Golf Terms Explained: The Complete A-Z Golf Glossary for Every Golfer

Whether you've just started playing golf or have been enjoying the game for years, you've probably heard terms that leave you scratching your head. From birdies and bogeys to dormie, albatross and greensomes, golf has developed its own unique language over hundreds of years.

Understanding golf terminology doesn't just help you follow professional tournaments like The Open, The Masters or the Ryder Cup. It also makes it easier to understand the Rules of Golf, improve your game and enjoy conversations with your playing partners.

This comprehensive A-Z Golf Glossary explains hundreds of the most common golf words and phrases used by golfers around the world. Whether you're looking for a quick definition or want to learn more about how the game is played, you'll find everything you need right here.

Why Does Golf Have So Many Unique Terms?

Golf is one of the world's oldest sports, with many of today's expressions dating back centuries.

Some words originated in Scotland, where the modern game was born, while others have evolved through professional golf, television coverage and everyday use at golf clubs.

Terms like birdie, bogey, mulligan, links, dogleg and greens in regulation have become part of every golfer's vocabulary, even though many players don't know where they originally came from.

Whether you're watching professional tournaments or playing your local course, understanding these terms makes the game much easier to follow.

The Most Common Golf Terms Every Beginner Should Know

If you're new to golf, these are some of the first terms you'll hear on the course.

Browse the Complete Golf Glossary

Whether you're looking up golfing slang, technical terms, scoring terminology or equipment definitions, our A-Z glossary covers hundreds of golfing words and phrases.

Browse alphabetically below to quickly find the term you're looking for.

A

Above the Hole - Above the hole describes the position of a golf ball in relation to the cup, or hole, once the ball is on the green. It will also mean that you will be putting downhill towards the hole.

Ace - Alternative word for a Hole-in-One.usually occur on par 3's but they have been know to happen on short par 4's.

Address - The position a golfer takes as he or she stands over the ball, ready to hit.

Albatross - A term for a double eagle, or 3-under par on any one hole.

Alignment - "Alignment" refers to the way a golfer positions himself relative to the golf ball - feet, knees, hips and shoulders should all be lined up square (parallel) to the target line

All Square - In match play competition, "all square" means the match is tied.

Amateur - "Amateur status" is what is held by any golfer who is still an amateur, and what is given up when an amateur golfer turns professional.

A golfer who has amateur status is one who has never accepted money in exchange for golf; e.g., has never accepted prize money for tournament play; has never been paid to endorse a product; has never accepted appearance fees, and so on.

Amen Corner - The nickname of holes 11, 12 and 13 at Augusta National Golf Club, site of The Masters.

Approach - Your shot into the green usually named from the fairway.

Apron - The closely mowed area around a putting green, between the putting surface and any rough that might also surround the green. May also be know as 'Fringe' or 'Collar'

B

Back Nine - In most usages, the final nine holes of an 18-hole golf course.

Back Spin - The backward rotation of the golf ball in flight. backspin is what causes shots to "back up" on the green, or roll backwards after hitting the green

Back Swing - he backswing is the movement of the golf club rearward, away from the ball, and then up and around the body, until the golfer reaches the point where he/she transitions the movement of the club forward again (the downswing)

Back Tees - The most rearward set of tees on a golf course; the tees from which the golf course plays the longest. Often called Championship Tees.

Ball Marker - A small, flat object used to mark the position of a golf ball when the ball is lifted on the putting green.

Ball Retriver - A utensil most commonly carried, naturally, by players who hit a lot of balls into the water.

Bandit - A golfer playing well under their alloted handicap and most likely winning an event in the process.

Below the Hole - Opposite to above the hole, you will generally be putting uphill towards the hole.

Birdie - A score on an individual hole that is one stroke below par.

Blades - blades are a type of iron that has a full, smooth back (as opposed to a cavity back) and a thin topline.Blades are usually forged and many better players prefer them because they believe blades allow them to more easily work the ball and feel softer at impact.

Bogey - A score on an individual hole that is one stroke above par.

Bounce - Measurement in degrees of the angle from the front edge of a club's sole to the point that actually rests on the ground at address.

Break - Can refer to the amount the path of the putted ball curves, or to the amount the green itself curves or slopes. It's the slope of the green - the contours of the green - that causes the ball to deviate from a straight line, so the two usages of the term are close to identical.

Buggy - Golf buggy" is a term used that refers to the device used to transport a golfer's bag of clubs around the course.

Bump and Run - A Shot played close to the green with a lower-lofted club relative to a wedge (an 8-, 7- or 6-iron, for example), and with very little airtime for the ball. With a bump and run shot, the ball is typically played from the back of the stance, producing a very shallow trajectory, with the ball mostly scooting along the ground and running up to the green.

Bunker - A hazard that is a hole or depression that has been filled in with sand. You cannot ground you club in a bunker. Also known as Trap or Sand Trap

Burn - Simply a creek or similar water feature on a golf course. "Burn" is the term used in Scotland for such small streams.

