Golf Terms Everyone Should Know

Golf courses are the perfect place to come to unwind, meet new people, improve your game, and most importantly to have fun. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned golfer, there are many golfing terms that you will learn throughout the process, but here are some of the basics to understand the golf slang better.

PAR: 

The predetermined number of strokes that a proficient (scratch, or zero, handicap) golfer should require to complete a hole, a round, or a tournament. Every hole on a golf course is rated as either a par-3, a par-4, or a par-5 (par-6 holes also exist, but they are rare).

BIRDIE:

A score of one-under-par on a hole.

EAGLE:

A score of two under par.

DOUBLE EAGLE OR ALBATROSS:

A score of three under par (very rare).

BOGEY:

A score of one over par.

DOUBLE BOGEY:

A score of two over-par.

TRIPLE BOGEY:

A score of three over par.

ACE:

A hole-in-one. Hitting the ball into the hole in one stroke.

HANDICAP:

A system rating the average number of strokes above par a player scores in one round of golf.

Gameplay

FORE!:

A warning shouted when the ball is heading toward a person.

PUTT:

Any shot taken by a putter when you are on the green.

DRIVE:

Used to describe a golfer’s first stroke from the tee box on every hole.

APPROACH

The shot taken by a player from the fairway to the green.

BANK SHOT:

A shot where a steep slope is used to manipulate the direction or speed of the ball.

OVER CLUBBING:

Using a club that will hit the ball farther than necessary.

AWAY:

Refers to the ball that lies farthest from the cup when two or more golfers are playing. The player farthest away typically hits first.

BEST BALL:

A format of play typically used in tournaments, in which the team score for each hole is the “best score” of at least one of the players in a foursome.

THE TURN:

The halfway point in a round of golf.

EXPLOSION SHOT:

A technique used by a golfer to hit the ball out of a sand trap.

DUFF:

A bad shot.

MULLIGAN:

In casual play only, a “do-over” shot made to replace a poorly hit shot, taken without counting the stroke toward the score.

HACKER:

A slang term that is referring to a person who is not very good at golf.

On the course

FAIRWAY:

A long stretch involving neatly maintained grass that runs between the green and the tee box.

ROUGH:

The taller grass that borders the fairway.

GREEN:

The smooth grassy area at the end of a fairway especially prepared for putting and positioning the hole.

HAZARD:

Anything on a golf course that is designed to be hazardous to one’s score.

BUNKER:

A concave area containing sand or the like considered a hazard.

BEACH:

Slang term for a sand bunker.

CASUAL WATER:

An accumulation of water on the golf course that is not part of a water hazard. Generally, the water you encounter after heavy rains. The player is allowed to move the ball without penalty.

If you are looking to take your first steps in the world of golf, with over twenty courses spread throughout the island, this is your big chance. 

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