A hole in one.

When you take your stance and line up the club to hit the ball.

Your score after you apply your handicap stroke allowance.

When you miss hit causing the ball to go extremely high with little distance. Also may define a swing and a miss. (see “whiff”)

A stroke intended to land on the ball on the green.

The “away ball” is furthest from the hole when more than one golfer is playing. Convention says that it is to be played first.

The last nine holes of an 18 hole course.

Reverse spin applied to the ball and prevents it from bouncing forward after landing; same as “Bite.”

A ball struck that is sliced such that it curves off to the side in a banana shaped trajectory.

When your ball hits any part of a tree and you still complete the hole with a par.

Any sand bunker.

A competition where any individual or team compete to earn the best net score to record on the scorecard for each hole.

Posting a score that is one stroke under par on any hole.

When your ball lands in the thick rough and lies like an egg surrounded by deep grass.

When you strike the ball late in your swing causing it to travel to the right of the target. (or left for lefties)

As in “no blood,” meaning no points were won or lost.

Posting a score that is one over par for the hole.

A hazard filled by sand or grass that is typically placed where a fairway or approach shot may land.

A chip shot that lands in from of the target and rolls towards the hole.

The distance that your ball travels in the air after being struck to the place where it first hits the ground.

Used to describe a tie, where no one wins a bet on the hole and the points are added to the points available on the next hole.

Rain or watering puddles that collect on the course as opposed to a permanent water hazard. You are allowed to take relief if you are in casual water or move your ball if you have to putt through it on the green.

To hit the ground before the ball when attempting to chip, resulting in an errant, weak lofted shot.

A description used when a player or team collapses under pressure during a match. Also, to grip down on the club handle further than normal.

Used by golf associations to rate the degree of difficulty of a course. aka Slope

Condition described when a man does not hit his drive past the women’s tee.  I will leave the full meaning to your imagination.

Describing a hole where the fairway curves noticeably to the left or right.

Term given to describe the situation when you cannot win a match against your competitor(s) because if you win every remaining hole your best result would be a tie.

Two shots over par

Three shots under par; also known as albatross.

Number of stokes or holes you are behind your opponent(s).

Striking the ball in such a way that it creates sidespin causing it to curve noticeably to the left for right handed players. Opposite of the “fade.”

A shot made from the tee area.

Bringing the ball back into play after striking the last shot out of bounds or into a water hazard etc. The ball is released from an outstretched arm held at shoulder height.

A ball hit with so much sidespin it hooks radically to the left for right handed player.

An unskilled golfer. a..k.a a hacker

To hit your ball into a water hazard.

A score that is two under par for a hole.

Equitable Stroke Control puts a limit on the number of strokes you can write down on the scorecard for any one hole, based on your course handicap.

Striking the ball in such a way that it creates sidespin causing it to curve noticeably to the right for right handed players. Opposite of the Draw.

The playing area between the tee and the green bordered by rough.

Causing the ball to land and stop on the fairway from the tee on holes greater than par 3.

When a ball travels further than the selected club would cause one to expect.

Where two pairs of golfers play in match play against each other in one foursome.

Any group of four golfers playing a round together.

When a ball lands steeply in a bunker causing it to rest in a crater sand with the ball substantially below the surface.

The short grass surrounding the green before the fairway grass or rough.

The first nine holes of an 18 hole course.

To putt the ball into the hole.  Also yelled by players when trying to command  their ball not to travel too far. 

A term used by golfers to encourage the ball to keep rolling when they suspect it may stop short.

Golf Handicap Information Network. The governing body of the handicapping system in the US. See www.ghin.com

When your ball comes to rest so close to the hole that your opponent decides you may assume that only one stroke would be required to putt it in and offers to allow you to simply count that stroke and pick the ball up. Usually when you are twenty inches or less from the hole.

To study the travel of a previous putt to 'read' the green.

The angle at which the grass on the green lies. Playing against it or with it affects the speed of the ball when putting.

