Golf Terms Glossary

The clubhouse bar

Three strokes under par

Hole-in-one

A shot hit into the green

Proper positioning for a shot

Match is tied

Partners take turns hitting

Punching holes in greens

Closely mown area around green

Starting stance before swing

Player furthest from hole plays next

One stroke under par

One stroke over par

Sand-filled hazard

Low chip that rolls

Initial motion away from ball

Safe shot to avoid trouble

Quality of iron shots

Over-hit thin shot

Fine grass for northern courses

Warm-season grass for southern courses

Angle of club sole

Reverse rotation on the ball

Physics governing ball direction

Shot where target is not visible

Final nine holes

Team format taking lowest score

Mulligan on first tee

Player averaging bogey per hole

Short shot near the green

Club hits ground before ball

Golfer's assistant

Hitting surface of a club

Distance ball travels in air

Difficulty measure for scratch golfers

Path for golf carts

Ball deformation at impact

Temporary water accumulation

Four strokes under par

Two strokes over par

Long shot off the tee

Controlled left curve

Longest club for distance

Grass displaced after a shot

Motion from top to impact

Hole that bends left or right

Practice facility for full swings

Slang for the putting green

Procedure to put ball back in play

Leading by holes remaining in match play

Two strokes under par

Green raised above fairway level

Ball stuck in its own pitch mark

Short grass between tee and green

Edge of the green

Controlled right curve

High, soft short shot

Long club for fairway shots

Warning for stray ball

Completion of a swing

Ball travels farther than usual

Long, wispy rough grass

Team format using lowest score

Sloped front portion of green

First nine holes

Ball buried in bunker

Taking four putts to hole out

Putting area near the hole

Short putt conceded

Reaching green in designated strokes

Areas marked unplayable for maintenance

Wedge between pitching and sand

How you hold the club

Lines on the clubface

Direction grass grows on greens

Actual strokes taken

Sinking the ball from the tee

Obstacles on a course

Curving shot to the left

Club combining iron and wood

Skill level indicator

Right to tee off first

Versatile club for approach shots

Moment club strikes ball

How ball bounces off ground

Ball's resting position

Long putt for positioning

Coastal course with natural terrain

Putt circles hole but doesn't drop

Ball that can't be found

Highest lofted club

Angle of the clubface

Angle retention in downswing

Initial vertical angle of ball flight

Intentionally short shot for position

Do-over shot in casual play

Hole-by-hole scoring format

Betting format with three matches

Closest spot for taking a drop

Score after handicap adjustment

Area outside course limits

Standard strokes for a hole

A short stroke on green

Short, high approach shot

Low-trajectory shot

Club used for putting

Additional stroke for rule violation

Second ball after potential lost shot

Flagstick in the hole

Small, deep bunker

Shortest hole type

Standard-length hole

Longest hole type

Area for putting practice

Ball level with the hole

Letting faster group pass

New side bet when losing

Ball embedded in bunker sand

Long grass bordering fairway

Assess green slope

Device to measure distance

Wrist rotation through impact

Playing when ready to speed pace

Permission to move ball without penalty

Curving shot to the right

Low, penetrating shot

Bad shot off the club's heel

Single swing at the ball

Total strokes scoring format

Team format using best shot

Competition for individual holes

Points-based scoring system

Position of feet and body

Difficulty for bogey golfers

Performance measurement statistic

Club designed for bunker shots

Long part of the club

Ideal contact point on clubface

Path the club travels

Direction club moves through impact

Efficiency of energy transfer

Device measuring green speed

Missing toward trouble with little green

Getting up-and-down from bunker

Score of 8 on a hole

Player with artificially high handicap

Player with zero handicap

Three strokes over par

Starting point of a hole

Area where the first shot is hit

Club strikes top of ball

Rhythm of a swing

Putter used off the green

Change from backswing to downswing

Transition from front to back nine

Ball sitting on hard ground

Taking three putts to hole out

Very short, easy putt

Chip and putt to save par

Ball position deemed too difficult

High-lofted club

Swing and miss

Any body of water on course

Nervous putting condition