Golf, defined

A

5 terms

Abandoned ball

A ball that has been left behind on the course, either by a player or by a course maintenance team. It is not in play and must be removed to prevent confusion.

e.g. The marshal retrieved the abandoned ball near the 12th fairway to maintain course integrity.

Abandoned equipment

Golf clubs or balls left behind on the course by players. They are considered lost and must be removed to maintain course standards.

e.g. The groundskeeper collected abandoned equipment from the 3rd fairway.

Abnormal course conditions

Situations on the course that are not part of normal play, such as ground under repair, temporary water, or animal interference. Players may take relief under specific rules.

e.g. The player took relief from abnormal course conditions near the 9th hole.

Albatross

A score of three under par on a hole, typically achieved on a par-5 with a hole-in-one or two-putt after a long approach. It is a rare and highly celebrated achievement in competitive golf.

e.g. She carded an albatross on the 16th hole, a feat that stunned the field.

Approach shot

A shot played from the fairway or rough towards the green, typically with a fairway wood, iron, or hybrid. The objective is to land the ball close to the hole, setting up a putt. This shot requires precision and control over distance and trajectory.

e.g. Her approach shot landed just ten feet from the pin, setting up a straightforward birdie opportunity.

B

13 terms

Backswing

The initial phase of the golf swing where the club is taken away from the ball, typically starting from address and ending at the top of the swing. Proper backswing mechanics are essential for consistency and power.

e.g. He focused on a smooth backswing to maintain balance and control.

Ball in hazard

A ball that has come to rest in a water hazard, bunker, or other designated hazard area. Special rules apply when playing from such areas.

e.g. The ball in hazard required a drop with a penalty stroke.

Ball in motion

A ball that has been struck and is in flight. It remains in play until it comes to rest or is declared unplayable.

e.g. The player waited until the ball in motion had stopped before proceeding to the next shot.

Ball in play

A ball that has been struck and is actively in competition. It remains in play until it is holed, lost, or declared unplayable.

e.g. The player confirmed that the ball in play had come to rest on the green.

Ball in water hazard

A ball that has come to rest in a water hazard, such as a lake or stream. Special rules apply for relief, often with a penalty stroke.

e.g. The player dropped a ball in the water hazard with a penalty stroke.

Ball marker

A small object used to mark the position of a golf ball on the green to allow other players to putt without interference. It must be placed directly behind the ball.

e.g. He placed his ball marker carefully to avoid obstructing the line of play.

Ball not in play

A ball that has been declared unplayable or has been lost, and is therefore no longer in active competition. It must be replaced or a penalty stroke applied.

e.g. The player declared his ball not in play after it rolled into a hazard.

Bermuda grass

A type of warm-season grass commonly used on golf greens in southern climates. It is known for its durability and ability to withstand high traffic.

e.g. Many courses in warm climates maintain their tees and fairways with Bermuda grass for a firm, fast surface.

Birdie

A score of one under par on a hole. It is commonly achieved by hitting the green in regulation and two-putting for par.

e.g. She made a birdie on the 7th hole after a well-placed approach shot.

Bogey

A score of one over par on a hole. It is a common outcome on challenging holes and is often the target for players aiming to maintain a steady score.

e.g. He made a bogey on the 8th hole after a poor chip from the rough.

Bunker

A sand-filled hazard located around the green or along the fairway. Players must play the ball from within the bunker using a sand wedge or similar club.

e.g. He found himself in the bunker on the 14th hole and executed a precise sand shot.

Bunker edge

The outer boundary of a sand bunker, often marked by a line or natural transition. Players must avoid grounding their club in the bunker unless preparing to play.

e.g. He avoided touching the bunker edge with his club to prevent a penalty.

Bunker shot

A shot played from a sand trap, usually using a sand wedge. The technique involves opening the clubface and swinging with a shallow, aggressive motion to lift the ball out of the sand. Proper technique ensures the club strikes the sand before the ball, creating a cushion effect.

e.g. He executed a clean bunker shot, the ball popping out and rolling to within two feet of the hole.

C

7 terms

Caddie

A person who assists a golfer during a round by carrying the bag, providing advice on club selection, and offering guidance on course strategy. Caddies are not allowed to touch the ball during play.

e.g. Her caddie advised her to lay up short of the water hazard on the 10th hole.

