If you’re new to the game of golf it can all seem a bit confusing. Apart from the rules of the game and the various equipment, there’s also the terminology; it’s like a secret code that consists of a mix of technical terms and slang, and what is it with all the birds?
This is where we come in with our comprehensive guide to the most common golfing terms, so that the next time you set foot on the dance floor (the green), you’ll be waggling (pre-shot routine) with the best of them, and nobody will think you’re a hacker (not a very good player) when you pick up your lipstick (your first putt falls short of the hole).
We’ve broken it up into sections: scoring, course, equipment and technique, to make it easier, with a few miscellaneous ones thrown in too.
So, let’s get started!
SCORING
- Par – this stands for Professional Average Result. It’s the average number of shots a golfer is expected to make for each hole. For example, a par 4 should take four strokes to get the ball in the hole. Over par is when it takes more strokes, under is when it takes less.
- Birdie – one under par
- Bogey – one over par
- Double bogey – two over par
- Triple bogey – three over par
- Eagle – two under par
- Albatross – three under par
- Hole in One – (also known as an Ace) when the ball goes in on your first shot
- Condor – four strokes less than par. This is very rare.
- Handicap – this is the average number of strokes over par a golfer makes during a round. It allows the scores to be adjusted so that players at different levels can play fairly alongside each other, for example, if a player with a handicap of 10 is playing on a par 80 course they’d be expected to shoot a 90, while a par 5 player would be expected to shoot an 85.
COURSE
- Green – grass area around the hole, also known as ‘the dance floor’
- Flag – marks the hole
- Tee – the little peg that your ball sits on
- Cup – the actual hole
- Tee box – where you start playing each hole. These have traditionally been colour-coded red, white and blue. Red ones are nearer the hole and blue are furthest from the hole, but more recently black and gold ones have been introduced which are even further away and designed for more experienced players, usually for competitions.
- Fairway – area of shorter grass between the tee and the putting green
- Rough – long, coarse grass at the edge of the fairway
- Bunker – a sandy area, sometimes called ‘the beach’. Can be hard to get out of for new golfers
- Hazard – a body of water, either naturally occurring or artificial. There are certain rules for when you hit your ball into one that, depending on the course, it usually requires you to add a penalty stroke to your score
- Dogleg – this is when there’s a sharp bend in the course and it can be a real challenge to even experienced golfers
- Divot – these are marks, or dents made in the ground by the club. It’s usually good etiquette to fill these in, or replace the grass over them
EQUIPMENT
- Loft – the angle of the clubface compared to the ground. A high loft gives you higher, shorter shots, a low loft gives lower, longer shots
- Iron – thinner, flatter metal clubs. Numbered 1-9, the lower the number, the further the ball will go
- Putter – flat edged, designed to help the ball run smoothly over the green into the hole
- Wedge/Sand wedge – angled club, designed to get the ball out of a sand bunker
- Wood – large, round clubhead (traditionally made of wood, but mostly metal now), ideal for when you want to hit the ball really far
- Driver – type of wood with a large clubhead and long shaft, for hitting far, also known as ‘big dog’
- Hybrid – mix of wood and iron, good for newer players
- Hosel – where the shaft connects to the clubhead
- Sweet spot – the part of the club that should make contact with the ball for the perfect shot
Learn more about choosing the right golf clubs when you’re getting started.
TECHNIQUE
- Address – the way you position yourself and your club before taking a shot
- Chip – a short shot
- Drive – a long shot
- Putt – the shot that takes place on the green to get the ball in the hole (improve your game with our putting tips)
- Fade – when the ball goes from left to right, also known as a ‘cut’
- Draw – when the ball goes from right to left
- Push – when the ball goes to the right of the target and carries on in a straight line
- Pull – when the ball goes to the left of the target and carries on in a straight line
- Slice – when a fade shot goes quite severely to the right (find out how to stop a slice on our blog)
- Hook – when a draw shot goes quite severely to the left
- Push slice – a mix of a push and a slice, with a more severe curve to the right
- Pull hook – a mix of a pull and a hook, with a more severe curve to the left
- Pitch shot – an intentional short shot that travels mostly in the air before coming steeply back down
- Mulligan – a second chance at a shot
TERMS YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR
- Shank – when you miss the centre of the club when hitting the ball and hit the hosel instead, also known as the ‘S word’
- Top – hitting the ball so badly that it doesn’t even make it out of the box
- Alice – you’ll hear this if you line up a putt, take the stroke, but don’t hit it hard enough to go in the hole. It’s thought to originate from the English pro golfer, Peter Alliss, who was renowned for his weak putting.
- Yips – a yip is an involuntary twitch, or spasm, often when putting, that results in a poor putt. It can happen to any level of golfer and is more to do with nerves than anything physical
- Whiff – when you miss the ball completely
- Hacker – someone who isn’t a very good player, often can’t even hit the ball
MISCELLANEOUS
- Fore – this is shouted as a warning to other players, either to warn them of your presence, or warn them that the ball is going in their direction. It’s also a warning to passers-by/spectators, or for when you don’t know if there is anyone in the direction you’ve just hit the ball
- Caddie – someone who accompanies you around the course, carrying golf clubs etc and giving you advice
- Waggle – when you move the club from side to side before starting your swing, said to relieve tension in the arms and shoulders
- Pick up your lipstick – when your first putt falls very short of the hole
We’ve only just scratched the surface with these, but there should be enough to make you feel like less of a novice when you get out there. Keep an eye on our blog for more golfing tips and remember to take a look at The Insurance Emporium’s golf insurance, choose from 3 policy types and tweak them with some optional benefits. Visit our website or give us a call for a free, no-strings quote; we’re sure you’ll find something that fits you to a tee!
All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. We will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. We will not be liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from the display or use of this information. This policy is subject to change at any time.
We offer a variety of cover levels, so please check the policy cover suits your needs before purchasing. For your protection, please ensure you read the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and policy wording, for information on policy exclusions and limitations.