The number of shots you are expected to play before getting your ball onto the green. Always two shots less than the par of the hole.

Your score over 18 holes before you reduce it by deducting your handicap strokes.

Areas of the course under repair. Balls may be removed from them without penalty.

To place the club on the ground prior to striking the ball when addressing it.

An unskilled golfer prone to hitting shots into trouble resulting in high scores.

In any game where opponents scores are the same resulting in no points won or lost.

When the competition results in a draw because opponents have the same points, score, or won the same number holes in the round.

The number of strokes a player is given to adjust his score from par. It allows golfers of different abilities to compete on equal terms.

Your adjusted handicap depending on the type of competition you have entered.

Your handicap index is a mathematical calculation of your playing ability on an average course. Maximum index allowed is 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women.

Established by the USGA and managed by the Golf Handicap Information Network (GHIN) this creates a method of adjusting golfers' scores to a standard such that they can compete on equal terms.

A hole where in competition where a player receives a shot from their opponent. It is determined by the stroke index of the hole listed on the scorecard.

A poor golfer.

In match play, refers to a draw when both opponents take the same number of shots to complete the hole.

Permanent features on the golf course designed to obstruct play.

Handicap

A direct request to a ball rolling rapidly towards the hole in a fashion that it appears it will go substantially past the desired resting place. Also used to describe a generally poor shot.

see Hit a brick.

Means that the ball has landed on the green even with the hole when measured from the front to the back of the green.

The ball goes straight into the hole from your tee shot.

To finish play on one hole by hitting the ball into the cup

The honor on the tee goes to last player to win a hole. The player with the honor tees off first.

A hit on the ball causing sidespin such that it curves dramatically to the left (for right handed players). The extreme of a “draw,” opposite of a slice.

Word to describe someone who maintains an artificially high handicap in order to win bets.

A description for heavy rough.

As in “In Jail,” describing when a players ball lands in a spot that is difficult or impossible to hit from

A shot played low into the wind.

A putt that is intended to get the ball near to the hole not expecting it to go in.

When you try to get close to the hole to prepare for a putt.

A water hazard running parallel to the fairway.

The position and condition around a ball at rest.

The intended path of the golf ball.

Golf course within only a few miles of a major body of water. Characteristically with open rolling fairways, lots of sand, high grass and brush.

The edge of the hole.

When you try to hit a shot where the flies to maximum height and short distance. Normally used when you are trying to avoid an obstacle. Phil Mickelson is famous for these.

Additional rules at a given course you must follow.

That part of your game where you hit the ball over 160 yards.

A form of competition where each hole is won, lost or tied (halved). The winner is the person who wins the most holes. A winning score of 3 and 2 means that the winner won by being 3 holes ahead with 2 left to play.

A competitive round where all shots are recorded and the winner is the one who took the least number strokes on 18 holes.

When you are allowed to replay any one shot during a round. (Usually off the tee) Often allowed on the first drive when people claim not to be warmed up. Not allowed in an official scoring game.

A player's score after handicap deductions.

Common bet for a match that divides a match into three segments; the front nine, the back nine and the total score.

When players meet in the clubhouse or bar after playing 18 holes.

When the ball has come to rest on the green.

Ball out of bounds. Requires a player to lose another stroke and hit again from the same location.

Same as "flagstick" 

Two player groups, or two golfers playing together in competition.

The number of shots a good golfer should take for a hole or round. Par for a hole reflects the number of well executed shots needed to reach the green plus two for putting. Par for the course is calculated by adding all the hole par's together.

Players on the same side in the same group or match.

A stroke added to a player's score due to a rule infringement, taking relief from a hazard or an unplayable lie.

The pole inside the hole on the green with a flag attached. aka “Flagstick”

A ball that came to rest even with the pin but off to one side. Same as "hole high"

The location of a hole on a putting green. Usually described as “front,” “middle,” or “back.”

A ball you hit high into the air onto the green using a lofted club and less than a full swing.

