Golf is a great sport, but it can be a little confusing for beginners. Here are some of the most common golf terminology that you may need to know as a beginner golfer:
Basic Golf Terms
Ace
A hole in one.
Albatross
A hole played three strokes under par.
Attend the flag
To remove and hold the flag while a player putts.
Approach
Short or medium shot to the putting green or pin.
Away
The golfer whose ball is the farthest from the hole.
Bank
A shot where a steep slope is used to manipulate the speed or direction of the golf ball.
Beach
A slang term for a sand bunker.
Birdie
One under par score on a hole.
Bogey
One over par score on a hole.
Double Bogey
A score of two over par.
Drive
A long tee shot that is played with wood or driver.
Eagle
A hole completed in two strokes under par.
Fairway
A long stretch involving neatly maintained grass that runs between the green and the tee box.
Handicap
A system that is used to rate the average number of strokes above par a player scores in a round of golf.
Hacker
A term relating to a person who is not that good at playing golf.
Over Clubbing
Using a golf club to hit the ball farther than necessary.
Putt
Any type of shot that is taken by a putter when he or she is on the green.
Par or Out
A game where full handicaps are being used that involves golfers with low handicap is a par out.
Pin
Refers to flagstick.
Pin High
Describes the depth to which a player has placed his approach shot on the green.
Pitch Mark
Refers to the ball mark.
Primary Rough
The most dense or most dangerous rough for a golfer in the course.
Quail High
Refers to a very low trajectory shot.
Rainmaker
This means to strike a pop-up in golf.
Round
This is the completion of 18 holes of golf.
Routing
The path followed by a golf course from the first tee to its final green.
Sand Trap
A bunker in the course filled with sand.
Swing
To go through the stroke.
Target Line
The line of play or the line from the ball to its target.
Teeing Ground
The spot from where ta golfer starts playing for a hole.
Tee Time
The scheduled time to begin a round of golf.
