''tee box'' (see definition below), usually done with a ''
driver'' (a type of
golf club
A golf club is a club used to hit a golf ball in a game of golf. Each club is composed of a shaft with a grip and a club head. Woods are mainly used for long-distance fairway or tee shots; irons, the most versatile class, are used for a variety ...
).
; Duck-hook: A severe low
hook
A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one e ...
that barely gets airborne.
; Duff: A horrible shot. Typically, this is a shot where very little or no contact is made between the club-face and golf-ball. Also known as Dub, Flub or
Shank.
E
; Eagle: A hole played in two strokes under ''
par''.
;
Epson Tour
The Epson Tour, previously known as the LPGA Futures Tour, and known for sponsorship reasons between 2006 and 2010 as the Duramed Futures Tour and between 2012 and 2021 as the Symetra Tour, is the official developmental golf tour of the LPGA Tour ...
: The current sponsored name for the official developmental tour for the LPGA Tour.
; Even: Having a score equal to that of ''
par''.
; Explosion bunker shot: A bunker shot that sends the ball, and accompanying sand, (hopefully) onto the green. Also known as a ''
blast
Blast or The Blast may refer to:
*Explosion, a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner
*Detonation, an exothermic front accelerating through a medium that eventually drives a shock front
Film
* ''Blast'' (1997 film), ...
''.
;
European Tour
The European Tour (currently known as the DP World Tour for sponsorship reasons), legally the PGA European Tour is the leading men's professional golf tour in Europe. The organisation also operates the European Senior Tour (for players aged fift ...
: One of the world's leading professional golf tours, along with the PGA Tour. Based in Europe, but also co-sanctions the major championships and World Golf Championships in the United States, along with many other tournaments in Asia, Africa and Australia.
F
;
Fade: A shot that, for a right-handed golfer, curves slightly to the right, and is often played intentionally by skilled golfers. An overdone ''fade'' will appear similar to a ''
slice''.
;
Fairway: The area of the course between the tee and the green that is well-maintained allowing a good lie for the ball
; Fairway hit (FH): A fairway is considered hit if any part of the ball is touching the fairway surface after the tee shot on a par 4 or 5. Percentage of fairways hit is one of many statistics kept by the PGA Tour.
;Fairway markers: Fairway markers indicate the distance from the marker to the center of the green. Some fairway markers give the yardage. Most are color-coded as follows: yellow=250 yards, blue=200 yards, white=150 yards, red=100 yards (or meters). These colors are not standardized and may vary based on the specific course layout.
; Fat: A stroke in which the club makes contact with the turf long before the ball, resulting in a poor contact and significant loss of distance.
;Ferret: Hole out from outside the green.
;Flag-stick: A tall marker, often a metal pole with a flag at the top, used to indicate the position of the hole on a green. Also called the ''
pin
A pin is a device used for fastening objects or material together.
Pin or PIN may also refer to:
Computers and technology
* Personal identification number (PIN), to access a secured system
** PIN pad, a PIN entry device
* PIN, a former Dutch ...
''. An additional smaller flag, or other marker, is sometimes positioned on the flag-stick to indicate the location of the hole (front, middle, or back) on the green.
;Flier: A type of lie where the ball is in the rough and grass is likely to become trapped between the ball and the club-face at the moment of impact. Flier lies often result in "flier shots", which have little or no spin (due to the blades of grass blocking the grooves on the club-face) and travel much farther than intended.
;
Flop shot
The golf swing is the action by which players hit the ball in the sport of golf. The golf swing is a complex motion involving the whole body; the technicalities of the swing are known as golf stroke mechanics.
There are differing opinions on what ...
: A short shot, played with an open stance and an open club-face, designed to travel very high in the air and land softly on the green. The flop shot is useful when players do not have "much green to work with", but should only be attempted on the best of lies.
;: The final part of a golf swing, after the ball has been hit.
;
Fore: A warning shout given when there is a chance that the ball may hit other players or spectators.
;Fore caddy: One employed by a golfer or group of golfers to walk ahead of the players in order to spot the fall of their shots and to find their balls. More commonly used in the days of hand-made feathery balls when the cost of replacing a ball would be greater than the fore caddy's fee. Today in professional tournaments, ball spotters are normally placed at each hole for the same purpose.
;
Four-ball: In match play, a contest between two sides, each consisting of a pair of players, where every individual plays their own ball throughout. On every hole, the lower of the two partner's scores is matched against the lower of the opposition's scores. In stroke-play, a four-ball competition is played between several teams each consisting of 2 players, where for every hole the lower of the two partner's scores counts toward the team's 18 hole total. The term ''four-ball'' is an informal reference to any group of 4 players on the course.
;
Foursomes Foursomes, also known as alternate shot, is a pairs playing format in the sport of golf.
Golfers compete in teams of two, using only one ball per team, and taking alternate shots until the hole is completed. Team members take turns in teeing off o ...
: In match play, a contest between two sides each consisting of a pair of players, where the 2 partners hit alternate shots on one ball. The first player tees off, the second player hits the second shot, the first player hits the third shot, and so on until the ball is holed. Also partners alternate their tee shots, so that one member of each team will always tee-off on the odd holes and the other will tee off on the even holes. In stroke-play, a foursome competition is played between several teams each consisting of a pair of players, where partners play alternate shots until the SINGLE ball is holed. The term ''foursome'' is a common reference to any group of 4 players on the course.
;Frenchie: the act of ricocheting a ball off a tree back onto the fairway.
; Fringe: The closely mowed area surrounding the green. The grass in between the green and the fairway.
;Front nine: Holes 1 through 9 on a golf course.
;
Funnies: Various informal achievements, both positive and negative; these differ from traditional achievements like birdies or eagles in that the achievements are for unusual things that may happen in the course of a game. Their main use is to add interest to informal match play games as they enable players to win something regardless of the overall outcome of the match. They are frequently associated with gambling because money, usually small stakes, changes hands depending on which funnies occur.
G
;
Gimme: Refers to a putt that the other players agree can count automatically without actually being played (under the tacit assumption that the putt would not have been missed). "Gimmes" are not allowed by the rules in stroke play, but they are often practiced in casual matches. However, in
match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 h ...
, either player may formally ''concede'' a stroke, a hole, or the entire match at any time, and this may not be refused or withdrawn. A player in match play will generally concede a tap-in or other short putt by their opponent.
;Golden ferret: Holing out from a (green-side) bunker.
;Goldie bounce: When the ball strikes a tree deep in the rough and bounces out onto the
fairway.
