Complete Dictionary of Golf Terms: 200+ Golf Definitions

Here are the basic golf terms, and their definitions, to give you a foundation of how to speak the golf language.

• Address: The golfer's stance and positioning of the club before taking a swing.
• Aim: The direction in which a golfer intends to hit the ball.
• Alignment: The process of positioning the body and clubface correctly.
• Back Nine: Holes 10 through 18 on an 18-hole golf course.
• Backspin: The backward rotation of the golf ball, causing it to stop more quickly on the green. Related: How to Put Backspin on a Golf Ball
• Backswing: The part of the golf swing where the club moves away from the ball.
• Ball Flight: The path the golf ball takes through the air. Related: Golf's Ball Flight Laws
• Ball Speed: The speed at which the golf ball leaves the clubface. Related: What Influences Ball Speed
• Caddie: A person who carries a golfer's bag and provides advice during a round.
• Choke Down: Gripping the club lower on the shaft for control.
• Closed Face: When the clubface is turned slightly left (for a right-handed golfer).
• Course Management: Strategic decision-making during a round. Related: 3 Lessons to Improve Course Strategy
• Dispersion: The measured area (left or right) a golf ball travels off of the intended center line.
• Downswing: The part of the golf swing when the club swings down to the golf ball. The downswing follows the backspin.
• Drop: A method of putting a new ball into play after a penalty or lost ball.
• Eat Your Wheaties: Phrase used among playing partners when a putt is left short. Refers to not having enough strength.
• Etiquette: The code of behavior and courtesy in golf. Related: Golf Etiquette to Know Before You Play
• Follow-Through: The completion of the golf swing after hitting the ball.
• Footwork: Describes the motion of a golfer's feet during a golf swing.
• Fore: A warning shouted to alert others of an errant shot.
• Golf Course Superintendent: The person responsible for course maintenance.
• Grand Slam: Term to describe winning the US Open, The Masters, the British Open, and PGA Championships  (the Majors) in a calendar year. A modern Grand Slam has never been completed. A Career Grand Slam describes winning each Major Championship over the course of a professional's career and has been completed five times. Related: Golf's Grand Slam Winners & Seekers
• Green in Regulation: A statistic earned when a player's ball finishes on the green in two strokes less than par. Hitting the green on the tee shot on a par-3, the second shot on a par-4, and the third shot on a par-5 results in a green in regulation. Sometimes abbreviated as GIR. Related: Greens in Regulation Simply Explained
• Grip: The way a golfer holds the club.
• Grounding: Touching the clubhead to the ground before addressing the ball.
• Hack: Term for someone who isn't good at golf.
• Handicap Index: A measure of a golfer's ability used in competition. Related: Ultimate Guide to Golf Handicaps
• High Handicapper: A golfer with a high handicap index, usually above 20.
• Honors: The right to tee off first based on the previous hole's performance.
• Marker: A person responsible for keeping score during a round.
• Mashed Potatoes: A term yelled by some gallery members at professional golf events after a player hits a shot. Has no actual meaning to golf.
• Mid Handicapper: A term typically used to describe a golfer with a handicap between 11-20. Related: What is a Mid Handicap Golfer?
• Net Score: A golfer's score adjusted for handicap.
• Nineteenth Hole: Bar or area at a golf course where players gather.
• Overclub: Using a club with too much loft for the shot.
• Patron: Term used to describe fans who attend the Masters.
• Pick Up: To discontinue play on a hole and not finish it.
• Playing Through: Allowing a faster group of golfers to pass. Related: Playing Through: When & How it Should be Done
• Provisional Ball: A second ball played in case the first is lost.
• Ready Golf: Encouraging golfers to play when ready, not strictly in order. Related: What Is Ready Golf?
• Round: A complete 18-hole game of golf.
• Sandbag: The process of having a handicap that is higher than playing ability to gain advantage in matches.
• Scratch Golfer: A golfer with a handicap index of zero.
• Shotgun Start: Golf outing format where all players start at the same time, but on different holes. Term comes from the idea of a shotgun being fired into the air to let players know it was time to begin. Related: What is a Shotgun Start in Golf?
• Smash Factor: A number measured by a launch monitor to describe the ratio between ball speed and club head speed. A 100 MPH swing that produces 136 MPH ball speed would have a smash factor of 1.36.
• Stance: The positioning of a golfer's feet before taking a shot.
• Stimpmeter: A device used to measure green speed.
• Swing Path: The direction the clubhead travels through impact with the ball.
• Visualization: The act of imagining a shot before taking it. Visualizing the ideal shot helps most golfers relax and play their best game
• Yips: A physical tick or other momentary loss of muscle control that inversely affects your game, common with putting. Yips are caused by a mental block rather than any physiological issue. Related: Causes and Treatmens of the Yips in Golf

Here are all the words and definitions you need to know regarding golf clubs, their parts, and other golf equipment.