Cup

The hole on the green where the ball must be holed to complete a hole. It is typically 4.25 inches in diameter and 4 inches deep.

e.g. He sank the putt, and the ball dropped into the cup with a satisfying sound.

Cup alignment

The positioning of the hole on the green to ensure it is level and properly oriented. It affects the speed and direction of putts.

e.g. The green staff checked the cup alignment before the tournament began.

Cup depth

The depth of the hole on the green, which is standardized at 4 inches. It ensures consistency in putting and ball retrieval.

e.g. The cup depth was checked during course maintenance to ensure compliance with regulations.

Cup edge

The outer rim of the hole on the green. It is important to avoid touching the cup edge during a putt to prevent interference.

e.g. He ensured his putter did not touch the cup edge during the stroke.

Cup marker

A small device used to mark the position of the hole on the green when a player’s ball is near the cup. It is placed directly behind the ball to prevent it from being moved during the process of marking and lifting. The marker is removed once the ball is replaced.

e.g. She used a cup marker to indicate the hole’s position while her partner putted from the fringe.

Cup size

The diameter of the hole on the green, which is standardized at 4.25 inches. It ensures consistency across all courses.

e.g. The cup size was verified during the pre-round inspection.

D

6 terms

Double bogey

A score of two over par on a hole. It is typically the result of a poor shot or a missed green followed by a long putt.

e.g. He made a double bogey on the 5th hole after missing the green with his approach.

Double eagle

A score of three under par on a hole, equivalent to an albatross. It is extremely rare and usually achieved on a par-5 with a hole-in-one or a long approach.

e.g. He made a double eagle on the 12th hole, a moment that will be remembered for years.

Double par

A score of two strokes over par on a hole, typically resulting from a significant error or poor shot sequence. It is not a standard term in official scoring but may be used informally to describe a particularly difficult hole.

e.g. He took a double par on the 12th after three shots in the rough and a three-putt.

Downswing

The phase of the golf swing where the club is brought back toward the ball after the backswing. It involves the transfer of weight and rotation of the body.

e.g. The downswing must be initiated by the lower body to generate maximum clubhead speed.

Driver

A golf club with a low loft, typically used for tee shots on long holes. It is designed to maximise distance and is usually the longest club in a player’s bag.

e.g. She used her driver off the first tee to launch the ball down the fairway.

Drop zone

A designated area on the course where a player may drop a ball under specific relief rules, such as when a ball is unplayable or in a hazard. The drop must be made within the boundaries of the zone and without penalty, provided the rules are followed.

e.g. After declaring his ball unplayable, he dropped it in the drop zone as permitted by the rules.

E

2 terms

Eagle

A score of two under par on a hole. It is typically achieved by hitting the green in one shot on a par-4 or by holing out from the fairway on a par-5.

e.g. He made an eagle on the 13th hole after a long iron approach.

Even par

A score where the total number of strokes taken equals the par for the course. It is considered a standard performance in competitive golf.

e.g. He finished the round at even par, which was a solid result.

F

2 terms

Fairway wood

A golf club with a larger head and lower loft than a driver, used for long fairway shots. It offers a balance between distance and control.

e.g. He used his fairway wood off the second fairway to reach the green in two.

Follow-through

The final phase of the golf swing where the body continues rotating and the club completes its arc. A full follow-through contributes to accuracy and consistency.

e.g. A balanced follow-through ensures the clubface remains square at impact.

G

3 terms

Green jacket

A green-coloured jacket worn by the champion of The Masters tournament. It is a symbol of victory and is worn during the tournament’s final round.

e.g. The winner of The Masters is presented with the green jacket at the conclusion of the event.

Green-reading

The process of assessing the slope, grain, and speed of a putting green to determine the correct line and pace for a putt. It is a critical skill for successful putting.

e.g. She spent a moment reading the green before making her 10-foot putt.

Ground under repair

A condition on the course where the ground has been damaged or is being maintained, and players are allowed relief without penalty. The player must identify the area and take relief from the nearest point of complete relief, ensuring the ball is not nearer the hole.

e.g. The course had a section of ground under repair near the 7th fairway, allowing players to take free relief.

H

1 terms

Half swing

A shortened version of the full swing, used to maintain control on short shots or when precision is required. It is often used for chip shots or approach shots from the fairway.

e.g. She used a half swing to hit the ball from the rough onto the green.