;Golf club: (i) An
implement used by a player to hit a golf ball. A player is allowed to carry up to fourteen (14) clubs during a round of golf. (ii) An organized
group of golfers, usually owning or managing a golf course. (iii) The entirety of a golf facility, including course, club-house, pro-shop, practice areas etc.
;Good-good: When both players in a match agree to concede each other's putts.
;Grain: The direction in which the grass grows, specifically on the green (see below). Depending on the variety of grass used on the green and mowing patterns, grain can significantly influence the speed and movement of a putt.
;
Grand slam
Grand Slam most often refers to:
* Grand Slam (tennis), one player or pair winning all four major annual tournaments, or the tournaments themselves
Grand Slam or Grand slam may also refer to:
Games and sports
* Grand slam, winning category te ...
: Winning all the golf's major championships in the same calendar year. Before
The Masters
The Masters Tournament (usually referred to as simply The Masters, or the U.S. Masters outside North America) is one of the four major championships in professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week of April, the Masters is the first maj ...
was founded, the national amateur championships of the U.S and the UK were considered majors along with the two national opens and only
Bobby Jones has ever completed a grand slam with these. A "Career Grand Slam" is having won each of the majors at least once, not necessarily in the same year.
;
Green
Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...
: The area of specially prepared grass around the hole, where
putts
The golf swing is the action by which players hit the ball in the sport of golf. The golf swing is a complex motion involving the whole body; the technicalities of the swing are known as golf stroke mechanics.
There are differing opinions on what ...
are played.
;Green fee: The charge made for a round of golf by the course management.
;
Greensomes Foursomes, also known as alternate shot, is a pairs playing format in the sport of golf.
Golfers compete in teams of two, using only one ball per team, and taking alternate shots until the hole is completed. Team members take turns in teeing off o ...
: Is a variation of ''
foursomes Foursomes, also known as alternate shot, is a pairs playing format in the sport of golf.
Golfers compete in teams of two, using only one ball per team, and taking alternate shots until the hole is completed. Team members take turns in teeing off o ...
'', where each side consists of 2 players. Both players play one tee-shot each from every tee. A choice is then made as to which is the more favorable of the 2 ball positions, the other ball being picked up. Thereafter the players play alternate shots. So if A's tee-shot is selected, the playing order from the tee will be A-B-A-B etc. until the ball is holed out. If player B's tee-shot is selected, the playing order will be B-A-B-A etc. The team with the lowest score wins the hole.
;Green in regulation (GIR): A ''
green
Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...
'' is considered hit "in regulation" if any part of the ball is touching the putting surface while the number of strokes taken is at least two fewer than
par (i.e., by the first stroke on a par 3, the second stroke on a par 4, or the third stroke on a par 5). Greens in regulation percentage is one of many statistics kept by the PGA Tour.
;Gross score: The total number of strokes taken for a hole (or round) before accounting for a golfer's
handicap.
;Grounding the club: To place the club-face behind the ball on the ground at address. Grounding the club is prohibited in bunkers or when playing from any marked hazard.
;Ground under repair (GUR): An area of the golf course that is being repaired. A free drop is allowed if the ball lands in an area marked "GUR".
;Groove: (i) The crevices on the face of a club that are designed to impart spin on the ball.
(ii) A well practiced ''swing'' that is easily repeatable by the golfer is often described as "well grooved".
H
;Hacker: (i) Person who demonstrates poor golf etiquette.
(ii) A golfer lacking skill who often becomes frustrated or quits.
;Half: In
match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 h ...
, a hole is halved (or tied) when both players or teams have played the same number of strokes. In some team events, such as the
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is contested every two years with the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe. The Ryder Cup is named af ...
and
Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup is a series of men's golf matches between a team representing the United States and an International Team representing the rest of the world minus Europe. Europe competes against the United States in a similar but considerably ...
(except for singles matches in the latter competition while its overall outcome remains in doubt), a match that is tied after 18 holes is not continued, and is called "halved", with each team receiving half a point.
;: A numerical measure of a golfer's potential that is used to enable players of varying abilities to compete against one another.
;Halfway house or Halfway hut: A building, generally between the 9th and 10th holes, providing light snacks and refreshments for golfers during their round.
;Handsy: A player with too much wrist movement in their golf swing or putting stroke, causing inconsistent shots or putts.
;Hard-pan: Hard, usually bare, ground conditions. Generally, hard-pan refers to hard, dry clay, with very little or no grass.
;
Hazard
A hazard is a potential source of harm
Harm is a moral and legal concept.
Bernard Gert construes harm as any of the following:
* pain
* death
* disability
* mortality
* loss of abil ity or freedom
* loss of pleasure.
Joel Feinberg giv ...
: Any bunker or permanent water including any ground marked as part of that water hazard. Special rules apply when playing from a hazard.
;Heel: The part of the club-head nearest the shaft.
;: (i) A circular hole in the ground which is also called "the cup", in diameter.
(ii) Any one of the (usually 9 or 18) geographic sections of a golf course, beginning at a tee area and ending at a green.
;
Hole in one
In golf, a hole in one or hole-in-one (also known as an ace, mostly in American English) occurs when a ball hit from a tee to start a hole finishes in the cup. A ball hit from a tee following a lost ball, out-of-bounds, or water hazard is not a h ...
: Hitting the ball from the tee into the hole, using only one stroke.
;
Hole in one insurance:Many tournaments offer large prizes if a player shoots a
hole in one
In golf, a hole in one or hole-in-one (also known as an ace, mostly in American English) occurs when a ball hit from a tee to start a hole finishes in the cup. A ball hit from a tee following a lost ball, out-of-bounds, or water hazard is not a h ...
on a particular hole. Indemnity insurance is often purchased to cover the cost should anyone make the hole in one. Hole in one insurance is also available for individuals to cover the cost of a round of drinks in the event of their achieving a hole in one.
;
Hook
A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one e ...
: A shot that initially takes a trajectory opposite the side of the golf ball from which the player swings but eventually curves sharply back towards the player. Under normal circumstances, a hook is unintentional; however, good players can use a hook to their advantage in certain situations.
:Hooks are often called the "better player's miss", thanks to the fact that many of the game's greatest players (
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan (August 13, 1912 – July 25, 1997) was an American professional golfer who is generally considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He is notable for his profound influence on golf swing theory and ...
, for instance) have been plagued by the hook at one time or another in their careers. A shot that follows the same trajectory but to a lesser degree is referred to as a 'draw'. A draw is often intentionally used by above-average players to achieve a certain type of spin. The curved shape ball-flight is the result of sideways spin.