• Approach Wedge: A club with moderate loft used for approach shots. Related: The Purpose of an Approach Wedge
• Ball Marker: A small object used to mark the position of a ball on the green.
• Belly Putter: A putter with a longer shaft anchored against the belly. While long putters in themselves are legal, the technique of anchoring the putter to your belly or chest is now illegal. Related: How to Use a Long Putter Legally
• Bounce: The angle of the sole of a club that impacts how it interacts with the turf. Bounce is typically used in reference to wedges. Related: What is Bounce and How Does it Affect Your Game?
• Center of Gravity (CG): The point within a clubhead where it is perfectly balanced. Related: CG in Golf Clubs Explained in Simple Terms
• Clubface: The front part of the golf club that makes contact with the ball.
• Compression: The amount of give a golf ball will have when hit. Golf balls are rated on compression from 80-100, with 100 having the least compression. Related: What is Compression and Does It Actually Matter?
• Dimple: The small depressions on the surface of a golf ball. Related: How a Golf Ball's Dimples Impact Your Game
• Divot Tool: A tool used to repair ball marks on the green.
• Draw Bias: Clubs designed to promote a draw (right-to-left) ball flight.
• Driver: The largest-headed golf club used to get the most distance, almost exclusively used when teeing off.
• Fade Bias: Clubs designed to promote a fade (left-to-right) ball flight.
• Fairway Wood: Clubs designed for long shots from the fairway.
• Freshie: A new, unused golf ball.
• Golf Bag: The carrying case for golf clubs.
• Golf Glove: A glove worn by golfers to improve grip.
• Golf Tee: The small peg used to elevate the ball for the first shot on a hole.
• Golf Towel: A towel used to clean clubs and balls.
• Golf Umbrella: An umbrella used to shield from rain on the course.
• Governor: Part of a golf cart that limits how fast the cart can go. Players sometimes alter the governor to make it go faster. Related: How to Remove the Governor From a Golf Cart
• Grooves: The indentations on the clubface that grip the ball.
• Heel: The part of the clubhead closest to the golfer's feet.
• Hybrid: A golf club that combines characteristics of irons and woods.
• Iron Cover: Protective covers that go over golf irons. Not widely accepted.
• Irons: Clubs with metal heads used for approach shots.
• Jigger: An antiquated golf club used for putting.
• Kick Point: The location on a club's shaft where it flexes the most.
• Lie Angle: The angle between the clubhead and the shaft when addressing the ball.
• Loft: The angle of the clubface that affects the trajectory of the ball.
• Long Irons: Clubs with lower lofts designed for distance.
• Mashie: An antiquated golf club used for approach shots.
• Peg: Slang for golf tee
• Putter: A club designed for putting on the green.
• Range Balls: Golf balls used on the practice range.
• Sand Wedge: A club designed for hitting shots out of bunkers.
• Shaft: Made from graphite or steel, this is the elongated portion of the golf club that is installed into the head of the club.
• Short Irons: Clubs with higher lofts used for shorter shots.
• Sole: The bottom part of the clubhead that interacts with the ground.
• Spine: The stiffest part of a golf shaft, typically marked for alignment.
• Stick: Term for golf club.
• Wedge: A type of club with a high loft, used for short, high shots. Related: Complete Buyer's Guide to Golf Wedges
• Woods: Clubs with larger heads designed for distance.
• X-Out: A golf ball that didn't meet quality control standards.
• Yardage Book: A book containing measurements and details of the course.

Good or bad, there’s a term for just about every type of golf shot you can imagine. 

