Golf definitions from A to Z

All 93 official golf terms briefly explained: from teeing area to wrong green.

A

Abnormal course conditionsFour situations that allow free relief: (1) animal holes, (2) ground under repair, (3) immovable…Adjusted Gross ScoreYour total score for a round, with each hole capped at net double bogey: the hole's par plus 2 strokes, plus…AdviceA remark or action meant to influence a player's choice of club, how they make a stroke, or how they play a…ApronThe strip of closely mown grass right around the putting green, shorter than the rest of the general area but…

B

Ball in motion accidentally hits a person, animal or object; deliberate actions to influence a ball in motionRule 11 covers a ball in motion that accidentally hits a person, an animal, equipment, or anything else, and…Ball in playYour ball is in play as soon as you hit it from the teeing area. It stays in play until you hole it, unless…Ball movedYour ball at rest has moved if it leaves its spot and comes to rest somewhere else, visible to the naked eye…Ball-markerAn artificial object, such as a coin, a tee or an actual marker, that you place right behind or beside your…BirdieOne stroke under par on a hole. If you play a par 4 in 3 strokes, that's a birdie.BogeyA score of one stroke over par on a hole.BreakThe slope or curve in the putting green that causes the putt to curve.BunkerA specially prepared area of sand, usually a hollow where grass or soil has been removed.BunkersRule 12 sets out the special rules for bunkers, including what you may and may not touch in the sand before…

C

CaddieSomeone who helps you during your round: they carry or handle your clubs and may give you advice. They can…CommitteeThe person or group responsible for the competition or the course. They set the local rules and the terms of…CourseThe entire area within which you play, within the boundaries the Committee has set.Course HandicapThe number of strokes you receive on a specific course, calculated from your Handicap Index, the Slope…Course RatingA number that shows how difficult a course is for a player with handicap 0, under normal conditions. It's…

D

Dangerous animalAn animal that could cause you serious physical injury if you had to play the ball as it lies, such as a…Dog-legA hole with a clear bend, like a dog's leg, often so sharp that you can't see the green from the tee. It's…DrawA controlled ball flight that, for a right-handed player, starts slightly right of the target and curves back…Dropping ZoneAn area designated by the Committee where you may or must drop your ball when taking relief. Your ball must…

E

EagleA score of two strokes under par on a hole.Embedded ballYour ball is in its own pitch mark from your previous stroke, with part of the ball below ground level.

F

FadeA controlled ball flight that curves slightly from left to right for a right-handed player.FORETraditional warning shout used when your ball might endanger other players.Four-ballRule 23: two partners each play their own ball and form one side together. On each hole, the better of the…FoursomesRule 22: two partners form one side, play one ball together, and take turns hitting it. Player A tees off…

G

General areaThe area of the course that covers the whole course except the four specific areas: the teeing area of the…General penaltyLoss of hole in match play, or two penalty strokes in stroke play.GIRGreen in Regulation: you're on the green in par minus two strokes. So in 1 stroke on a par 3, in 2 strokes on…Ground under repairGround under repair (GUR) is an abnormal course condition: any part of the course marked as such by the…

H

HoleThe endpoint on the putting green where you must play the ball into. The hole has a diameter of 108 mm (4.25…Hole scoreThe total number of strokes (including penalty strokes) a player needs to complete the hole.HookA ball flight where the ball curves strongly from right to left (for a right-handed player). A smaller, more…

I

Immovable obstructionAn artificial object on the course that you can't move, such as a sprinkler head, a paved path, a shelter or…

L

LieThe spot where your ball rests, plus everything the ball touches or is right next to: growing grass, an…Line of PlayThe line along which you want your ball to travel after your stroke, plus a reasonable margin to the side and…LoftThe angle of the clubface in relation to the shaft.Loose impedimentAny natural object that isn't fixed: stones, loose grass, leaves, twigs, dead animals and droppings, and…Loose impedimentA natural object that isn't attached, such as leaves, twigs, stones, pinecones or dead insects. You may…

M

MarkerThe person who records and confirms your score for each hole. Often a fellow competitor, but never your…MarkingIndicating the spot of your ball at rest before you pick it up: placing a ball-marker right behind or beside…Match playA form of play where you compete hole by hole against an opponent or opposing side. Whoever plays a hole in…Modifications for players with disabilitiesRule 25 provides modifications to certain Rules of Golf so that players with a specific disability can play…Movable obstructionAn artificial object you can move without much effort, such as a rake, a sign or a can. You may remove it…MulliganAn informal do-over after a bad stroke, not allowed in official golf.

