Golf Terms Dictionary

Abnormal Ground Conditions:

Any casual water, ground under repair or hole, cast or runaway on the course made by a burrowing animal, reptile or bird.

Ace:

A hole in one on a par three.

Addressing the Ball:

When a player has taken his stance and grounded the club, except in a hazard. In a hazard it is when the player has taken his stance.

Advice:

Any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in his decision of play, club selection or method of stroke.

Aeration:

The process of removing plugs of soil in turf to get the turf more water, air and nutrients to promote root growth resulting in aeration holes.

Alignment:

The positioning of a golfers body during address.

Amateur:

A golfer who does not play the game competitively for money and does not receive money for teaching or for other activities because of skill.

Approach:

A shot hit from a distance with the intention of landing the ball onto the green.

Army Golf:

When you're hitting your shots Left, Right, Left.

Away:

The player who is the farthest distance from the hole is said to be 'away.'

Back Nine:

Golf term for the last nine holes of an 18 hole course. Also known as 'coming in.'

Backspin:

The reverse spin away from the direction in which a ball has been hit. The result of a downward strike on the ball.

Backswing:

The process of taking the club away from the ball, finishing at the top of the swing.

Ball in Play:

A ball becomes in play when a player makes a stroke from the teeing ground and remains in play until it is holed, lost, out of bounds or substituted.

Ball Marker:

A flat object that is used to specify your ball's position on the green.

Best Ball:

Golf term for a game in which each individual on a team plays out their own ball until holed. At the end of the hole the team counts the best score out of all it's players.

Birdie:

Another way to refer to your score when you hole the ball in one less stroke than the designated par.

Blade:

A noun used to describe a type of club head that is thinner, more compact and has no cavity back.

Bladed:

A verb to describe when a player strikes the middle of the ball with the bottom 'blade' of their club resulting in a wayward shot.

Blocked:

Term used to describe a shot in which the golfer fails to rotate the club head causing the shot to start right of the intended target for right handed golfers.

Bogey:

Another way to refer to your score when you hole the ball in one more stroke than the designated par.

Break:

Golf term for the slope and direction of the pitch of a green indicating in which direction a ball will roll.

Bump and Run:

A type of shot purposefully hit low so that it flies in the air for a certain distance and then bounces up to its intended target.

Bunker:

A hazard consisting of an area of ground where turf has been removed and replaced with sand.

Burrowing Animal:

An animal that makes a hole for habitation or shelter. Examples include a rabbit, mole, groundhog, gopher, or salamander.

Caddie:

Golf terminology for a person who assists a player during a round in accordance with the rules. This may include carrying and handling the player's clubs.

Carry:

A word to describe how far a player's ball flies or how far a player needs to hit the ball in the air to clear a hazard.

Cart:

A vehicle used to help a player and his equipment around the course. It can be a motorized cart that can be driven around or a manual cart just used to transport a player's bag.

Casual Water:

A visible temporary accumulation of water on the course not in a water hazard.

Cavity Back:

Golf term used to describe a type of club head that distributes the majority of the weight around the edges by creating a 'cavity' behind the club face, creating a larger 'sweet spot.'

Check:

The action a ball makes when the backspin on the ball catches the turf and decreases the balls forward momentum.

Chip:

A very short shot that is normally played just off the green onto the green.

Closed Face:

When club face of a right handed golfer is pointing left of the intended target.

Closed Stance:

When the alignment of a right handed golfer is pointing to the right of the intended target.

Club:

The instrument a player uses to strike the ball.

Club Face:

The front, grooved section of the club that makes contact with the ball.

Club Head:

The entire bottom section of a club that is attached to the club shaft and used to strike the ball.

Club Shaft:

The long, thin and circular section of the club that connects the grip of the club to the club head.

Clubhouse:

The main building on a golf course which usually houses the pro shop, restrooms, restaurant, bar etc.

Competitor:

A player in a stroke play competition.