If you’ve made it this far, you are a golf lover who is either just starting out or already has a history in the sport and simply wants to keep learning about this wonderful discipline. Golf is a sport with a rich terminology that can be overwhelming, so here is a golf dictionary with the most common terms that every golfer should know:

  • Albatross: To get the ball into a hole three strokes under par, e.g. to make a par 5 in 2 strokes.
  • Approach: Approach shot to the green, designed to leave the ball close to the hole.
  • Backswing: The initial movement of the swing in which the club is carried backwards before the stroke.
  • Ball Marker: A small, flat object used to mark the position of the ball on the green.
  • Birdie: Completing a hole one stroke below par.
  • Bogey: To finish a hole one stroke over par.
  • Bunker: A sand hazard on the golf course that makes it difficult to hit and requires a special technique to get out of.
  • Caddie: Person who assists the player by carrying the clubs and offering advice on the game and the course.
  • Chip: A short, precise shot from near the green to bring the ball closer to the hole.
  • Crossover: Moment on the course when players move from the first to the second round.
  • Dogleg: A hole with a pronounced curve to the right or left in its layout.
  • Draw: A controlled shot in which the ball turns slightly from right to left for right-handed golfers.
  • Driver: A club designed for long shots off the tee.
  • Eagle: Completing a hole two strokes under par.
  • Fairway: An area of short grass between the tee and the green, where it is easier to play than from the rough.
  • Fade: An intentional shot that produces a slight curve from left to right for right-handed golfers.
  • Fat Shot: A shot in which the club hits the ground before impacting the ball, reducing the distance of the shot.
  • Fore: A warning expression used to alert other players to a deflected shot.
  • Fried Egg: A situation in which the ball is half buried in the sand of a bunker.
  • Gimme: A very short putt that players may take for bunkered in casual play.
  • Green: An area of very short, well-manicured grass where the hole is located; the area where putts are made.
  • Green in Regulation (GIR): Reaching the green in the expected number of strokes, allowing two putts for holing.
  • Grip: The way in which a player holds the club to make the swing. The grip of the club is also called the grip.
  • Handicap: A numerical measure indicating a player’s skill level, used to balance the competition between golfers of different levels.
  • Hook: A shot in which the ball spins sharply from right to left for right-handed golfers.
  • Lie: The position in which the ball rests on the course, which can affect the type of shot played.
  • Loft: The angle of the club face that influences the trajectory and height of the shot.
  • Match Play: Hole-by-hole competition, with the winner being the player who wins the most holes.
  • Mulligan: A repetition of a stroke without penalty, permitted only in informal play.
  • Par: The standard number of strokes a competent player is expected to take to complete a hole or round.
  • Putt: A soft stroke made on the green with the putter to drive the ball into the hole.
  • Rough: An area of taller, denser grass surrounding the fairway, making it difficult to hit a shot.
  • Scramble: A format of team play where all players hit from the best chosen position.
  • Shank: A faulty shot in which the ball is deflected sharply in an undesirable direction.
  • Slice: A shot in which the ball turns sharply from left to right for right-handed golfers.
  • Snowman: A colloquial expression for making an 8 on a hole.
  • Stance: The position of the player’s feet and body before a shot is struck.
  • Stroke Play: A form of play in which the player with the lowest total number of strokes wins.
  • Swing: The complete movement made by the player to hit the ball, from the beginning to the end of the stroke.
  • Tee: A small support, usually made of wood or plastic, used to elevate the ball on the first stroke of each hole.
  • Texas Wedge: Use of the putter from off the green instead of a wedge.
  • Thin Shot: A shot in which the club hits the ball too high, causing a low, uncontrolled flight.
  • Up and Down: To drive the ball in two shots from off the green.
  • Whiff: An attempted shot in which the player misses the ball completely.
  • Yips: A nerve problem that affects the ability to putt accurately.

As you may have noticed, the terms are in English, this is because the sport originated in Scotland in the 15th century, when the predominant language was English. As golf spread worldwide, its terminology remained in English.

Becoming familiar with these terms not only facilitates communication on the course, but also enriches the playing experience, allowing for greater understanding and enjoyment of golf. To learn more terms and expand your golfing vocabulary, you can consult specialised resources such as the Royal Spanish Golf Federation’s glossary. Now you’re ready to speak the language of golf and put it into practice at Font Del Llop!