A

Ace

aka Hole-in-One. The pinnacle of golfdom.  It’s simply an eagle on par 3s and a double eagle on par 4s.

 

Address

Once you’ve taken your stance over the ball and ready to rock and fire, you are deemed to be at address. Grounding your club behind the ball is another indicator. If the ball falls off the tee now, you’re screwed.

 

Aeration

The biggest necessary evil in the golf industry.  Punching holes in the playing surface to supply oxygen and nutrients. Ruins putting strokes for 2-3 weeks. “Automatic 2-putt anyone?”

 

Airmail

Flying the green with an approach shot, or “dropping mail” on an opponent’s ball by out-driving them.

 

Albatross

You’re not making one, but see Double Eagle

 

All-Square

Match Play term for tie ballgame.  Or settling up your tab with the beverage cart.

 

Alternate Shot

Two-man team format which alternates shots between the partners to complete a hole.

 

Amateur Status

What you’ll lose if you accept that free vehicle from the Lexus Dealership for making a Hole in One. (Who needs status anyway!) It simply separates the paid from the unpaid in competitive golf.

 

Army Golf

The tendency to wildly shift the flight of successive shots “left, right , left.”

 

Arnie (Arnold Palmer)

aka “The King”, in our editor’s opinion, the most influential, not too mention, coolest golfer of all-time.  Sometimes flourished by playing Army Golf, also possessed an actual Army.

 

AT&T National

Washington, D.C.’s annual PGA TOUR tournament. Hosted by Tiger Woods the week of July 4th, the event is held at Congressional Country Club.

 

Attack Wedge

aka Gap Wedge ,  When the 56 degree is not enough and the PW is too much.

 

Augusta National

Alister Mackenzie & Bobby Jones 1933, Hosts the Masters Tournament. If golf had a cathedral, it would be located just off of Washington Rd. in Augusta, Georgia.

 

Away

as in “You’re away.” Most likely because you’re either a short knocker, laid up on a hole or hit the worst approach shot of the group, you now are afforded the turn to hit.

 

B

 

Back Nine

aka “Inward Nine” Holes 10-18. Where you’ve vowed to start scoring well after the terrible start.

 

Backspin

The backwards rotation of a golf ball that gives it stopping power.

 

Back Tees

“aka” championship tees. The set of tees that stretches the golf course to the maximum playable distance, determined by course set up.

 

Bag Drop

a place where golfers unload their bags before parking at golf courses.

 

Bail Out

your unconscious tendency to avoid trouble left, right, or in front of you.  It’s an overcompensation that usually sends the ball away from your target line.

 

Balata

Natural golf ball cover material that fell victim to the technology revolution. Had a high spin rate but surface would cut easily. Phased out by Urethane materials.

 

Ball in Pocket

When you intentionally give up on a hole, could also be known as “Ball in Lake.”

 

Ball Mark

aka pitch mark; foe to Superintendent. Fix these indentions on the putting surface made by your approach shot. Good rule is “yours and one more.”

 

Ball Marker

Not to be confused with ball mark, the ball marker is the object that you use to mark the position of your ball on the green.  Dimes, quarters, whatever you wish.

 

Ball Retriever

We laugh at those that carry them. But these extendable aluminum structures have filled many a bag with dingy Top Flites and dirty Titleist DTs

 

Ball Striker

In my opinion Johnny Miller was the best of all time. A player whose strong suit is consistently solid contact and the ability to control the trajectory, distance and direction of full golf shots

 

Ball Washer

Stations on the course, or sometimes on the golf cart to clean dirt, stains and pond scum off of your ball.

 

Banana Ball

Shot of choice, especially with the driver, for most hackers.  For the right hander the ball starts way left and curls around, if you are good at it, right in the heart of the fairway.

 

Barkie

In betting, making par on a hole after your ball strikes a tree, bush or bench for that matter.

 

Baseball Grip

The least used of the major grips. The hook friendly baseball grip is also known as the 10-finger grip. Meaning all 10 digits are in contact with the grip.

 

Belly Putter

Revolutionized putting. Longer shaft allows you to anchor it on your stomach to help create more of a pendulum motion in the putting stroke.

 

Bentgrass

Smooth, fine bladed grass normally found in cooler climate areas.

 

Bermuda grass

Strain of grass that is used mainly in the warm climates. Characterized by it’s growth to one side or another. That’s called “grain.”