To pitch the ball onto the green in such a way that it rolls towards the hole after it first lands.

Increasing an previously agreed bet during a match after it started.

A tournament where a golf pro is partnered with an amateur.

The playing of a second ball from the same place as the first because the player is unsure of what may have happened to the first ball (i.e. it may be lost or OB).

Where the ball is struck on the down-stroke of a partial swing resulting in a short low shot; typically used to hit the ball out of rough or to keep the ball below the wind.

When you unintentionally cause the ball to fly or roll in an outward direction after being struck .

Slowing your swing down before hitting the ball causing an errant shot.

The act of identifying the preferred path the ball to get it in the hole.

To bring the ball back into a favorable playing position from an unfavorable one such as a hazard.

The expected and correct result of your strokes on any given hole. Playing a par 4 in regulation means your tee shot lands in the fairway, your second shot lands on the green and you two putt for par.

When you hit the ball such that it rolls freely on impact with the green. Also refers to movement of golfer's hands during a swing.

To move the ball without penalty in accordance with the rules.

The high grass area adjacent to the fairway and green.

A tournament in which everyone gets to play everyone else.

The distance that the ball continues to travel after it's initial impact with the ground.

A betting game that awards the money to the player with the lowest score on a hole. In case of a tie, the points available on the hole are carried over to the next hole until someone wins. 

A player who understates their ability (may even not post all their scores to maintain a high handicap) in order to win in competition.

You still makes par on a hole after landing in a sand hazard.

Team competition where players play from the position of the best ball of a team member after every stroke or drive.

A player without handicap, meaning that on average they will complete the course with a score of par.

To strike the ball with any the part of the club head other than the middle causing an ugly shot.

Chipping, Pitching and Putting.

Tournament in which teams start from different holes at the same time rather than one at time from the first tee.

When the ball comes to rest on a slope.

Asking the ball to stop as soon as possible.

A term used when a golfer wishes to implore the ball to land or stop rolling. Usually follows yelling “sit.”

Hitting the ball above it's center resulting in a low errant shot.

When you strike too low on the ball causing it to fly straight up. Normally happens off the tee or from the rough.

A shot that curves dramatically left to right as a result of sidespin for a right handed player. The converse applies to a left-handed player. See Banana Ball.

A rating applied to every course that measures it’s degree of difficulty. This will allow an adjustment of your handicap to the difficulty of the course you play. The more difficult the course, the more strokes you'll need. An average course will have a slope rating of 113.

Describing a long putt which travels over the undulations of the green. Also, a three-putt on any green.

To severely hook the ball.

Using point scoring rather than strokes in competition . One point for a bogey, two points for a par, three for a birdie, four for an eagle and five for a double eagle.

The measure of difficulty on any given hole shown on the course score card. 1 = the most difficult hole. 18 = the easiest hole.

A competition in which the total number of strokes for one round, or a pre-determined number of rounds, determines the winner.

The preferred spot on the club face with which to strike the ball.

To hold the flagstick such that a player may aim for it and then remove it as the balls approaches.

Name given to putter when it used from off the green.

To strike the ball above it's center causing a low shot that bounces along the ground rather than rise into the air.

To hit the ball through a very tight gap.

Three players playing a round together.

The term is used to describe a score of three over par on a hole.

A group of two golfers.

When ball ends up in a position from which it cannot be played forcing the player to take a drop and an extra stroke.

A golfer's lead in strokes or holes over an opponent.

When you miss the green in regulation but still achieve par.

A hole with water, such as a stream or lake, that forces the players to shoot over it.

A mighty swing at the ball that connects with nothing but air.

When your ball comes to rest on an uphill slope.

The United States Golf Association is the governing body for the game of golf since it’s formation in 1894. Learn more at www.usga.com

When the ball hits any part of a tree and the golfer still completes the hole with a par.

A shot which rolls along the ground.

When you miss simple putts or chips because of nerves.