C

Caddie - A person whose job it is to carry the golf bag of a player. Caddies for pro players assist with club selection and strategy.

Cart Path - The "cart path" is the designated route around a golf course that golf cars are expected to follow.

Casual Water - A temporary accumulation of water on the golf course. In other words, a lake is not casual water, but a puddle of rainwater (that will disappear once the sun comes out) is.

Championship Course - 18 holes came to be termed the "championship course" because it was the one used to host championships.

Chip Shot - A shot typically played from very close to the green, usually within a few yards of the putting surface, in which the ball is struck using a club (usually 6-iron to PW) played back in the player's stance. Such a combination produces a shot that is in the air very briefly before settling to the putting surface and rolling toward the cup.

Chip In - A "chip-in" is a chip shot that drops into the hole.

Claret Jug - "Claret Jug," is the trophy awarded to the winner of the British Open.

Closed face - Refers to the position of the clubface relative to the target line at impact (the moment the clubface strikes the ball).

The ideal is to get the clubface to the ball square at impact. Picture a line extending straight forward from the ball on the target line. Now picture a line extending along and out from the clubface (from the heel to the toe and out). If the club is square at impact, those two lines will be perpendicular, forming a right angle.

A closed face is one of the common causes of the hook and the pull.

Club Face - The "clubface" is the striking surface of a golf club, that part of the club designed to strike the golf ball at impact.

Club Head - The clubhead is the part of the golf club attached to the end of the shaft.

Club House - The main building at a golf course where golfers will first head when arriving at a golf course.

Compression - A term applied to golf balls, compression is a rating of how dense a ball is. Another way of putting it: it's a rating of the softness or hardness of the ball.

Contoured Greens - Simply enough, "contoured greens" are putting greens that have a lot of contour, or undulation, in their surface. Because of those contours in their surface, contoured greens are ones on which a golfer should expect to find a lot of breaking, as opposed to straight, putts.

Course Management - refers to the golfers' decision-making during a round of golf. What are the strategies and tactics employed by the golfer?

Cup - In everyday usage, "cup" is simply another name for the hole on the putting green - the place where every golfer is trying to put his or her golf ball.

In more specific usage, "cup" is the liner-slash-receptacle that is sunk down into the hole on the putting green, usually made of a white plastic. The cup cradles your ball after it finds the hole, and is fitted to keep the flagstick upright.

Cut - "Cut" has several meanings in golf:

1. The "cut" in a tournament is the elimination of, typically, the lower half of a stroke-play field at the midpoint of the tournament. 

2. A "cut" is a type of golf shot in which the player induces a fade; a right-handed golfer makes the ball curve left-to-right in flight, while a left-hander creates a right-to-left ball flight.

3. "Cut" can also refer to the positioning of the cup on the green. For example, "the hole is cut on the front-left portion of the green.

D

Divot - Most shots from the fairway with an iron will scrape off the top of the turf where the ball was resting. "Divot" refers to both the turf that is scraped up, and the scarred area in the fairway where the turf had been.

Dogleg - This term refers to the direction of an individual golf hole. Many holes are straightaway from the tee box to the green. However, some holes bend, usually near the middle, in one direction or the other. A hole that bends is called a dogleg.

Dormie - A match-play match is said to be "dormie" when one of the players achieves a lead that matches the holes remaining (i.e., 3 holes up with 3 holes to play), thus assuring at least a halve.

Double Bogey - A score on an individual hole of two strokes more than par.

Downswing - The "Downswing" is the term for that part of the golf swing that occurs between the end of the backswing and the impact with the golf ball.

The downswing portion of the swing is easy to picture if you focus on the "down" part. In the backswing, the player is raising his hands and the club in an arcing, upward motion. That motion reaches the top, the club momentarily stops, and the player transitions into moving the club down toward the ball. That's the downswing.

Draw - A flight path of the ball in which the ball curves gently right-to-left for a right-handed player, or left-to-right for a left-handed player.

Drive - The "drive" in golf is what starts any par-4 or par-5 hole. "Drive" refers to the first stroke played from the tee.

Driver - The driver is one of the standard golf clubs carried by most golfers. Among all standard clubs made for golfers, the driver is designed to hit the ball the furthest.

Driving Range - A golf practice facility that is included at most golf courses; driving ranges also commonly operate as standalone businesses away from golf courses. Typically a driving range will consist of a large, open field with teeing ground at one end. Golfers line up side-by-side pounding golf balls out into the field.

Duck Hook - "Duck hook" is another term for a snap hook, a particularly severe form of a hook.

With a duck hook, the golf ball immediately begins curving hard from right to left (for a right-handed golfer) and "ducks," or dips, to the ground, running off to the golfer's hook side.

E

Eagle - A score of two strokes below par on any individual hole.