:A draw/ hook travels further than a fade/ slice due to the fact that the closed face reduces loft and decreases backspin.
:A draw often is considered the "ideal" flight of the ball and implies that the spin is intentional, whereas a hook is an overly spun "draw" which is often a miss or out of control (unintentional).
;: The hollow part of the club-head where the shaft is attached. Hitting the ball off the hosel is known as a ''
shank''.
;
Hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
: A type of club, increasingly popular in the 21st century, that in the broadest sense combines the mechanics of a long iron with the more forgiving nature and distance of a fairway wood. Most golfers today carry at least one hybrid.
I
;Interlocking grip: Grip style where (for right-handed players) the pinkie finger of the right hand is hooked around the index finger of the left.
;Inward nine: The back nine holes of a golf course, so named because older links courses were designed to come back "in" toward the clubhouse after going "out" on the front nine.
;
Iron
Iron () is a chemical element with symbol Fe (from la, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, right in f ...
: A club with a flat-faced solid metal head generally numbered from 1 to 9 indicating increasing loft.
J
;Jab: A putting stroke that is short, quick, and, often, erratic.
K
;Knock-down: A type of shot designed to have a very low trajectory, usually employed to combat strong winds.
;
Korn Ferry Tour
The Korn Ferry Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either not yet reached the PGA Tour, or who have done so but then failed to win enough FedEx Cup points to stay at that level. Th ...
: The current sponsored name for the official developmental tour for the PGA Tour.
L
;Lag: (i) A long ''
putt'' designed to simply get the ball close to the hole.
(ii) During the downswing, how far the club-head "lags" behind the hands prior to release.
;: A stroke deliberately played with a shorter range club than to reach the pin, in order to position the ball in a certain spot. This may be done to ensure a more comfortable next stroke or to avoid a ''
hazard
A hazard is a potential source of harm
Harm is a moral and legal concept.
Bernard Gert construes harm as any of the following:
* pain
* death
* disability
* mortality
* loss of abil ity or freedom
* loss of pleasure.
Joel Feinberg giv ...
''.
;Leven: A short par-four golf hole where a bold drive carrying over a bunker or other hazard is rewarded with much simpler approach to the green than one played short or to the side of the hazard. Named after what is now the 16th Hole at Lundin Links, near Leven in Scotland.
;Lie: (i) How the ball is resting on the ground, which may add to the difficulty of the next stroke.
(ii) The angle between the center of the shaft and the ''
sole'' of the ''
club-head''.
;Line: The path the ball is expected to take following a stroke. This is of particular importance on the ''
green
Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...
'', where stepping on another player's line is considered a breach of ''
etiquette
Etiquette () is the set of norms of personal behaviour in polite society, usually occurring in the form of an ethical code of the expected and accepted social behaviours that accord with the conventions and norms observed and practised by a ...
''.
;
Links: A type of ''
golf course
A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". Th ...
'', usually located on coastal
sand dune
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...
s.
;: a short, high arc shot, often produced with a
lob wedge.
;Local rule: An addition to the rules of golf applying to abnormal conditions that may be found on a particular golf course.
;: The angle between the club's shaft and the club's face.
;: A small natural item which is not fixed or growing, solidly embedded, or stuck to the ball, such as a small stone or leaf. Unless found within a ''
hazard
A hazard is a potential source of harm
Harm is a moral and legal concept.
Bernard Gert construes harm as any of the following:
* pain
* death
* disability
* mortality
* loss of abil ity or freedom
* loss of pleasure.
Joel Feinberg giv ...
'' players are generally permitted to move them away, but if the ball is moved while doing so, there is a one-stroke penalty (except in greens, so long as the ball is put back).
;
LPGA: (i) A U.S.-based organization that operates the world's most significant women's golf tour. From its inception, it has included female club and touring professionals in its membership—unlike men's golf in the U.S., in which club and touring professionals have been represented by different bodies since 1968.
(ii) Any of several other national organizations, modeled after the U.S. LPGA, supporting women's professional golf. These bodies may follow the U.S. model, or may be devoted solely to touring pros.
M
;: In some tournaments (previously used by the
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour (stylized in all capital letters as PGA TOUR by its officials) is the organizer of professional golf tours in the United States and North America. It organizes most of the events on the flagship annual series of tournaments also k ...
and
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later th ...
), the scoreboard term used for those players who made the
cut
Cut may refer to:
Common uses
* The act of cutting, the separation of an object into two through acutely-directed force
** A type of wound
** Cut (archaeology), a hole dug in the past
** Cut (clothing), the style or shape of a garment
** Cut (ea ...
after the first two rounds, but were subject to a second cut after the third round. Prior to the
2020–21 season the cut line on the PGA Tour was generally the top 70 and ties but if more than 78 players made the cut, the secondary cut again reduced the field to the top 70 and ties. Second cut golfers earn prize money and FedEx Cup points and credit for the finish (i.e. MDF is not tracked like missed cuts, withdrawals, and disqualifications).
;Major(s): The most prestigious golf tournaments. In the modern game the
Masters Tournament
The Masters Tournament (usually referred to as simply The Masters, or the U.S. Masters outside North America) is one of the four major championships in professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week of April, the Masters is the first maj ...
,
U.S. Open,
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later th ...
and the
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship (often referred to as the US PGA Championship or USPGA outside the United States) is an annual golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. It is one of the four men's major championships ...
are considered the
men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the major championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the most prestigious tournaments in golf. Historically, the national open and amateur championships of Great Britain a ...
. The
Kraft Nabisco Championship
The Chevron Championship is a professional women's golf tournament. An event on the LPGA Tour, it is one of the tour's five major championships, and has traditionally been the first of the season since its elevation to major status in 1983. Fou ...
,
LPGA Championship
The Women's PGA Championship (branded as the KPMG Women's PGA Championship for sponsorship reasons) is a women's professional golf tournament. First held in 1955, it is one of five majors on the LPGA Tour. It is not recognized as a major by the ...
,
U.S. Women's Open
The U.S. Women's Open, one of 15 national golf championships conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA), is the oldest of the LPGA Tour's five major championships, which includes the Chevron Championship, Women's PGA Championship, W ...
,
Women's British Open
The Women's Open (originally known as the Women's British Open, and still widely referred to by that name outside the UK) is a women's major golf championships, major championship in Professional golf tours#Women's tours, women's professional go ...
and
The Evian Championship
The Evian Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as The Amundi Evian Championship, is a women's professional golf tournament in France, played at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains. It was originally held in June, move ...
are currently considered the
women's major golf championships
Women's golf has a set of major championships which parallels that in men's golf, with the women's system newer and less stable than the men's. As of 2013, five tournaments are designated as majors in women's golf by the LPGA Tour.
