Whether you’re new to golf or a pro, it’s easy to get confused by golfing terms. You probably know what a Bogey is, but what’s a Snowman? What’s a Dogleg? With official terms, shots, scores, and common lingo – golfers practically have their own language!
We’ve broken down some common golfing terms into a simple cheat sheet to help you understand. With a bit of help, you’ll be speaking golf before you know it.
Basic Terms
Let’s start with the simple stuff. Here are some basic words that you’ll hear a lot when out playing golf.
- The Green
The Green is the grassy area surrounding the hole. Generally, your first few shots are spent trying to get onto the green.
- Fairway
Outside of the green, you have the fairway. You can tell the difference because the grass is much shorter. If you’re on the Fairway, then you’re aiming for the Green!
- Tee
The place where it all begins. This refers to both the peg that you balance your ball on, and the area that the peg is in.
- Bunker
Pits of sand that act as a hazard. Try to avoid these, if you can!
- Handicap
A score that suggests how good a player is at golf. The lower the handicap, the better.
- Bandit
Someone plays better than their handicap suggests. This is usually frowned upon, so try not to be a bandit.
- Mulligan
A chance to retake a shot that you aren’t happy with (usually not allowed in official tournaments). Supposedly named for Canadian golfer David Bernard Mulligan, after he dared to take a second shot.
- Whiff
If someone says you’ve “whiffed” then that’s not a great sign. This means you’ve missed the ball entirely! Not to worry, have another swing at it.
Other Terms
Now here are some words you’re a little less likely to know, even if you’re a seasoned player. Phrases come in-and-out of fashion, so a few of these may be more popular with some golfers than others. Still, throwing “Fried Egg” or “Snowman” into your golf conversations should help brighten up the fairway.
- Dogleg
A hole with a noticeable left or right turn in the fairway.
- Gimme Putt
If your ball is right on the edge of the hole, everyone might agree that it’s a gimme putt. Basically, everyone agrees that you could probably hit it into the hole, so they just move on instead.
- Fried Egg
When your ball gets half-buried in a bunker, so that it looks a bit like a fried egg (but less delicious).
- Snowman
When you score an eight – so it looks like there’s a tiny snowman drawn on your scorecard. Cute, but not great for your overall score.
- Scratch
A “scratch” golfer usually plays at or below par, because they have a handicap of zero.
- Plumb Bob
When a golfer holds a putter out vertically and allows gravity to help them figure out the angle the green lies at. This is a useful technique.
Now that you know what golf terms mean, it’s time to get out there and practise your new vocabulary. Ask the Bandit if he wants to Mulligan because of his Fried Egg, or ask a Scratch for a Gimme Putt on the Green.
Once you’ve practiced the lingo, you might feel like practising some actual golf. We can help you get started, with great prices on personalised golf balls and golfing accessories.