 

Best Ball

Often mistaken for “Four Ball”, this is where one individual plays against the better ball of two, or the best ball of three players.

 

Birdie   

A score of 1-under par on a hole. 

 

Blade

Low, boring rocket, aka the line drive, pitching wedge that took out a window behind the 14th green. Or a type of iron head preferred by professionals.

 

Blast

Term for type of swing made in bunker, especially out of soft sand, or to short pins.

 

Bogey

A score of 1-over par on a hole.

 

Break

The ratio of how the contour of the green vs. your given line will effect the direction of a putt.

 

Bump and Run

Style of shot, simply put, it rolls (runs) farther than it flies. 

 

Bunker

Sand or grass , any depression that collects your ball, usually used for protection of the hole, thwarts bad golf shots.

 

C

 

Caddie

Someone who carries a player’s bag of clubs, gripes to himself about why you need a staff bag with 16 clubs, an umbrella, 10 old towels, 2 changes of clothes and 30 extra balls. 

 

Captain’s Choice

aka “scramble” , a tournament format in which all players in a group (foursome or otherwise) hit a shot from the tee, and each subsequent location, always playing from the position of the best or preferred ball until the ball is holed.

 

Carry

The distance the ball travels in the air, also used to measure the distance to fly over a landmark or object.

 

Carry-Over

In a competition, usually skins,  when a hole is tied (halved) the prize or points for the hole are distributed to the next hole.

 

Cart Fee

Jacked up price that courses usually charge for the use of golf carts.  To compare: 1 Day Car Rental- Unlimited Mileage, AM/FM CD Radio, AC $30.00,  4 hour Golf Cart Rental – Restricted Speed and Mileage, cupholders $30.00.

 

Casual Water

The opposite of “formal water” …joke, it’s a temporary accumulation of water outside of normal marked hazard areas.

 

Cavity Back

Jumbo sized iron feature that distributes weight to the perimeters making them easier to hit.

 

Cayman Ball

Developed as a limited flight golf ball, designed for play on the Cayman Islands, where courses are built shorter, due to lack of usable land.

 

Championship Tees

See also back tees or tips.  Where the big boys play or also where play is stalled by thousands of others who just want to feel manly.

 

Chili Dip

Mmmm. Chili. But this one is a not so tasty chunked chip or pitch that goes much shorter than intended, usually from scooping underneath the ball.

 

Chip Shot

If putting rules the short game, the chip is second in command. Used around the green. Typically lower flight and measured stroke.

 

Chunk

aka “chunky, fat, thick, heavy,” Connecting with the earth on the downswing before the ball achieves this result.

 

Church Pews Bunker

In between the 4th and 5th holes at Oakmont Country Club. Devilish hazard with multiple grass mounds encompassing a fairway bunker.  Many players have held communion there.

 

Claw Grip

aka “Gator Grip” radical putter grip method popularized by pro golfer Chris Dimarco. Fingers of the bottom hand curl over the top of the club’s grip rather than under the grip

 

Closed Face

Describes a degree of squareness of a club head at impact position. In this case, the ball’s probably going left.

 

Closest to the Pin

Terminology for best shot out of group on Par-3 holes.  Can also capture fashionable door prize at the group outing after-party.

 

Club Champion

Mens, Womens, Senior;  the best parking spots in the house.  Also club bragging rights as the best golfer of your kind for a whole year.

 

Collection Area

Built in funnels, usually around green complex that bottle up loose shots, propelling them farther away from the hole.

 

Compression

Made popular in the balata area, signified by a number that measures both the resiliency and degree of flattening during contact of a golf ball.

 

Concede

Usually in match play when an opponent(s) gives up on the hole, or calls a competitor’s shot good, meaning the ball does not have to be holed.

 

Congressional Country Club

Legendary private club in Bethesda.  Host to the AT&T National and the 2011 U.S. Open.  Blue Course rated among the best in America.

 

Course Rating

I’ve always wondered , too. It’s an evaluation of the difficulty of a course for a scratch player (in relation to the par of the course). So higher the rating, the more difficult the course.

 

Cross Bunker

Long or wide bunker that dissects the fairway, as opposed to running parallel. 

