Golf Has Way Too Much Slang.

Golf Has Way Too Much Slang.

Golf has way too much slang.

But it's easy to sound like you belong… because YOU DO! So to keep it simple. We've put a list together of what we'd consider the top 11 good-to-know golf terms.

2. Tee Box; noun:

  • What is it? The time that your round of golf begins & what people refer to their golf booking as.
  • Use it in a sentence: “Michelle got us a 10AM tee time at ShadowGlen this weekend!”

2. Tee Box; noun:

  • What is it? The area where you hit your first shot from for each hole. Usually the grass is mowed in the shape of a rectangle and you can use a tee here.
  • Use it in a sentence: "Get your hotdogs and then meet me at the first tee box stat. Our tee time is in 2 minutes!"

3. Fairway; noun:

  • What is it? The long strip of short-ish grass between the tee box and the green. This is usually where you aim from the tee box. ;)
  • Use it in a sentence: "Just keep the ball in the fairway."

4. Green; noun:

  • What is it? The area closest to the hole where the grass is cut super short. The green is surrounded by slightly taller grass (called the "fringe").
  • Use it in a sentence: "Nice shot! Right on the green!"

5. Flag; noun:

  • What is it? It’s exactly what it sounds like! A flag on a pole. In golf it marks the location of the hole, which is always located on the green.
  • Use it in a sentence: "Hayley, will you take the flag out? I'm about to sink this putt."

6. Putt; noun:

  • What is it? The gentle stroke you use to hit a shot with your putter on the green (think mini golf / putt putt!).
  • Use it in a sentence: "Dayummm she made that 30 ft. putt!"

7. Drive; noun:

  • What is it? A shot you hit from the tee box (usually with your driver!)… your first shot of the hole.
  • Use it in a sentence: "Nice drive! Right down the middle of the fairway!”

8. Par; noun:

  • What is it? Think of par and the following two terms as scores in golf. Par is the number of shots that a proficient golfer is expected to hit to complete a hole. For example, on a par 4 hole a golfer is expected to get the ball into the hole in 4 shots, beginning from the tee box.
  • Use it in a sentence: "I don’t want to jinx you… but this putt is for par."

9. Bogey; noun:

  • What is it? Par plus 1 stroke (shot). For example, on a par 4 hole if you get the ball in the hole in 5 shots, you made a bogey.
  • Use it in a sentence: "I’m so bummed I missed my par putt! Oh well, I’ll take a bogey."

10. Birdie; noun:

  • What is it? Par minus 1 stroke (shot). For example, on a par 4 hole if you get the ball in the hole in 3 shots, you made a birdie.
  • Use it in a sentence: "Holy sh!t did you just make a birdie?!?"

11. Club (aka "Golf Club"); noun:

  • What is it? We saved this one for last because well… it really has two different meanings.
    • 1) The golf stick-looking-thing that you use to hit the ball.
    • 2) A place for members to play golf.
  • Use it in a sentence:
    • 1) "Hey Sierra, what club should I use for this shot? I'm 100 yards away."
    • 2) “She got us a tee time at her golf club this weekend.”

And if you ever use the wrong term, just ask for a mulligan (that’s golf speak for a do-over). ;)

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