LPGA major ...
. Historically, from before the dominance of the professional game in the mid 20th century, the
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
and
U.S. Amateur
The United States Amateur Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Amateur, is the leading annual golf tournament in the United States for amateur golfers. It is organized by the United States Golf Association and is currently held each August ov ...
Championships are also often considered men's majors. Sometimes, people refer to The Players Championship as "The Fifth Major".
;Marker: (i) A small metal or plastic disk used to mark the position of a ball on the green if it has been lifted for cleaning etc.
(ii) A person appointed by the Committee to record a competitor's score in stroke play. They may be a fellow-competitor.
;Mashie niblick:An
obsolete name for an iron club with the loft similar to a modern 7 iron. The term became redundant with the introduction of numbered clubs, "matched sets", in the first half of the 20th century.
;
Match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 h ...
: A form of golf play where players or teams compete against each other on a hole-by-hole basis. The total number of strokes does not determine the winner. Instead, the number of holes won determines the winner. It is possible to win in match-play with more strokes than your opponent.
;
Medal play: Generally a synonym for ''
stroke play
Stroke play, also known as medal play, is a scoring system in the sport of golf in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 holes. In stroke play, the winner is the player who has taken the fewest strokes over the ...
'' but sometimes used in a more specific sense, referring to the stroke play qualifying rounds preceding a match play stage.
;
Medalist: The leader in the
Medal play qualifying rounds preceding a match play stage.
;Member's bounce: Any favorable bounce of the golf ball that improves what initially appeared to be an errant shot.
;Mid-amateur: Term used to describe a (usually low handicap) amateur golfer who is over a certain age but is not yet old enough to qualify for the senior ranks (i.e. under 50 or 55 years of age). The minimum age limit for Mid-Am competitions varies widely by country and organisation; for example, the USGA
men's and
women's
A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardl ...
mid amateur championships have a minimum age limit of 25, and the English Mid-Amateur (Logan Trophy) run by
England Golf has a minimum age limit of 35.
;Misread: A misread is to incorrectly discern the correct line of a putt.
;
Monday qualifier
A Monday qualifier is a stroke play golf tournament held on the Monday before a professional golf tournament that awards top finishers entry into the professional tournament. Those who enter the Monday qualifiers are those with no status on the tou ...
: A
stroke play
Stroke play, also known as medal play, is a scoring system in the sport of golf in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 holes. In stroke play, the winner is the player who has taken the fewest strokes over the ...
golf tournament held on the Monday before a professional golf tournament that awards top finishers entry into the tournament.
;Moving day: The penultimate day of a four-day tournament, so called because it is the day where competitors try to set themselves up for the final push on the final day.
;Mud ball: A golf ball that has soil or other debris stuck to it which can affect its flight. Under normal rules of golf one is only allowed to clean a ball in play when it is on the putting green. During exceptional conditions this rule may be waived by a ''local rule'' (see ''
Preferred lies'').
;
Mulligan
Mulligan may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Mulligan (games), a second chance given to a player to perform a certain move or action
* ''Mulligans'' (film), a 2008 movie
* ''Mulligan'' (TV series), an animated sitcom
Places
* Mulligan, New ...
: A do-over, or replay of the shot, without counting the shot as a stroke and without assessing any penalties that might apply. It is not allowed by the rules and not practiced in tournaments, but is common in casual rounds in some countries, especially the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
.
N
;
Nassau
Nassau may refer to:
Places Bahamas
*Nassau, Bahamas, capital city of the Bahamas, on the island of New Providence
Canada
*Nassau District, renamed Home District, regional division in Upper Canada from 1788 to 1792
*Nassau Street (Winnipeg), ...
: A type of wager between golfers that is essentially three separate bets. Money is wagered on the best score in the front 9, back 9, and total 18 holes.
;Net score: The number of strokes taken for a hole (or round) after accounting for a golfer's
handicap.
;Nine-iron: A club of the highest loft in the ''
iron
Iron () is a chemical element with symbol Fe (from la, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, right in f ...
'' family. Used for short-distance shots.
;: If a player does not turn in a scorecard for a round the player is recorded as "NC" for the round. An exception is if the player is injured and withdraws.
;No Return (NR): See
No Card.
O
;On the charge: A player is said to be "on the charge" when stringing together birdies to move into contention during the final round of a stroke play tournament.
; Open face: When (in relation to the target line) the club-face is angled away from the player's body, i.e. angled right for right-handed players.
;Open stance:When a player's front foot is drawn backwards further from the target line. Used to fade the ball or to prevent a hook.
;Outside agent: Any agent not part of the match or, in stroke play, not part of the competitor's side. Referees, markers, observers, and fore-caddies are outside agents. Wind and water are not outside agents.
;Outward nine: Refers to the first nine holes, so named as links golf courses were set up where the first nine holes went "out" away from the clubhouse.
;Out-of-bounds: The area designated as being outside the boundaries of the course. When a shot lands "O.B.", the player "loses stroke and distance", meaning that the player must hit another shot from the original spot and is assessed a one-stroke penalty. Out-of-bounds areas are usually indicated by white posts. As an example, if a player's first shot from the tee comes to rest out of bounds, a one stroke penalty is assessed and the player then plays the third shot from the tee.
;Overlapping grip: See ''
Vardon grip''
P
;Pace: The speed at which a putt must be struck to get to the hole. ''Pace'' and ''break'' are the two components of green-reading.
;
Par: Standard score for a hole (defined by its length) or a course (sum of all the holes' pars).
;Penal: A type of golf hole design where the player has little choice in the shots required to make par at the hole. Failure to execute these shots successfully is punished by severe hazards. Compare with ''Strategic''.
;
Perfect round
This article lists the lowest rounds of golf. In professional competition a round of 59 or less is regarded as a significant achievement. In men's major championships the lowest round is 62 by Branden Grace at the 2017 Open Championship. The lowe ...
: Having scored a birdie or better on all 18 holes of a round.
;PGA: Any Professional Golfers' Association, for example the
Professional Golfers' Association of America.
;
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour (stylized in all capital letters as PGA TOUR by its officials) is the organizer of professional golf tours in the United States and North America. It organizes most of the events on the flagship annual series of tournaments also k ...