 

Cross Handed

aka “left hand low,” Method of holding the club, most often the putter.  Usually a short-lived fix. Akin to a gym membership, it’s nice at first, but you typically go back into your old routine.

 

Cut Line

In tournaments, the way of filtering out the weaker players in the field, usually mid-tournament.  Best put, the players that are sent packing for not shooting a certain score. 

 

Cut Shot

aka “fade” The most used and versatile shot in golf.  Soft controllable left to right for righties, right to left for southpaws.

 

Cypress Point

Alister Mackenzie 1928. Mysterious layout on the Monterey Peninsula of California.  Because of restrictive policies, very few people get the chance to play.  The 16th is arguably the most scenic par-3 in the world.

 

D

 

Dead Hands

Hitting a shot with minimal grip pressure in order to create more feel, soft shots with less spin than normal.

 

Demo Day

A day at the range or golf retailer defined by multiple manufacturers offering club tryouts, discount prices and free hot dogs.

 

Dimple

The indentions on the ball. Typically around 350-400. There is no set standard.

 

Divot

Hole to China or strip of bacon. It’s taking chucks of turf out of the playing surface.

 

Divot Tool

Two pronged fork, or often simply a tee, used for repairing ball marks in on the putting surface.

 

Dogleg

Either Right or Left.  Hole that’s angles turns or bends, sort of like a dog’s hind leg.

 

Dormant

Our golf game’s during the winter months, or in course terms, a grass cycle that is dry and defined by a browning in color.

 

Dormie

Match play term referring to a player being ahead by as many holes as are left in the match.  This term most often signals doom for the one playing from behind.

 

Double Eagle

aka “Albatross” When asking yourself, will I make one of these? I ask you, “How many par four greens do you drive? And how many par fives do you reach in two?”  Now add one, and remember that it has to go in the hole.

 

Double Hit

aka “T.C. Chen” or “the most embarrassing shot in golf”. Contacting the ball twice with one swing. 

 

Dots

betting term to keep track of points or holes won. Simply pencil “dots” on the scorecard. 

 

Double Bogey

2 over par on a hole. The fine line between an acceptable and bad hole for a high handicapper who says, “as long as I can keep the 7’s and 8’s off the card today.”

 

Downhill Lie

When the ball rests on a downhill slope in the intended direction of play

 

Draw

Term for the right to left flight of a golf ball.  Assuming it’s within a 5-10 yard differential, then I call it a hook.

 

Drive

The action of teeing off, normally referring to the use of the big stick.

 

Driving Range

Hackers Rule of thumb for the driving range.  “Good range results equal bad course results.”  Most intentionally ignore range practice because of this.  

 

Drop Area

Area of ground, most often marked with a white circle, used for practical reasons and to speed up play on certain holes.

 

Duffer

aka “Hacker” , a loyal, determined but equally unskilled golfer

 

Dye

Pete Dye and family are golf’s mad scientists. Creating wonderfully difficult world-class courses that can bring even the best to their knees.

 

 

E

 

Eagle

A score of two under par on a given hole.  Not used in association with par 3s. Those are Hole in Ones.

 

Equitable Stroke Control

The USGA handicap based system that says “you can’t take more than a 6 on that par-3.”

 

Etiquette

What nearly 80% of the worlds golfers lack.  The inner voice that tells you not to stand too close, move your shadow out of a line or avoid running over your opponents golf ball in the fairway, as you are so accustomed.

 

 

Executive Course

Named as such for it’s shortened layout and time restraints. “For the businessperson that wants a quick fix.”   No shortage of fun though.

 

F

 

Fade

aka “cut”, same rule applies as a draw.  Anything more than 10 yards becomes a slice.

 

Fairway

This is your designated landing strip, otherwise known as the short grass.  The game becomes infinitely easier within it’s plush confines.

 

Fairway Bunker

Bunkers lining or contained in the fairway. This is the result of your futile tee shot, and what many pros will refer to as the most intimidating shot in golf.

 

False Front

A course design tool used for visual distraction, creating the illusion of a portion of the green that’s not really there. 

 

Fat

Contact with the ground before the ball produces a muddy thud and a limp ball flight.

 

Fescue

Type of grass used for rough, typically in coastal regions. 

 

First Cut

Term for the initial cut of rough surrounding a fairway or green, usually much shorter than the primary rough.

 

Flagstick

Usually about 7 ft. high and for those of you born yesterday, marks the placement of the hole.

