Golf Dictionary - Golf Terms and Definitions

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	ALBATROSS three under par
	APPROACH SHOTS shots made towards the green from approximately 100 yards
	AWAY the Golf ball is furthest from the hole. The golfer who is away plays first
	BACKSPIN A spin that is opposite to flight directions. For more information, go to our Golf Ball section.
	BACKSWING The first part of the swing wherein you move the club away from the ball. Also known as the takeaway. If you want to know the techniques on doing the Backswing, go to our Backswing section.
	BALL MARK the mark left by the ball in the green indicating the spot where it landed
	BIRDIE Playing a hole with one stroke less than a par
	BITE (submitted by: tiger101) When the ball has landed and bounces a few times and spins backwards.
	BOGEY Playing a hole with one stroke above par
	BUNKERS Sand areas situated throughout the course
	CADDIE A person hire to carry clubs and advice on club selection
	CART A small motor car used in the golf course to drive around and carry clubs.
	CHILI-DIP A fat shot hit around the green
	CHIP A short shot near the green-approximately 30 yards away from the green
	CHUNK (submitted by: tiger101) Another word for hitting a ball fat.
	CLUBFACE Part of the club head that actually hits the ball. To know more about th Clubface, go to our Golf Club Parts section.
	CLUBHOUSE The building at the course where you find the pro-shops, restrooms and a snack bar or restaurant
	COURSE RATING Determines the difficulty of the course. The higher the course rating, the more difficult the course
	CPGA (submitted by: tiger101) Canadian Professional Golfers Association
	CUP Another term for the hole.
	CUSTOMIZE GOLF CLUB Are tailored golf clubs to fit your body and your swing
	CUT A shot with a gentle left-to-right spin
	DISTANCE Determines how long your ball will travel after the shot
	DIVOT A gash of dirt and grass you take with your swing
	DOGLEG A hole that curves one way or another
	DOUBLE BOGEY Two strokes above par on the hole
	DOUBLE EAGLE see Albatross
	DOWNSWING (submitted by: Philler) The second part of the swing. You move the club towards the ball. For the Downswing Techniques, go to our section on the Downswing.
	DRAW (submitted by: tiger101) An intentional shot that has side spin from right-to-left.
	DRIVE The shot you take using the driver in the tee box. The first shot towards the hole. See the Tee-Shot section
	DRIVER The Golf club that is designed to hit the ball from the tee. To know more about the Driver, go to the section about the Types of Golf Clubs
	DROP Placing a new ball in cases of a lost ball or replacing the same ball in case it landed on an unplayable position
	EAGLE Two strokes below par
	ETIQUETTE (submitted by: tiger101) The proper golf manners that every golfer must obey.
	FADE A shot with a gentle left-to-right curve
	FAIRING A piece of plastic that is used to cover the seam
	FAIRWAY The straight path between the tee and the hole with closely mowed grass. For further information see our section about the Different Parts of the Golf Course
	FAT Happens when you hit more of the ground and less on the ball
	FLAGSTICK The pole that indicates the hole position. Serves as a guide in aiming
	FLOP (submitted by: tiger101) A high soft shot often used to get a ball on the green with little roll or to get over something very high. This works best with a wedge of some sort.
	FOLLOW-THROUGH The last part of the swing that comes after the ball is hit. See the Full Golf Swing section for the Techniques for the Follow-through
	FORE A warning call. Alerts golfers that a shot is made or is hit in their direction
	FRINGE (submitted by: tiger101) The edge of the green.
	GRAIN Growth direction of grass blades. Only Bermuda grass has grains
	GREEN The area where you putt with closely mowed grass surrounding the hole
	GROOVE A part of the club head that puts spin on the ball. Appears like small horizontal channels on the clubface.
	HANDICAP Indicates the weakness of the player. The number of shots a person is expected to shoot over an even-par of 72.
	HOLE Where you knock your ball into that is surrounded by the green
	HOLE-IN-ONE A rare occasion in which the ball goes into the hole when the player made his tee shot
	HOOD To close the clubface during the swing
	HOOK (submitted by: tiger101) A severe curving shot made from an inside-out swing path that puts side spin on the ball. This makes it curve from right to left.
	HOSEL The opening where the shaft intersects with the club head
	IRON (submitted by: tiger101) A golf club used for fairway or bunker shots. Check the Golf Club section.
	LIE The position in which the ball lies on the course after a stroke
	METAL WOOD The longest clubs in the bag. Made with steel, titanium or aluminum. Designed with longer distance and less accuracy
	NET Your total score minus your handicap
	OVER-THE-TOP (submitted by: tiger101) The direction a golfer makes his club go. This creates a slice.
	PAR The number of shots it takes to finish a hole
	PENALTY (submitted by: tiger101) A shot added to your score on the hole for going out of bounds, moving the ball, or losing the ball, etc.
	PGA (submitted by: tiger101) Professional Golfers Association
	PUNCH (submitted by: tiger101) A low stinger-type shot that is used to get under an obstacle such as a tree.
	PUTTER Club with a flat face used in putting- in the green
	Q-SCHOOL (submitted by: tiger101) A qualifying session that amateurs may take to become a professional golfer.
	ROUGH (submitted by: tiger101) The long grass on the sides of the fairway.
	ROUND Playing on all 18 holes
	SHANK Hitting with the side of the club instead of the face
	SLICE (submitted by: tiger101) A severe curving shot moving from left to right. This is cause from coming over the top.
	SOLE Like the sole of the shoe. This is the part of the club head that touches the grounds
	STANCE Placement of the feet in preparation for a swing
	STIFF To hit a perfect shot
	TEE TIME The appointment you make for a round of golf
	TEE-BOX The area at the beginning of the hole
	TOP Hitting the ball on its top-half
	TOPSPIN (submitted by: tiger101) Spin that makes the ball roll farther. Prefered with drives to make it roll farther.
	WATER HAZARD Includes ponds and streams scattered around the golf course