: The organizer of the main male
professional golf tours
Professional golf tours are the means by which otherwise unconnected professional golf tournaments are organised into a regular schedule. There are separate tours for men and women; most are based in a specific geographical region, although some to ...
in the United States and North America.
;
PGA Tour Champions
PGA Tour Champions (formerly the Senior PGA Tour and the Champions Tour) is a men's professional senior golf tour, administered as a branch of the PGA Tour.
History and format
The Senior PGA Championship, founded in 1937, was for many year ...
: A tour for male golfers age 50 and over, held mostly in the U.S., operated by the PGA Tour.
;Pin: Slang for ''
flag-stick''.
;Pick Up: When the golf ball is picked up before finishing the hole.
;Pin-high: Refers to a ball on the green that is positioned along an imaginary horizontal line through the hole and across the width of the green.
;Pitch: A short shot (typically from within 50 yards or meters), usually played with a higher lofted club and made using a less than full swing, that is intended to flight the ball toward a target (usually the hole) with greater accuracy than a full iron shot.
;
Pitch mark: A divot on the green caused when a ball lands. Players must repair their pitch marks, usually with a tee or a ''divot tool''.
;Play through: Permission granted by a slow-moving group of players to a faster-moving group of players to pass them on the course.
;
Plugged lie: A bad lie where the ball is at least half-buried. Also known as a "buried lie" or in a bunker a "fried egg".
;Plus handicap:A golf handicap less than zero. A 'plus' handicap golfer must add their handicap to their score.
;Pop-up: A poor tee shot where the top of the club-head strikes under the ball, causing it to go straight up in the air. In addition to being bad shots, pop-ups frequently leave white scuff-marks on the top of the club-head, or dents in
persimmon
The persimmon is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus ''Diospyros''. The most widely cultivated of these is the Oriental persimmon, ''Diospyros kaki'' ''Diospyros'' is in the family Ebenaceae, and a number of non-pers ...
clubs. Also known as "sky shots".
;:Ratio of ball speed divided by swing speed.
;: A ''Local rule'' that allows the ball in play to be lifted, cleaned and moved on the
fairway during adverse course conditions.
; Pre-shot routine: The steps an experienced player goes through to get ready for their shot. It usually involves taking practice swings and visualizing the intended shot.
;Pro (Professional): A golfer or person who plays or teaches golf for financial reward. They may work as a ''touring pro'' in professional competitions or as a ''teaching pro'' (Also called a ''club pro'').
;Pro shop: A shop at a golf club, run by the club professional, where golf equipment can be purchased.
;Pull: A pull is a shot that unintentionally travels on a trajectory on the same side of the ball from which the player swings.
;Punch shot: A shot played with a very low trajectory, usually to avoid interference from tree branches when a player is hitting from the woods. Similar to the knock-down, it can also be used to avoid high winds. Also known as a stinger. Depending on the angle of attack upon impact, stingers can stay low or climb later in the ball flight due to the backspin caused by a steep angle of attack, typically with a low-lofted club.
;Push: A push, or block, is shot that unintentionally travels on a trajectory opposite the side of the ball from which the player swings. In
match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 h ...
, a push occurs when neither competitor wins the hole.
;
Putt: A shot played on the green, usually with a
putter
A putter is a club used in the sport of golf to make relatively short and low-speed strokes with the intention of rolling the ball into the hole from a short distance away. It is differentiated from the other clubs (typically, irons and woods ...
.
;Putting green: A practice green is a putting surface usually found close to the club house, used to warm up and practice putting.
;Putter: A special
golf club
A golf club is a club used to hit a golf ball in a game of golf. Each club is composed of a shaft with a grip and a club head. Woods are mainly used for long-distance fairway or tee shots; irons, the most versatile class, are used for a variety ...
with a very low
loft
A loft is a building's upper storey or elevated area in a room directly under the roof (American usage), or just an attic: a storage space under the roof usually accessed by a ladder (primarily British usage). A loft apartment refers to large ...
that makes the ball roll along the green with top-spin.
Q
;
Q-School
In professional golf, the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S.-based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the ...
: "Qualifying School", the qualifying tournament on several major professional tours, such as the PGA Tour, European Tour, or LPGA Tour. Q-School is a multistage tournament (four for the PGA Tour, three for the European Tour, two for the LPGA) that culminates in a week-long tournament in which a specified number of top finishers (25 plus ties in the PGA Tour, 30 plus ties in the European Tour, and exactly 20 in the LPGA) earn their "Tour Cards", qualifying them for the following year's tour. The final tournament is six rounds (108 holes) for men and five rounds (90 holes) for women. The 2012 Q-school for the 2013 PGA Tour season wast the last one, as the rules of qualification for a "tour card" have been changed to eliminate Q-school.
R
;
The R&A
The R&A is the collective name of a group of companies that together play a significant role within the game of golf. Historically, "the R&A" was a colloquial name for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews; in 2004, the club spun off ...
: Since 2004 the
governing body
A governing body is a group of people that has the authority to exercise governance over an organization or political entity. The most formal is a government, a body whose sole responsibility and authority is to make binding decisions in a taken ge ...
of golf throughout the world except the United States and Mexico, where this responsibility rests with the
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association (USGA) is the United States national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the rules ...
(USGA). It works in collaboration with national amateur and professional golf organizations in over 110 countries. The R&A is a separate organisation from
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world. It is a private members-only club based in St Andrews in Scotland. It was previously known colloquially as "The R&A", but in 2004, a new organisation kn ...
which formerly performed this role.
;
Range finder
A rangefinder (also rangefinding telemeter, depending on the context) is a device used to measure distances to remote objects. Originally optical devices used in surveying, they soon found applications in other fields, such as photography an ...
: A measuring device used to determine one's relative distance to an object. In golf, they are most commonly used to find out how far a player is from the hole.
;Ready golf: When each player takes their shot when ready to do so instead of adhering to the rule order of farthest from the hole playing first; typically done to improve pace of play in a recreational setting.
;
Redan
Redan (a French word for "projection", "salient") is a feature of fortifications. It is a work in a V-shaped salient angle towards an expected attack. It can be made from earthworks or other material.
The redan developed from the lunette, o ...
: A hole that has a green which slopes downward and away from the point of entrance, typically the front right portion of the green, inspired by the original Redan hole on the
North Berwick West Links
One of two golf courses within North Berwick, the West Links is by far the more renowned. It regularly holds various championships and is used as a qualifying venue when The Open Championship is held at Muirfield (most recently 2013). It was ope ...
, Scotland.
