Golf Glossary
From ace to wedge, every golf term explained in plain language. Whether you're new to the game or brushing up on the finer points, this glossary covers the terminology you'll hear on the course, in broadcasts, and in the clubhouse.
A
Ace
A hole completed in a single stroke, also called a hole-in-one.
Address
The position a golfer takes immediately before beginning their swing.
Albatross
A score of three strokes under par on a single hole, also called a double eagle in North America.
Alignment
The direction a golfer's body and clubface are aimed relative to the intended target line.
Approach
A shot played toward the green, typically the second shot on a par-4 or third on a par-5.
Apron
The closely mown area immediately surrounding the putting green, also called the fringe or collar.
B
Back Nine
Holes 10 through 18 on an 18-hole golf course.
Backspin
Reverse rotation on the ball that causes it to stop quickly or spin backward upon landing on the green.
Best Ball
A team format where each player plays their own ball and the lowest score among teammates counts for each hole.
Birdie
A score of one stroke under par on a single hole.
Bogey
A score of one stroke over par on a single hole.
Bounce
The angle between the leading edge and the lowest point of the sole on a wedge, which prevents the club from digging into the turf or sand.
Break
The amount a putt curves due to slope, grain, or other factors on the putting green.
Bump and Run
A low-trajectory chip shot that lands short of the green and rolls toward the hole.
Bunker
A hollow filled with sand that serves as a hazard on the golf course, commonly called a sand trap.
C
Carry
The distance the ball travels through the air before landing.
Chip
A short, low-trajectory shot played near the green that spends more time rolling on the ground than in the air.
Closed Face
A clubface position at address or impact where the face points left of the target line for right-handed golfers.
Compression
A rating that indicates how much a golf ball deforms upon impact, affecting feel, distance, and performance at different swing speeds.
Condor
An extraordinarily rare score of four strokes under par on a single hole.
Course Handicap
The number of strokes a player receives when playing a specific course, calculated from their handicap index and the course's difficulty.
Course Rating
A numerical value that represents the expected score for a scratch golfer on a specific course under normal playing conditions.
Cut
In tournament play, the score threshold that determines which players advance to the final rounds; also describes a shot that curves gently left to right for right-handed golfers.
D
Divot
A piece of turf displaced by the clubhead during a golf shot, or the resulting hole in the ground.
Dogleg
A hole where the fairway bends to the left or right between the tee and the green.
Double Bogey
A score of two strokes over par on a single hole.
Double Eagle
The North American term for an albatross — a score of three strokes under par on a single hole.
Draw
A controlled shot that curves gently from right to left for right-handed golfers.
Driver
The longest and lowest-lofted club in the bag, designed for maximum distance off the tee.
F
Fade
A controlled shot that curves gently from left to right for right-handed golfers.
Fairway
The closely mown area between the tee box and the green that represents the ideal landing zone for shots.
Flop Shot
A high, soft short-game shot that lands with minimal roll, typically played with a lob wedge.
Foursome
A match format where two teams of two players each share one ball per team, taking alternating shots.
G
H
Handicap
A numerical measure of a golfer's ability that allows players of different skill levels to compete fairly against each other.
Hazard
A feature on the golf course designed as an obstacle, including bunkers and penalty areas (water hazards).
Hook
A shot that curves sharply from right to left for right-handed golfers, typically unintentionally.
L
Lag Putt
A long putt where the primary goal is getting the ball close to the hole rather than sinking it.
Lay Up
A strategic shot played intentionally short of a hazard or the green to set up a better approach.
Links
A style of golf course built on sandy coastal terrain, characterized by firm conditions, deep bunkers, and few trees.
Loft
The angle of the clubface relative to vertical, which primarily determines the trajectory and distance of a shot.
M
N
P
S
Scramble
A team format where all players hit from the same spot after selecting the best shot from the group on each stroke.
Scratch Golfer
A player with a handicap index of 0 who is expected to shoot even par on a standard-difficulty course.
Shank
A mishit where the ball strikes the hosel of the club (where the shaft meets the clubhead), sending it sharply to the right for right-handed golfers.
Slice
A shot that curves sharply from left to right for right-handed golfers, typically unintentional and resulting in significant distance and accuracy loss.
Slope Rating
A number from 55 to 155 that indicates the relative difficulty of a golf course for bogey golfers compared to scratch golfers.
Stableford
A scoring system that awards points based on the number of strokes taken relative to par on each hole, rewarding good play more than it penalizes bad holes.
Stroke Play
The most common competition format where the total number of strokes across all holes determines the winner.
Strokes Gained
A statistical method that measures a golfer's performance relative to the field average at every shot, identifying strengths and weaknesses across all aspects of the game.
T
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