 

Flier

You know them when you see them.  It’s a lie that causes the ball to fly farther than normal because of decreased spin. Take one less.

 

Flop Shot

The shot we all love to try but can’t quite master. Open faced, full swing log wedges that fly high, but short and soft.  “A Mickelson Special”

 

Footwedge

The art of discretely moving your ball with a kick or nudge, avoiding trees, trashcans, hazards, etc. Guilty consciences beware.

 

Fore - 

Verbal warning to other golfers that wild things, typically hard spheres are coming their way.  If you want to see four 70-year-old men move with the cat like quickness of their college days, give it a yell.

 

Forecaddie

A person you tip to scream “fore” for you.  Or a caddie that tends to the entire foursome, usually keeping an eye on all tee shots and reading greens for every member of the group.

 

Four Ball

Commonly and mistakenly referred to as “Best Ball”.  2-person teams compete using the best score from both sides.

 

Foursomes

A match in which two 2-person teams compete against each other with each side only playing one ball

 

Fried Egg

Any ball embedded or sitting below the surface in a sand trap.  About as fun as a hangover.

 

Fringe

aka “apron, collar” – It’s the short grass that separates the putting green from the greenside rough.

 

Front Nine

aka “Outward Nine” –  Holes 1-9

 

G

 

Gap Wedge

aka “Attack wedge”, fills in the distance between sand and pitching wedge.

 

Gimmie

The act of giving your self a putt without holing it. 

 

Gorse

Spiny European shrub with yellow flowers, found off the fairway on some courses. Often muttered by announcers at the British Open as slang for deep sh_t! “Oh..he’s found the gorse.”

 

Grain

Usually associated with Bermuda grass. It’s simply the direction the grass is growing.  General Rule; with the grain “slippery” against the grain “grabby”

 

Grand Slam (Historical)

In 1930 Bobby Jones won the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, British Open and British Amateur, winning what Grantland Rice would call, “The Grand Slam of Golf.”

 

Grand Slam (Modern)

Term for winning the four professional major championships in a calendar year.  The Masters, the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship.  Has not been achieved in modern times.  Tiger Woods in 2000 won all but the Masters.

 

Green

Complex that houses the hole and flagstick

 

Greenie

Describing a bet won between two or more competitors, usually on par-3s, where the player who hit their tee shot closest to the hole (on the green) and then gets down in par or better.

 

Green in Regulation

Stat that tracks hitting green in two less than the par on the hole. Ex. Within Second shot on par-4 and Third Shot on par-5.

 

Greens Fee

Paid to the course as your rental or lease to the golf course grounds for 4-5 hours.  Can be cheap, affordable or down right ridiculous.

 

Groove

Score markings etched into the face of golf clubs. Provide the height, spin and shape of shots.  Think golf is tough now? Old clubs were smooth faced!

 

Gross

aka “unadjusted” This is the score that you actually shot, without factoring in your 25 handicap.

 

Ground Under Repair

Any area of the course that is currently undergoing maintenance, usually marked with a white circle. Free drop is provided.

 

H

 

Hacker

aka “duffer or chop” Erratic nature on the course prevents him from achieving his desired results.

 

Halve

Match play term associated with tying a hole or match.

 

Handicap

Most people reply “golf” , it’s the average difference between a player’s scores and a predetermined standard.  Most people just base it on a par-72 when asked.

 

Hardpan

Very firm, unyielding ground, or what your wife gives you when you decide to play an extra 18 on Saturday instead of fixing that leaky faucet. 

 

Hazard

Any bunker or water feature normally marked by yellow or red stakes.

 

Hole in One

aka “Ace” this term speaks for itself.   Most often offset by a double on the next hole.

 

Honors

Term given to the player who has earned the right, by virtue of score, to hit first on a tee box.  Should always be recognized unless your group is playing “ready golf”

 

Hood

To lean the clubface forward toward the target at address reducing it’s loft.

 

Hook 

Drunk uncle of the draw.  Right to left ball flight with major top spin.  Generally frowned upon unless it’s involved in a creative decision on the course.

 

Hosel

Part of the club head in which the shaft is inserted.  Proud provider of the “hosel rocket.”

 

Hybrid

Clubs that combine the playing characteristics of both woods and irons.  Increasingly popular, especially with professional golfers.