;Release: (i)The point in the downswing at which the wrists uncock. A late release (creating ''
lag
Lag, or similar, may refer to:
Lag
* Łąg, Poland
* Lag (company), a French guitar maker
* Lag (cue sports), a brief pre-game competition to determine which player will go first
* Latency (engineering), a slower response time in computing, commu ...
'') is one of the keys to a powerful swing.
(ii) The forward motion of a ball played onto a green after the braking effects of backspin have ceased.
;Reverse bounce back: Scoring a bogey or worse on a hole immediately following a birdie or better. See also ''
bounce back''.
;Rough: The grass that borders the
fairway, usually taller and coarser than the
fairway.
;Rowan match play: A form of individual
match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 h ...
which can be played by three or more players.
;Rub of the green: Occurs when the ball is deflected or stopped by a third party/object, e.g. if a ball is going out of bounds and is deflected in bounds by hitting a spectator or a tree.
;Run: The distance a ball travels once it lands. The two distances of a golf shot are first its "carry" and then its "run".
;Rutter: A small headed niblick for hitting the ball from a cart track.
S
;
Sandbagger: A golfer that carries a higher official handicap than their skills indicate, e.g., carries an eight, plays to a two. Sandbaggers usually artificially inflate their handicaps with the intent of winning bets on the course, a practice that most golfers consider cheating. Also known as a ''
bandit
Banditry is a type of organized crime committed by outlaws typically involving the threat or use of violence. A person who engages in banditry is known as a bandit and primarily commits crimes such as extortion, robbery, and murder, either as an ...
''.
;Sand save: When a player achieves par by getting
up and down from a green-side
bunker
A bunker is a defensive military fortification designed to protect people and valued materials from falling bombs, artillery, or other attacks. Bunkers are almost always underground, in contrast to blockhouses which are mostly above ground. ...
. Sand save percentage is one of many statistics kept by the PGA Tour.
;
Sand trap: See ''
bunker
A bunker is a defensive military fortification designed to protect people and valued materials from falling bombs, artillery, or other attacks. Bunkers are almost always underground, in contrast to blockhouses which are mostly above ground. ...
''. Golfers with a deep knowledge of the game rarely refer to a bunker as a sand trap.
;Sand wedge: A lofted
club
Club may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Club'' (magazine)
* Club, a '' Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character
* Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards
* Club music
* "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea''
Brands and enterprises ...
designed especially for playing out of a ''
bunker
A bunker is a defensive military fortification designed to protect people and valued materials from falling bombs, artillery, or other attacks. Bunkers are almost always underground, in contrast to blockhouses which are mostly above ground. ...
''. The modern sand wedge was invented by
Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen (; born Eugenio Saraceni, February 27, 1902 – May 13, 1999) was an American professional golfer, one of the world's top players in the 1920s and 1930s, and the winner of seven major championships. He is one of five players (along ...
. Although sand wedges were designed for bunker shots, they are actually used for all types of shots within 100 yards (90 meters).
;Sandy (or Sandie): A score of par or better that includes a bunker shot. Sandys are counted as points in some social golf games. If a par or better is achieved after hitting two or three bunker shots on the same hole, the terms ''double sandy'' or ''triple sandy'' are used, respectively. See
Funnies.
;Scotch foursomes: In scotch foursomes teams of 2 players compete against each other. Players alternate hitting the same ball. The first player tees off, the second player hits the second shot, the first player hits the third shot, and so on until the ball is holed. To this point, the definition of ‘scotch foursomes’ is the same as that of ordinary ‘foursomes’; however, players do not alternate hitting tee shots as they would in foursomes. If Player A teed off on the first hole and Player B holed the final putt, Player B would not tee off at the second, meaning that Player A could, in theory, play every tee shot on the round. The team with the lowest score wins the hole.
;Scramble: (i) When a player misses the
green in regulation
The following is a glossary of the terminology currently used in the sport of golf. Where words in a sentence are also defined elsewhere in this article, they appear in italics. Old names for clubs can be found at Obsolete golf clubs.
0–9 ...
, but still makes par or better on a hole. Scrambling percentage is one of many statistics kept by the PGA Tour.
(ii) A two or four man format, similar to Best Ball, except in a scramble, each player strikes a shot, the best shot is selected, then all players play from that selected position.
;: A player whose
handicap equals zero.
;Senior: Describes a competition for older golfers, or individuals who play in such competitions. In men's professional golf, the standard lower age limit is 50. Some competitions use 45 (the
Legends Tour
The Legends of the LPGA, formerly known as the Women's Senior Golf Tour (2000–2005) and the Legends Tour (2006–2021), is a professional golf tour for women aged 45 and older. It is based in the United States and is the official senior tour of t ...
in women's golf) or 55 (the
U.S. Senior Amateur
The United States Senior Men's Amateur Golf Championship is a national tournament for amateur golf competitors at least 55 years of age. It is operated by the United States Golf Association (USGA).
The tournament starts with 36 holes of stroke pl ...
) as the lower limit.
;Senior PGA Tour: The original name of the tour now known as
PGA Tour Champions
PGA Tour Champions (formerly the Senior PGA Tour and the Champions Tour) is a men's professional senior golf tour, administered as a branch of the PGA Tour.
History and format
The Senior PGA Championship, founded in 1937, was for many year ...
; used from 1980 through 2001.
;Shamble: A format, similar to a scramble, where every player hits from the tee, the best tee-shot is selected, and each player holes-out from the selected tee-shot.
;
Shank: A shot in which the golf ball is struck by the
hosel
A golf club is a club used to hit a golf ball in a game of golf. Each club is composed of a shaft with a grip and a club head. Woods are mainly used for long-distance fairway or tee shots; irons, the most versatile class, are used for a variety ...
of the club and travels a relatively short distance at a severe angle to the target. A golfer who regularly hits the ball out of the hosel is said to be affected by the "shanks".
; Shrimp: A severe hook, named because it resembles the shape of a shrimp.
;Shoot your (my) age: A round of 18 holes where a given player has a score equal to, or less than, a player's age. For example, an eighty-year-old man who scores an 80 has shot his age.
;Shoot your (my) temperature: A round of 18 holes where a given player has a score equal to 98 or 99. Usually used derisively.
;Short game: Shots that take place on or near the green. Putting, chipping, pitching, and green-side bunker play are all aspects of the short game.
;Short side: To hit a shot that misses the green to the same side in which the hole is cut. This typically results in a difficult following shot with very little area on the green to land and stop the ball.
;Sit!: Telling the ball to drop softly, and not roll after landing.
;Skin: A
skins game
A skins game is a type of scoring for various sports. It has its origins in golf but has been adapted for disc golf, curling and bowling.