• Double Hit: Accidentally striking the ball twice in a single swing.
• Approach Shot: A shot played towards the green, usually from a fairway or rough.
• Breakfast Ball: A mulligan taken on the opening tee shot
• Bump and Run: A short-game golf shot in which the ball flies about one-third of the distance to the hole or less the rolls the remaining distance. Learn how to execute the bump and run. Related: Add the Bump & Run to Your Arsenal
• Chili Dip: Slang for when a golfer mis-hits a chip by hitting behind it and digging up turf.
• Chip and Run: A low chip shot that rolls to the hole.
• Chip Shot: A short, low-trajectory shot played near the green. Related: Golf Chipping 101
• Chunk: Similar to "chili dip," however a chunk can occur on any type of golf shot.
• Cut Shot: A controlled fade, intentionally curving to the right (for a right-handed golfer).
• Dancing: Term referring to a player whose golf shot finishes on the putting surface.
• Decelerate: To slow down or reduce swing speed through impact.
• Draw: A shot that curves from right to left (for a right-handed golfer). Related: How to Hit a Draw
• Duff: A poorly struck shot.
• Fade: A shot that curves from left to right (for a right-handed golfer).
• Fat Shot: A shot where the clubhead strikes the ground before the ball.
• Flagstick Out: Leaving the flagstick in the hole while putting.
• Flop Shot: A high, soft-landing shot used to go over obstacles. Related: The Secrets to Hitting a Flop Shot
• Flushed: Term to describe a perfectly struck golf shot, generally a shot taken with a full swing
• Flyer Lie: A lie in the rough that can cause the ball to fly farther than expected.
• Gimme: A short putt that's conceded by opponents.
• Half Wedge: A less-than-full swing with a wedge club.
• Hole Out: Completing a hole by sinking the ball.
• Hook: A shot that curves sharply to the left (for a right-handed golfer).
• Lag: A shot intended to stop short of the intended target, usually the hole on a long putt.
• Mulligan: A do-over shot, not allowed in formal play. Related: The Mulligan in Golf
• Open Face: When the clubface is turned slightly right (for a right-handed golfer).
• Pitch Shot: A shot played with a high trajectory to reach the green.
• Power Fade: A controlled fade with extra distance. Related: 3 Steps to Hitting a Power Fade With Driver
• Power Slice: A strong slice with extra distance.
• Punch Shot: A low-trajectory shot often used to escape trouble.
• Shank: Term that describes hitting the golf ball with the hosel of the club. Also known as "hosel rocket." Related: The Shank: How to Fix Golf's Most Frustrating Miss
• Short Game: The part of golf played on or near the green. A golfer's short game emphasizes accuracy over power.
• Skull: Hitting a shot low on the club face which, typically travels much lower and further than desired. Related: How to Stop Skulling Chips
• Slice: A shot that curves sharply to the right (for a right-handed golfer).
• Snap Hook: A severe hook that curves sharply to the left (for a right-handed golfer).
• Stinger: A well-struck, low, penetrating golf shot.
• Top: A shot where the clubhead strikes the top of the ball. Related: How to Stop Topping the Golf Ball
• Up-and-Down: Finishing a hole in two strokes from off the green.
• Waggle: A practice motion of the club before taking a swing.
• Whiff: Swinging and completely missing the ball.
• Worm Burner: A shot that barely gets off the ground.

These terms describe areas of the golf course, or elements that you may find while you’re out on the golf course.

