Golf Terms Glossary
Golf has more jargon than almost any sport. Here are 172+ of the terms, slang, and scoring words you'll actually hear — each explained in plain English, with an example, and grouped by category.
Scoring
Par, birdies, bogeys, and how a round is counted.
- AceA hole-in-one — the ball goes in from the tee.
- AlbatrossThree strokes under par — rarer than a hole-in-one.
- Back nineThe final nine holes of an eighteen-hole round.
- BirdieOne stroke under par on a hole.
- BogeyOne stroke over par on a hole.
- Bogey golfShooting roughly one over par on every hole.
- Course handicapThe strokes a golfer receives at a specific course.
- Course ratingA number showing a course’s difficulty for scratch golfers.
- Double bogeyTwo strokes over par on a hole.
- EagleTwo strokes under par on a hole.
- Even parMatching the course's par exactly.
- Front nineThe first nine holes of an eighteen-hole round.
- Gross scoreYour total strokes before any handicap is applied.
- HandicapA number reflecting your ability so any golfers can compete fairly.
- Handicap indexA portable number representing a golfer’s potential ability.
- Net scoreYour score after your handicap is subtracted.
- ParThe expected score for a hole, usually 3, 4, or 5.
- Score differentialA single round’s difficulty-adjusted score used for handicap math.
- Scratch golferA player with a handicap of zero.
- Slope ratingA number rating a course’s difficulty for bogey golfers.
- StablefordA points-based format instead of counting raw strokes.
- The turnThe break between the front nine and back nine.
- Triple bogeyA score of three strokes over par on one hole.
- Under parYour total strokes below (or above) the course par.
Shots & shot shapes
How the ball flies, curves, and misses.
- Angle of attackThe up-or-down clubhead direction at ball contact.
- ApexThe highest point a golf shot reaches in flight.
- BlockA shot that starts right and holds its line right.
- CarryThe distance a ball flies in the air before landing.
- ChunkHitting the ground before the ball, killing the shot.
- DrawA shot that curves gently right-to-left (for a righty).
- Duck hookA severe, low hook that dives hard left.
- FadeA shot that curves gently left-to-right (for a righty).
- FlushA shot struck perfectly out of the clubface’s center.
- HookAn excessive, unwanted right-to-left curve.
- KnockdownA controlled, lower-flighted shot used to fight wind.
- Launch angleThe vertical angle a ball leaves the clubface.
- PullA straight shot that starts left of target and stays left.
- PunchA low, controlled shot, useful in wind or under trees.
- PushA straight shot that starts right of target and stays right.
- ReleaseHow far the ball rolls after it lands.
- ShankStriking the ball off the hosel, firing it sharply right.
- SkyA mishit that launches almost straight up with little distance.
- SliceAn excessive, unwanted left-to-right curve.
- Spin rateHow fast a golf ball rotates after impact.
- StingerA low, powerful, penetrating shot with extra rollout.
- ThinStriking the ball's middle, sending it low and hot.
- TopHitting the top of the ball so it dribbles along the ground.
Around the green
Chipping, pitching, and putting vocabulary.
- BreakThe amount a putt curves due to the green's slope.
- Bump and runA low chip that rolls most of the way to the hole.
- ChipA short, low shot around the green that rolls to the hole.
- Chip-inA chip shot that goes directly into the hole.
- Downhill puttA putt rolling toward a lower point on the green.
- FlopA very high, soft short shot that stops quickly.
- GimmeA short putt conceded by playing partners in casual play.
- GrainThe direction grass grows on a green, affecting roll.
- Green in regulationReaching the green in the expected number of strokes.
- Hole-outAny shot that goes directly into the cup.
- Lag puttA long putt aimed to finish close, not necessarily to go in.
- Pin highAn approach that finishes level with the flag’s distance.
- PitchA short, higher shot with more carry than a chip.
- Read (the green)Judging the slope and speed of a putt before you hit it.
- Sand saveGetting up and down after landing in a bunker.
- Short-sidedMissing the green where you have little room to the pin.
- Splash shotA bunker technique that skims sand under the ball.
- Tap-inA tiny putt that's almost impossible to miss.
- Three-puttTaking three putts on one green — a score-killer.
- Up and downGetting into the hole in two shots from around the green.
Course features
The parts of the course you'll navigate.
- Blind shotA shot to a target hidden from view by terrain.
- BunkerA sand-filled hazard guarding fairways and greens.
- Cart pathThe paved route golf carts follow between holes.
- Casual waterStanding water on the course that entitles a player to free relief.
- DivotThe turf displaced by a swing — replace or fill it.
- DoglegA hole that bends left or right partway to the green.
- FairwayThe mown short grass between tee and green.
- Fairway bunkerA sand hazard set into the fairway on longer approach shots.
- False frontA green’s sloped front edge that repels balls that land short.
- First cutThe strip of light rough bordering the fairway.
- FringeThe short grass just around the edge of the green.
- GreenThe very short grass where the hole is cut.
- Greenside bunkerA bunker positioned right next to the putting green.
- Ground under repairA marked area under maintenance where free relief is allowed.
- Halfway houseA snack stop partway through the round, usually near the ninth or tenth.
- HazardWater or terrain marked with penalty rules (red or yellow stakes).
- Island greenA green entirely surrounded by water, reachable only by a narrow path.
- Lateral hazardA red-staked hazard running alongside a hole, offering extra drop options.
- LinksA seaside course built on sandy dunes with firm, fast turf.
- Out of boundsArea outside the course boundary — costs stroke and distance.
- Parkland courseAn inland course lined with trees, lush grass, and defined fairways.
- PinThe flag marking the hole's location on the green.