Golf
In golf, a skins event has players compete for prize money on each individual hole.
Skins Game, PGA T ...
pits players in a type of match play in which each hole has a set value (usually in money or points). The player who wins the hole is said to win the "skin", and whatever that skin is worth. Skins games may be more dramatic than standard match play if it is agreed by the players that holes are not halved. Then, when any two players tie on a given hole, the value of that hole is carried over and added to the value of the following hole. The more ties, the greater the value of the skin and the bigger the eventual payoff.
;Skull: To skull the ball means to contact the ball with the leading edge of the iron, often resulting in a low shot that goes further than expected with little to no spin. A skulled shot is almost always due to a mishit by the golfer. The terms "blade" and "thin" are also used interchangeably with skull.
;
Slice: A shot that initially takes a trajectory on the same side of the golf ball from which the player swings but eventually curves sharply back opposite of the player. Under normal circumstances, a slice is unintentional; however, good players can use a slice to their advantage in certain situations. Slices are often the most common miss for below-average players. A shot that follows the same trajectory but to a lesser degree is referred to as a 'cut' or 'fade'. A cut or fade is often intentionally used by above-average players to achieve a certain type of spin. The curved shape of the ball-flight is the result of sideways spin. For that reason a "slice" does not refer to a putt.
;
Slope rating
The slope rating of a golf course is a measure of its relative difficulty for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer. It is used by handicapping systems to equalize the field by accounting for the likelihood that, when playing on more diffic ...
: Slope Rating is a number, from 55 to 155, used to determine the level of difficulty of a golf course for a bogey golfer. An "average" course has a slope rating of 113.
;Snap hook: A severe
hook
A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one e ...
that usually goes directly left as well as curving from right to left, for a right-handed golfer. A snap hook is when a severe left to right hook occurs for a left-handed golfer.
;Snowman: To score an eight on a hole is to score a snowman. So-named because an eight (8) looks similar to the body of a snowman.
;Society: An organized group of golfers, usually not affiliated with any individual golf course. Members are often drawn from the same workplace, profession,
alma mater, or other association.
;: The bottom or underside of any type of golf club. It is where the club rests on the ground in playing position.
;Span: Move your marker when in the way of another persons line of putt.
;Speed: The pace of a putt. Proper 'speed' of a putt will either hole the putt or leave it about 18 inches beyond the cup. Furthermore, the speed of the putt will often determine the amount of curve, or break, in a putt.
;Sprachle: Generally, this refers to playing badly. Sprachle is a Scottish term.
;Spray: To hit the ball with a grossly inconsistent direction, compared to the intended target, in a seemingly random manner.
;
Stableford: A points based scoring system. The number of strokes taken on each hole relative to ''
par'' translates into a set number of points, with the winner being the player who accumulates the highest number of points.
;
Stimpmeter: A device used to measure the speed of ''
putting greens''.
;Strategic: A type of golf hole design where the player has a choice of shots that can be played to make par on the hole. Generally the choices that have the least chance of entering a hazard are intended to have the least chance of making par. Compare with ''Penal''.
;Stony: An English golf term dating back to the late 1800s which means, a shot that lands close to the flagstick.
;Stroke Index: A number assigned to each hole, and printed on the score card, to indicate the holes on which
handicap strokes should be taken.
;
Stroke play
Stroke play, also known as medal play, is a scoring system in the sport of golf in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 holes. In stroke play, the winner is the player who has taken the fewest strokes over the ...
: Style of scoring in which the player with the fewest strokes wins. Most professional tournaments are stroke play.
;Stymie: To block another player's putting path to the hole with one's own ball. Now an anachronism since the rules of golf permit marking the spot of the ball on the green, thus allowing the other player to putt into the hole without obstruction.
;Sunday bag: A small and lightweight golf bag. Traditionally caddies were not available on a Sunday, so the golfer would carry their clubs in such a bag. Now often used to carry a small number of clubs or when travelling to play golf when a full size bag would be unnecessary or inconvenient.
;Sunday Stick or Sabbath Stick: A golf club disguised as a walking stick for surreptitious golf on a Sunday in societies with strict
observance of the sabbath.
;Sweet-spot: The location on the club-face where the optimal ball-striking results are achieved. The closer the ball is struck to the sweet-spot, the higher the
power transfer ratio will be. Hitting it in the sweet-spot is also referred to as hitting it in the screws.
;Swing: The movement a golf player makes with their body and club to hit the ball. A golf swing is made up of a series of complex mechanical body movements. A perfect golf swing is regarded as the "holy grail" of the sport, and there are many approaches as to how to achieve "perfection". Although there is only one "textbook" golf swing, a perfect golf swing is unique to every individual, and, in fact, it is impossible for a human to perfectly duplicate the textbook golf swing.
T
;T: An abbreviation on a scoreboard for "Tied", indicating that a player has the same score as another player. A scoreboard showing a T2 for example means that the player is tied for second place with one or more other players.
;Tap-in: Often called a "gimme", a tap-in is a ball that has come to rest very close to the hole, leaving only a very short
putt to be played. Often, recreational golfers will "concede" tap-ins to each other to save time.
;Target-line: The target line is the straight line from the ball to its intended target. It is also extended backward.
;
Tee
A tee is a stand used in sport to support and elevate a stationary ball prior to striking with a foot, club or bat. Tees are used extensively in golf, tee-ball, baseball, American football, and rugby.
Etymology
The word tee is derived from the ...
: A small peg, usually made of wood or plastic, placed in the ground upon which the
golf ball
A golf ball is a special ball designed to be used in the game of golf.
Under the rules of golf, a golf ball has a mass no more than , has a diameter not less than , and performs within specified velocity, distance, and symmetry limits. Like g ...
may be placed prior to the first stroke on a hole. May also refer to the ''
teeing ground
The teeing ground is the area where play begins in a hole of golf. The terms tee, tee box, and "teeing ground" are synonymous. The name derives from the physical device
A peripheral or peripheral device is an auxiliary device used to put info ...
''.
;
Teeing ground
The teeing ground is the area where play begins in a hole of golf. The terms tee, tee box, and "teeing ground" are synonymous. The name derives from the physical device
A peripheral or peripheral device is an auxiliary device used to put info ...
:The area from which you hit your drive or tee shot. The teeing ground for a particular set of tees is two club lengths in depth. The ball must be teed between the markers, called tees, that define the teeing ground's width, and no further back than its depth. Tees are colored, but there is no standard for colors. The "teeing ground" refers to one set of tees. Most courses have at least three sets of tees; some have more than twice that many. The areas where tee markers are placed are called "tee boxes".