I

3 terms

Inside-out swing

A swing path where the club moves from inside the target line to outside, often resulting in a draw. It is considered a desirable path for right-handed players.

e.g. He corrected his inside-out swing to reduce slices and improve accuracy.

Iron

A golf club with a higher loft and smaller head than a wood, used for approach shots to the green. Irons are numbered from 3 to 9, with lower numbers offering greater distance.

e.g. He selected his 7-iron for the approach shot to the 18th green.

Iron shot

A shot played with an iron, typically used for approach shots to the green. It requires precision and control to achieve the desired distance and trajectory.

e.g. He hit a clean iron shot from 150 yards to land the ball on the green.

L

2 terms

Lateral water hazard

A water hazard marked by yellow stakes, where a player may take relief by dropping a ball behind the hazard, keeping the point where the ball entered the hazard between the player and the hole. This option avoids the penalty of stroke and distance.

e.g. He dropped a ball behind the lateral water hazard, maintaining the line of play from the original shot.

Loft

The angle of the clubface that determines the trajectory and distance of a shot. Higher loft results in a higher, shorter shot, while lower loft produces a lower, longer shot.

e.g. The 10-degree loft on his driver helped him achieve optimal launch angle.

O

1 terms

Overlap grip

A grip style where the little finger of the trailing hand overlaps the index finger of the lead hand. It is commonly used by right-handed golfers.

e.g. He adjusted his overlap grip to improve control on his iron shots.

P

8 terms

Par

The standard number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to take to complete a hole. Par is determined by the hole’s length and difficulty.

e.g. The 18th hole is a par-4, meaning a skilled player should reach the green in two shots.

Par 3

A hole that is designed to be completed in three strokes by a skilled player. It is typically shorter than 250 yards and often features a green surrounded by hazards.

e.g. The 10th hole is a par 3, requiring a precise iron shot to the green.

Player’s marker

A person who records a player’s score during a round, especially in competitions. They must not give advice or assist with club selection.

e.g. The player’s marker recorded each hole’s score on the scorecard.

Player’s pace

The speed at which a group of golfers completes a round. It is important to maintain a reasonable pace to avoid delays.

e.g. The group stayed within the recommended player’s pace to keep the round flowing.

Player’s responsibility

The obligation of a golfer to ensure their actions comply with the rules of golf. This includes marking the ball, announcing the shot, and maintaining pace of play.

e.g. It is the player’s responsibility to announce their shot before playing.

Player’s scorecard

A document used to record a player’s score during a round. It must be completed accurately and signed at the end of the round.

e.g. He filled in his player’s scorecard after each hole to track his progress.

Player’s turn

The order in which players take their shots. It is important to maintain the correct player’s turn to avoid delays and ensure fairness.

e.g. He waited for his player’s turn before addressing the ball.

Putter

A golf club with a very low loft, used to roll the ball on the green. It is designed for precision and control over short distances.

e.g. She used her putter to sink the birdie putt on the 11th green.

S

4 terms

Sand wedge

A golf club with a high loft and wide sole, designed for shots from sand bunkers. It helps the club glide through sand without digging.

e.g. She used her sand wedge to escape the bunker on the 15th hole.

Stance

The position of the feet at address. A proper stance ensures balance and facilitates a consistent swing.

e.g. He adjusted his stance to ensure his weight was evenly distributed.

Stance width

The distance between a player’s feet when addressing the ball, which affects balance and stability during the swing. A proper stance width varies by club and player, but it should allow for a full rotation of the hips and shoulders without restriction.

e.g. He adjusted his stance width to ensure better balance during his iron shots.

Swing plane

The path along which the club travels during the swing. A consistent swing plane contributes to accuracy and distance control.

e.g. He worked on maintaining a consistent swing plane to improve his iron shots.

T

2 terms

Tee

A small peg used to elevate the golf ball at the start of a hole. It is typically made of wood or plastic and is placed on the tee box.

e.g. She teed up her ball on the first hole, positioning it just forward of the tee markers.

Tee box

The area from which the first shot of a hole is played. It is marked by tee markers and is typically located at the start of each hole.

e.g. She teed off from the back tee box on the 1st hole.

W

1 terms

Wedge

A type of golf club with high loft used for short shots around the green. Wedges include sand wedges, lob wedges, and gap wedges.

e.g. She used her lob wedge to get the ball high and soft on the green.