• Apron: The closely mowed grass immediately surrounding the green.
• Away: The player farthest from the hole who should play their shot first.
• Ball Washer: A device on the golf course used to clean golf balls.
• Beach: Term for sand trap.
• Bent Grass: A type of grass commonly used on putting greens.
• Break: The curve or slope of a green that affects the path of a putt. Related: How to Read Greens
• Bunker Rake: A tool used to smooth sand in bunkers after play.
• Bunker: Any obstacle on a golf small depression or hollow on the course. Most obvious when filled with sand, though grass bunkers also exist as a tricky obstacle.
• Cabbage: Term for thick rough and grasses on the golf course.
• Caddie Shack: The building where caddies gather and store equipment.
• Cart Path: The designated path for golf carts on the course.
• Casual Water: Temporary water on the course due to rain or irrigation.
• Collar: The fringe of longer grass surrounding the green.
• Cross Bunker: A bunker strategically placed across the fairway.
• Cup: The hole on the green where the ball must be sunk to complete a hole.
• Cut: The process of mowing the grass on the golf course to a specific height.
• Divot: A piece of turf or grass that is displaced when a shot is taken. Divots should be repaired to ensure the integrity of the course. Related: Ultimate Divot Guide for Every Golfer
• Dogleg: A hole that curves to the left or right, requiring strategic tee shots.
• Driving Range: Area made available for golfers to practice their shots. May be part of a golf course or an independent business.
• Fairway Bunker: A bunker located in the fairway. Related: 6 Lessons to Help You Escape Fairway Bunkers with Ease
• Fairway: The mowed area of the golf hole between the tee and the green.
• Flagstick: The pole placed in the cup to mark the location of the hole.
• Forecaddie: A caddie who assists a group of golfers by tracking shots.
• Fringe: The transitional area between the fairway and the green.
• Green Fee: The fee paid to play a round of golf.
• Green: The area of short well manicured grass surrounding the hole. The green is distinguished from the surrounding areas by closely mowed grass.
• Greenside Bunker: A bunker located near the green.
• Hazard Stake: A marker indicating the boundary of a water hazard.
• Hazard: Any obstacle or feature on the golf course that can result in a penalty.
• Hole: The designated target on the course, marked by a flagstick.
• In-Bounds: The areas of the course where play is allowed.
• Lie: The position and condition of the ball when it comes to rest on the course.
• Lift, Clean and Place: A rule allowing the cleaning and repositioning of the ball on the fairway. Related: Golfer's Guide to Winter Rules
• Line of Putt: The intended path of a putt, determined by the slope.
• Links: A type of golf course often located near the coast with natural terrain. Related: The Definition of a Links Golf Course
• Mud Ball: A golf ball that has flight and/or distance affected after being struck due to mud being on it.
• Muni: Term for a municipal or public golf course.
• Nine-Hole Course: A golf course with only nine holes.
• Obstacle: Anything on the course that can interfere with a shot.
• On the Dance Floor: Hitting the ball onto the green.
• Out of Bounds: Areas on the course where play is not allowed. Related: Out of Bounds Rules, Penalties & Procedures
• Overhanging Tree: A tree limb extending over the fairway or green.
• Overseed: Maintenance done to golf courses where additional seeding is applied at a strategic time of the year.
• Par-3 Course: A golf course consisting only of par-3 holes.
• Pin High: A ball is level with the hole but off to the side.
• Punched: Refers to putting greens that have been aerated
• Rough: Longer grass on the course that makes shots more challenging.
• Sand Trap: A bunker filled with sand.
• Sidehill Lie: A lie where the ground slopes to the left or right.
• Tee Box: Term to describe the place where players tee off at the beginning of a hole. Related: What is the Tee Box in Golf?
• Tee: The small peg used to elevate the ball for the first shot on a hole.
• Undulation: The rolling terrain of a putting green.
• Uphill Lie: The ball is above the golfer's feet, requiring adjustment.

Par, birdie and bogey are just the beginning. Here are all the golf scoring terms you need to know.

• Ace: Another term for a hole-in-one. Related: Hole in One Odds, Obligations & Mind-Blowing Records
• Albatross: Scoring three strokes under par on a hole.
• Birdie: Scoring one stroke under par on a hole.
• Bogey: Scoring one stroke over par on a hole.
• Condor: Scoring four under par on a hole. This almost impossible score would require a hole-in-one on a par 5, or a score of 2 on one of the very few par 6 holes in the world.
• Course Rating: A numerical value indicating the difficulty of a golf course.
• Deuce: Another term for a two on a hole, often used in match play.
• Double Bogey: Scoring two strokes over par on a hole. A score of 5 on a par 3 would be a double bogey.
• Double Eagle: A very rare score of three under par on a hole. Also known as an albatross.
• Eagle: Scoring two strokes under par on a hole.
• Four-Ball: A format of play where two golfers play as partners, each playing their ball. Related: Four-Ball in Golf
• Hole-in-One: Sinking the ball in one shot on a par-3 hole.
• Level-Par: A score that is even with par.
• Medal Play: A scoring format where the total number of strokes counts.
• Par: The standard number of strokes it should take an expert golfer to complete a hole.
• Penalty Stroke: An additional stroke added to a player's score for rule violations.
• Scramble: A form of golf where all players tee off, pick the best hit ball and all play from that position. This is repeated until the ball is in the hole. Most often played as a team game with rival teams vying to best each other. Related: Golf Scramble Rules & Strategies
• Snowman: Carding an "8" on a hole.
• Stroke Play: Competition format based upon the total number shots, called strokes, over a set amount of rounds.
• Skins: A golf gambling format, also refers to the amount of money an individual hole is worth while gambling. Related: Golf Skins Game: Everything You Need to Know
• Triple Bogey: Scoring three strokes over par on a hole.