- Pitch markThe dent a landing ball leaves on the green — repair it.
- RoughThe longer grass bordering the fairway.
- Run-off areaShort grass beyond the green that gathers balls away from the target.
- Tee boxThe starting area for each hole.
- Waste areaA large sandy or scrubby zone bordering a hole, not a hazard.
- Yardage markerA post, plate, or stake showing the distance remaining to the green.
Equipment
Clubs, balls, and the specs that matter.
- BounceThe angle on a wedge’s sole that helps it glide instead of dig.
- Cavity backAn iron design with weight removed from the back for forgiveness.
- CompressionHow much a golf ball deforms — low compression suits slower swings.
- Custom fittingTailoring club specs to your body and swing.
- DimplesThe small indentations on a golf ball that shape its flight.
- DriverThe longest, lowest-lofted club, used to tee off on long holes.
- Fairway woodA versatile club for long shots from the tee or fairway.
- ForgivenessHow much a club minimizes distance and direction loss on mishits.
- Gap wedgeA wedge that fills the yardage gap between pitching and sand wedge.
- GrooveThe lines on a clubface that generate spin.
- HybridA club blending iron and fairway-wood design for easier long shots.
- IronA numbered club for precise approach shots to the green.
- Launch monitorA device that measures ball flight and swing data on every shot.
- Lie angleThe angle between the shaft and the ground when the club sits properly.
- Lob wedgeThe highest-lofted wedge, used for short, high, soft-landing shots.
- LoftThe angle of the clubface — more loft means higher, shorter shots.
- MOIA measure of how resistant a clubhead is to twisting on off-center hits.
- Muscle backA traditional iron design with weight concentrated behind the sweet spot.
- OffsetThe design feature that positions the clubface slightly behind the shaft.
- Pitching wedgeThe lowest-lofted wedge, used for longer approach shots.
- PutterThe flat-faced club used to roll the ball into the hole.
- RangefinderA handheld device that measures precise distance to a target.
- Sand wedgeA wedge with extra bounce designed to escape bunkers.
- Shaft flexHow much a shaft bends: ladies, senior, regular, stiff, extra-stiff.
- Sweet spotThe small spot on the clubface that produces the purest contact.
- Swing weightA measure of how heavy a club feels during the swing.
- Tour ballA premium, multi-layer ball built for spin, feel, and control.
- Two-piece ballA durable, low-spin golf ball built for distance and beginners.
- WedgeA short, high-lofted club for close-range and precision shots.
Play & formats
Rules rhythm and the ways golf is played.
- All squareTied in match play, with neither side ahead.
- ConcessionGiving an opponent’s remaining putt or hole without it being played.
- DormieLeading a match by exactly as many holes as remain.
- DropPutting a new ball back into play after a penalty.
- FourballTwo teams of two, each playing their own ball.
- FoursomesTwo players alternating shots with a single ball.
- GreensomesA team format alternating shots after both partners tee off.
- HonorThe right to tee off first, earned by the lowest last score.
- Lost ballA ball not found within three minutes of searching.
- Match playFormat scored by holes won and lost, not total strokes.
- Medal playAnother name for stroke play, scoring every stroke taken.
- NassauA bet split into front nine, back nine, and overall.
- Pace of playHow quickly a group moves around the course.
- Penalty strokeA stroke added to your score for a rules infraction.
- Provisional ballA backup ball played when your first might be lost or OB.
- Ready golfPlaying out of strict honor order to speed up pace.
- ScrambleA team format where everyone plays from the best shot.
- Shotgun startAll groups start on different holes at once.
- SkinsA betting format where each hole is worth a prize.
- Stroke and distanceA penalty relief option replaying the shot from where it was hit.
- Stroke playFormat scored by total strokes over the round.
- Tee timeYour scheduled start time on the first hole.
- Unplayable lieA ball a player declares too difficult to hit.
- WolfA rotating-partner betting game picked hole by hole.
Slang
The casual words you'll hear on a friendly round.
- Army golfErratic play that zigzags — left, right, left — down the hole.
- Banana ballSlang for a big, curving slice shaped like a banana.
- BarkieA side-bet bonus for making par after your ball hits a tree.
- Chili dipA chunked chip shot that goes only a few feet.
- Dance floorCasual slang for the green.
- DartSlang for a crisp approach shot that finishes close to the pin.
- Dialed inSlang for having precise, reliable distance control and confidence.
- DufferA casual, high-scoring golfer — often said affectionately.
- FlatstickAn old-school golfer’s nickname for the putter club.
- Foot wedgeA joking name for illegally nudging a ball with your foot.
- ForeThe warning shouted when a ball flies toward someone.
- Fried eggA ball half-buried in a bunker.
- GreenieA side bet won for the closest tee shot on a par 3.
- In the leatherA putt close enough to be conceded as a gimme.
- MulliganAn informal do-over shot with no penalty (casual play only).
- Nineteenth holeGolfer slang for the clubhouse bar after the round.
- SandbaggerA player who inflates their handicap to gain an edge.
- SandyMaking par after hitting into a greenside bunker.
- SnowmanScoring an 8 on a single hole.
- Texas wedgeUsing a putter from off the green.
- TipsSlang for the back, longest set of tees on a course.
- WhiffA complete swing and miss that doesn’t touch the ball.
- Worm burnerA shot that skims fast along the ground.
- YipsInvoluntary twitches that ruin short putts and chips.
Golf terminology, explained on video
Golf pro and social-media star Paige Spiranac put together a fun, beginner-friendly rundown of the basics — a good watch to reinforce the terms above.
▶ Basic Golf Terminology for Beginners // Being Basic with Paige Series
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