 

 

I

 

Immovable Obstruction

Example cart paths, maintenance roads. Taking free relief from an immovable obstruction is permitted if the ball lies in or on the obstruction, or close enough that it interferes with the stance or swing.

 

Inside the Leather

Term used to define “gimmie” putts.  The leather refers to the length of your putter from the head to where your grip begins. If your putt is shorter than this length, you’re deemed inside the leather.

 

Interlocking Grip

Method where the index finger of the top hand and the pinky finger of the bottom hand hook (lock) together.

 

Invitational

A tournament where the players enter on an invitation only basis.  Prevalent in professional golf, where they are usually smaller field events.

 

Irons

Any club with a head made of steel or iron, and a relatively narrow sole.

 

J

 

Jack

Nicklaus that is. The “Golden Bear” is recognized as the greatest golfer of all time.  No arguments here.

 

Jail

When a ball is completely blocked from swinging or advancing it in any matter.

 

Jar

aka “hole” or “cup”

 

Jump

aka “flier”  when a ball flies farther than intended because of decreased backspin.

 

K

 

Kick

aka bounce, signifies the direction a ball travels after it makes contact with the playing surface. 

 

Kickpoint

The point of maximum bending of a club’s shaft.  Adjustable based upon a golfer’s swing characteristics.

 

Kikuyugrass

Grass common with warm and dry regions. Very durable and wiry grass. Often unpredictable to play out of.

 

Kinloch Golf Club

Private course designed by Lester George & Vinny Giles (2001). This course, near Richmond, is annually rated as one of the top courses in Virginia.

 

Kingsmill Resort and Spa

World-Class golf resort on the James River in Williamsburg. Highlighted by three great golf courses, including Pete Dye’s River Course.

 

Knee-Knocker

aka “tester” It’s a short putt that is very challenging for some reason or another. 

 

Knockdown Shot

aka “punch shot” a shot often played back in your stance and with a shortened swing to control distance, trajectory and spin.  Versatile and very important to learn for improving golfers.

 

L

 

Lag

A putt, usually a lengthy one, that is designed to stop close to the hole, but not presumed to go in.

 

Lateral Hazard

Any water hazard that is generally adjacent, or on one side or the other to the line of play on a hole.

 

Lay Up

The act of playing to a particular area for safety reasons. For hackers, all long par-4s and every par-5.  For pros, only when they are taking their medicine. Meaning that there’s something in the way.

 

Lie

“Your complete scorecard.”  But generally speaking it’s the condition of the ground   versus your ball at any point of rest on the course.

 

Lie Angle

Club fitting term, it’s the angle between the sole of the club and the shaft from the face view.

 

Line of Play

Usually used in rules questions and typically controversial when Sergio or Phil are involved. Refers to the direction you intend your ball to travel, plus a reasonable distance on either side of that intended direction.

 

Line of Sight

The phrase is used when the ball has come to rest behind an immovable obstruction, such as atemporary fence. If the object is between the ball and the hole, relief is permissible under the rules. Then the player may move the ball laterally (and without penalty) to the nearest point where the golfer has a clear shot to the hole.

 

Links

Originally coined for seaside courses, now used to define any golf course that has certain characteristics.  Gently rolling mounds, dunes and very few trees. 

 

Lip

Simply refers to the edge of the hole or cup.

 

Lip Out

A putt that makes contact with the edge of the hole or cup and spins out instead of falling in.  These are heartbreakers! Usually occur in bunches for us more superstitious in nature. 

 

Loft

The angle or grade of the clubface relative to the shaft of the club.  Loft creates height, scales range from wedges, which run from 64 degrees -  47 degrees, to a Driver, which are often under 10 degrees.

 

Long Iron

Generally any iron from a 4-iron on down to a 1-iron. And remember, as Trevino always said, “If you’re caught out in a lightning storm, hold up your 1-iron, because not even God can hit a 1-iron.”

 

Loop

Term used by caddies, means round of golf or perhaps the player that the caddie is working for. Or the act of caddying itself.

 

Loose Impediments

In rules questions, any natural object that is not fixed or growing. Can be moved without penalty, except in hazards.

 

LPGA

Ladies Professional Golf Association.  “These Girls Rock” is a nice slogan. “Some of these Girls Speak English” one of the rejected phrases.

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