Golf Glossary
Friday, May 4, 2007; Page HE02
Take it from us: Talking a good golf game is a lot easier than playing one. So if you're just a beginner, or if you're teeing it up with the boss this weekend and don't know the difference between a 7-iron and pitching wedge, here is some golf jargon that is bound to come in handy.
Carry: The distance the ball travels in the air once it's been hit.
 Blue Ridge Shadows aspires to be not so much a golf course as a full-fledged, vacation destination. » Photos
First Tee goes into the classroom to teach inner-city kids about the game of golf and values away from the game. » Slideshow
Clubgolf Performance Center tries to cure whatever ills your game with diagnostic equipment and exercise regimens.
Golf club development continues to take shape as Callaway and Nike introduce their square drivers.
Square drivers take some time to adjust to and they don't quite fit into the round game of golf. » Video
 Meadow Farms Golf Course in Locust Grove, Va., features the longest hole in America, an 841- yard par 6. » Graphic
Steve Bosdosh, the pro at Four Streams Golf Club, offers some advice for the next time you tee off.
Proper etiquette is an integral part of the gentleman's game, even when you play with your father-in-law.
Tiger Woods's tournament will be the biggest game in town this summer, but there's plenty of other action nearby.
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Cut: A directive often screamed at a ball in flight to move a little to the right (if you're a right-handed hitter), typically to avoid a hazard.
Draw: A shot off the tee that, for the right-handed golfer, curves slightly to the left. This is usually done intentionally by the more experienced player.
Fade: A shot off the tee that, for the right-handed golfer, curves slightly to the right. Like the draw, this usually is done intentionally.
Fat: Describing a shot that catches too much ground and results in poor ball flight.
Gimme: A shot that your playing partners allow you to count without actually playing it, such as a putt from a few inches.
Handicap: A number that represents a golfer's playing ability. The lower the handicap the better. A person with a zero handicap is a scratch golfer.
Hook: A shot off the tee that, for the right-handed golfer, curves drastically to the left. This is not done intentionally.
Hazard: A part of the course that either impedes play or can add strokes, such as water and sand traps.
Lag: A long putt designed to get the ball close to the hole.
Lay up: To play a shot conservatively, where the goal is to land the ball before a hazard instead of trying to carry it.