N

Nearest point of complete reliefThe reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), a dangerous animal…Nearest Point of Complete ReliefThe estimated point closest to your ball's original spot, not nearer the hole, where the condition no longer…

O

ObstructionAn obstruction is any artificial object on or next to the course, except boundary objects and integral…Other forms of individual stroke play and match playRule 21 describes four forms of play: Stableford, maximum score, and par/bogey (variations of stroke play…

P

PCC (Playing Conditions Calculation)An automatic adjustment from -1 to +3 that the World Handicap System applies when conditions on a given day…Penalty areaAny body of water on the course is a penalty area, even if it isn't marked. The Committee can also designate…Penalty areasA penalty area is a body of water on the course, or another area the committee has designated as such, marked…Pitch markDamage on the putting green where your ball has landed.Play the Ball as It Lies; Ball at Rest Lifted or MovedRule 9 describes the fundamental principle of "play the ball as it lies" and what to do when a ball at rest…Player's EquipmentRule 4 sets out which equipment you may use during your round. Your clubs, balls and other gear must conform…Playing a holeRule 6 describes how you play a hole, from the tee shot to holing out, including the order of play.Playing the course as you find itOne of the fundamental principles of golf: you play the course as you find it. This mainly means: Play your…Playing the RoundRule 5 describes how a round is played, including rules about practicing, starting on time, pace of play, and…Preparing to make and making a stroke; advice and help; caddiesRule 10 covers how you make a stroke, what advice and help you may ask for and give, and what your caddie may…Procedures for the ball: marking, lifting, cleaning; replacing on a spot; dropping in a relief area; playing from a wrong placeRule 14 describes what to do when you touch or move your ball. Marking: place a marker (often a coin) right…Provisional ballAn extra ball you play if your original ball may be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds. This way…Putting GreenThe area of the hole you're playing that's specially prepared for putting, or that the committee has…Putting GreensThe very closely mown part of the hole where the hole itself is located and where you play with your putter…

R

Ready golfPlaying as soon as you're ready instead of waiting for your turn. In stroke play, this is recommended to keep…RefereeAn official appointed by the Committee to determine facts and apply the rules. You must abide by their…Removing loose impediments and movable obstructionsRule 15 explains when you may remove loose impediments (leaves, twigs, stones) and movable obstructions (a…Resolving rules issues during a round; rulings by the referee and CommitteeRule 20 explains what to do if you're in doubt about a rule during your round. In stroke play, you may play…Round18 holes or fewer, played in the order the Committee has set.

S

Score DifferentialThe value that updates your Handicap Index after every qualifying round. Formula: (113 / Slope Rating) ×…ScorecardThe form on which your score per hole is recorded in stroke play. Both you and your marker must sign it.Searching for a ball: finding and identifying a ballRule 7 lets you search for your ball using reasonable actions. If you go too far and improve your conditions…Serious breachStroke play only: you play from a wrong place and that could give you a significant advantage over playing…SliceA ball that curves sharply off your target line due to sidespin: left to right for a right-handed player…Slope RatingA number between 55 and 155 that shows how much harder a course plays for an average golfer than for a top…StablefordA points system per hole based on your net score, including your handicap strokes. Net double bogey or worse…StanceThe position of a player's feet and body in preparation for and while making a stroke.StrokeAny forward movement of your club made to hit the ball. A whiff counts too. If you deliberately stop your…Stroke and distance; ball lost or out of bounds; provisional ballRule 18 applies when your ball is lost or out of bounds. You add one penalty stroke and play again from the…Stroke IndexThe Stroke Index (SI) is a numbering from 1 to 18 on the scorecard that determines on which holes a player…Stroke playThe type of play where you count the total number of strokes over the whole round. The lowest score wins.

T

Taking relief from abnormal course conditions, dangerous animals and embedded ballRule 16 covers free relief from abnormal course conditions: animal holes, ground under repair, immovable…Team competitionsCompetitions where players or sides play as a team and their results combine into a team score. Rule 24…Teeing areaThe place where you start playing a hole. It's a rectangular area two club-lengths deep, with the front and…Temporary waterWater standing on the ground that isn't a penalty area, for example a puddle after rain or irrigation. It…The competitionRule 3 covers the three basic elements of every competition: match play or stroke play, playing alone or with…The courseThe entire area where you play golf, within the boundaries the Committee sets, for example with lines, stakes…The game, standards of conduct and the RulesRule 1 sets out the fundamental principles of the game: play the course as you find it, play the ball as it…

U

Unplayable ballYou're the only one who decides whether your ball is unplayable. You can do this anywhere on the course…

W

Wrong ballAny ball other than your ball in play. For example another player's ball, a stray ball, your own ball that's…Wrong greenAny green on the course other than the one for the hole you're playing. Practice greens count too, as does a…Wrong placeA spot where the rules didn't allow you to play your ball from. For example, after dropping incorrectly…
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