Golf Glossary

Lie: The position of one's ball on the ground. Also, the number of shots one has hit to get there: "I lie three in the sand."

Mulligan: A do-over (not always allowed, depending on your playing partners).

Rating: Given to a course as to how it plays for scratch golfers. A par-72 with a course rating of 66 plays easy, while a course with a rating of 74 is more difficult.

Regulation: Reaching the green in one shot on a par 3, two shots on a par 4 and three shots on a par 5.

Save: When a golfer makes par after hitting the ball into a hazard.

Shank: A severe mis-hit, in which the player fails to hit the ball with the face of the club and it travels a short distance.

Sit: What players yell when they wish the ball to slow down or stop rolling after landing on the green.

Slice: A shot that, for a right-handed golfer, drastically curves to the right. This is not done intentionally.

Slope: A number that ranges from 55 to 155 that represents the difficulty of the course for bogey golfers. The higher the slope, the more difficult the course.

Snowman: An 8 on the scorecard.

Thin: Describing a shot hit too high up on the ball, often resulting in a line drive. Sometimes referred to as "blading."

Up and Down: When a player is able to get in the hole in two shots from just off the green.

Worm Burner: A shot off the tee that is struck well but barely gets off the ground.

Yips: Nervousness during short putts that results in a miss.