;Tempo: The smooth change of the speed of a player's swing from first movement, through the ball strike, to the follow-through.
; Ten-finger grip: Grip style with all ten fingers on the club. Also known as the ''baseball grip''.
;Thin shot: Usually, an unintentional, poor shot where the club-head strikes too high on the ball. When taken to an extreme but still at or below the center-line of the ball, it is known "blading" the ball. Sometimes, when the ball is lying a certain way around the green, advanced players will intentionally hit a thin shot to achieve certain results.
;Through line: When putting, the imaginary path that a ball would travel on if the putted ball goes past the hole. Usually observed by PGA players and knowledgeable golfers when retrieving or marking a ball around the hole.
;Through the green: The entire area of the golf course, except for the teeing ground of the hole being played, the green of the hole being played and all hazards on the course.
;Tiger Slam: Winning four consecutive major championships but not in a calendar year. Coined when Tiger Woods won the last three majors in 2000, followed by the 2001 Masters.
;Tips: The championship tees on a golf course are known as "the tips".
;Toe: The far end of the club-head (farthest from the hosel).
;Topped: An errant shot where the club-head strikes on top of the ball, causing the ball to roll or bounce rather than fly.
;Tree shot: A bad shot that has hit the trees' leaves, branches, and/or trunk and has resulted in a negative situation, i.e., going out of bounds, into a hazard, or leaving the ball much shorter than anticipated.
;Triple bogey: A hole played three strokes over par.
;Turkey: Three consecutive birdies during one round of golf.
U
;Unplayable: A player can declare their ball unplayable at any time when it is in play (other than at a tee), and can drop the ball either within two club-lengths, or further from the hole in line with the hole and its current position, or where they played their last shot. A penalty of one stroke is applied.
;Up and down or up and in: The situation where a player holes the ball in two strokes starting from off the green. The first stroke, usually a "pitch", a "bunker shot" or a "chip", gets the ball "up" onto the green, and the subsequent
putt gets the ball "down" into the hole.
;
USGA
The United States Golf Association (USGA) is the United States national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the rules ...
: The
governing body
A governing body is a group of people that has the authority to exercise governance over an organization or political entity. The most formal is a government, a body whose sole responsibility and authority is to make binding decisions in a taken ge ...
of
golf
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standardized playing area, and coping wi ...
for the U.S. and
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
. Together with
The R&A
The R&A is the collective name of a group of companies that together play a significant role within the game of golf. Historically, "the R&A" was a colloquial name for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews; in 2004, the club spun off ...
, the USGA produces and interprets the
Rules of Golf
The rules of golf consist of a standard set of regulations and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by The R&A (spun off from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 2004) and ...
.
;
USPGA: The principal organization for golf professionals in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. More commonly called the "PGA of America".
V
;
Vardon grip: A common grip style in which (for right-handed players) the right pinkie finger rests on top of the left index finger. Also known as the ''
overlapping grip'', it is named for
Harry Vardon
Henry William Vardon (9 May 1870 – 20 March 1937) was a professional golfer from Jersey. He was a member of the Great Triumvirate with John Henry Taylor and James Braid. Vardon won The Open Championship a record six times, and also won the ...
, a champion golfer of the early 20th century.
;Vaulting dormie: A possible occurrence in ''
match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 h ...
'' when a player or team converts a lead into a victory without passing through ''
dormie'', a guaranteed minimum of a tie at the end of regulation play—for example, converting an 8-hole lead with nine to play into a 9-hole lead with eight to play, or converting a 1-hole lead with two to play into a 2-hole lead with one to play.
W
;Waggle: A pre-shot routine where a player adjusts their body, the club, and/or practice swings at the ball.''
;
We Are Golf: A coalition formed by the Club Managers Association of America, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the National Golf Course Owners Association, and The PGA of America to highlight the economic and social impacts of the game of golf.
;
Wedge
A wedge is a triangular shaped tool, and is a portable inclined plane, and one of the six simple machines. It can be used to separate two objects or portions of an object, lift up an object, or hold an object in place. It functions by converti ...
: A type of golf club; a subset of ''
iron
Iron () is a chemical element with symbol Fe (from la, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, right in f ...
'' designed for short range strokes. Of all the categories of clubs, wedges have faces with the highest degrees of loft.
;
Whiff: An attempt to strike the ball where the player fails to make contact with the ball. A whiff must be counted as a stroke.
;Winter green: Typically an area of fairway used as a temporary putting green to prevent damage to the normal green during inclement winter weather. On some courses, particularly in Japan, holes are built with two greens with different varieties of grass, one for summer play, the other for winter.
;Winter rules: See ''
Preferred lies''
;
Wire-to-wire: Leading a tournament after every round (may or may not include ties).
;
Wood
Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin th ...
: A type of club where the head is generally (except for the club-face) bulbous in shape; so named because the head was originally made of wood, although almost all are now metal. Of all the categories of long hitting clubs, woods have faces with the lowest degrees of loft. Only putters are lower lofted, generally only 2-4 degrees, whereas drivers typically have 8-14 degrees loft.
;Worm burner: A shot that is hit remarkably low and sometimes hard.
Y
;
Yips
In sports, the yips (in gymnastics, lost move syndrome or the twisties) are a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced athletes. Symptoms of the yips are losing fine motor skills and psychological issues that ...
: A tendency to twitch during the golf stroke. Some top golfers have had their careers greatly affected or even destroyed by the yips; prominent golfers who battled with the yips for much of their careers include
Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead (pronounced English_phonology">sni:d.html" ;"title="English_phonology.html" ;"title="nowiki/>English phonology">sni:d">English_phonology.html" ;"title="nowiki/>English phonology">sni:d May 27, 1912 – May 23, 2002) was an ...
,
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan (August 13, 1912 – July 25, 1997) was an American professional golfer who is generally considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He is notable for his profound influence on golf swing theory and ...
, and, more recently,
Bernhard Langer
Bernhard Langer (; born 27 August 1957) is a German professional golfer. He is a two-time Masters champion and was one of the world's leading golfers throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 1986, he became the sport's first official number one ra ...
.
Z
;Zinger: A ball hit high and hard close to the leading edge, causing a low flight and a slight vibratory feel.
See also
*
Outline of golf
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to golf:
Golf – precision club and ball sport, in which competing players (or golfers) use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course usi ...
*
Glossary of disc golf terms
References
External links
*
{{Glossaries of sports
*
Glossaries of sports