Golf Glossary

Friday, May 4, 2007

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.

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.

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.