Elevated Green - An elevated green is one that is elevated or higher than its surrounding area. This often means that the sides of the green slope upward to a putting surface that is higher than its surrounds. The term "elevated green" also applies to a green that is higher than the elevation of its fairway; or, on a par-3, a green that is higher than the teeing ground.

Even Par - A score that matches par for a hole or for a round.

F

Fade - "Fade" describes a trajectory or ball flight in which the golf ball comes off the clubface moving to the left of the target before curving gently back to the right (for a right-handed golfer; reverse directions for a left-hander).

Fairway - The fairway is the closely mown area that usually runs in between the tee box and green of a golf hole, and is the target for golfers on all holes other than par-3's.

Fat Shot - A shot in which the golfer's club hits the ground before making contact with the ball. This usually results in digging up a lot of turf and a shot that travels far shorter than desired.

Finishing Hole - The last hole a golfer players during a round of golf.

First Cut - The "first cut" refers to the grass that is immediately alongside the closely mown fairway. The first cut (or "first cut of rough") is grown higher than the fairway grass, but not as high as the primary rough.

FlagStick - A flagstick is exactly that: a stick with a flag on it. You see them on putting greens to mark the location of the hole.

Front Nine - 'The Front Nine' is the first nine holes played by the golfer, wether it be holes 1-9 or 10-18 etc....

G

Glove - Golf glove is what you wear on one hand left for right handers opposite for left, for more comfort and grip with holding the club.

Gimmie - A putt that one player requests be conceded by another player, allowing the first player to pick up and move on as if the putt had been holed.

Green - The culmination of a golf hole, where the flagstick and cup are located and where a golfer will "putt out" to end the hole.

Green Fee - The amount of money a club charges to play the golf course. The green fee often varies depending on time of week, time of day and status of the golfer. Weekend rounds usually cost more than weekday rounds.

Greens In Regulation - A statistical category on the pro tours and a popular method for amateurs and recreational players to rate their rounds.

To achieve a green in regulation, your ball must be on the putting surface in the expected number of strokes in relation to par. The par for a hole always includes two putts, so to achieve a GIR on a par-3, you must reach the green with your first shot (on the green in one, two putts for par). On a par-4, you must reach in two shots (on the green in two, two putts for par). On a par-5, you must reach in three shots.

Gross - "Gross," or "gross score," refers to the total number of strokes taken during your round of golf, plus any penalty strokes. In other words, your total score without adjustments.

Greens Under Repair - Exactly what its name implies: ground that is being repaired by the course superintendent or maintenance crew.

Ground under repair should be designated as such by the course, either by staking, roping or otherwise marking the area affected. Relief is given to any golfer whose ball comes to rest in the area or touching it.

H

Hacker - A very bad player.

Halve/Halved - "Halved" is a match play term that means a hole or match was tied. In match play, the goal is to win individual holes, and to win the match by winning the most holes. When a hole is tied - both players in the match score 4s - it said to be "halved," and the players are said to have achieved a "halve."

Handicap - "Handicap" refers to a numerical representation of a golfer's playing ability. The lower a golfer's handicap, the better the golfer is. A 2 handicapper is better than a 10 handicapper who is better than a 20 handicapper.

Handicaps are meant to represent a golfer's potential rather than simply be an average of a golfer's scores. For example, someone who averages 20-over-par likely won't have a handicap of 20; his handicap will likely be several strokes lower than 20 because of the way handicaps are calculated.

Hole Out - To go out of turn and to'Hole out' is if a player's ball is close to the hole and he/she goes again before another player to get the ball out of play.

Hook - "Hook" describes a trajectory or ball flight in which the golf ball starts out to the right (for a right-handed golfer) before curving severely back to the left and missing its target to the left. (Reverse those directions for left-handed golfers.) A hook is the opposite of the slice.

I

Interlock - The Interlocking Grip literally locks the hands together by intertwining the little finger of the bottom hand (trailing hand) with the index finger of the top hand. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods both use the interlock, along with many LPGA players.

J

K

Kick - Another term for bounce, as in bouncing ball. Kick is usually used as a command shouted by the golfer at his golf ball in flight: "Kick left!" or "kick right!"

L

Lag - A long putt which, because of its length, the putter does not expect to make but hopes to get close to the cup, usually leaving it a bit short. A good lag putt positions the golfer to have a simple and easily makeable follow-up putt.

Lateral Water Hazard - The reason the rules differentiate a "lateral water hazard" from a "water hazard" is that in the case of a lateral water hazard, the option to drop behind the hazard does not exist. Because the lateral water hazard runs along the side of the playing area, not across it.

Lay up - "Lay up" is a term that can be used as a noun, verb or adjective, but always describes the same thing: choosing to hit a shot shorter than you are capable of in order to avoid a hazard or to position the ball in a certain spot. For example on a par 5, youcan maybe reach the green but there is a water hazrd in front, so you 'Lay up' leaving you an easier shot into the green.

Lie - It is simply where the ball sits. A golfer's lie is the location of the ball at rest.

Line of Putt - The path a golfer expects his ball to travel after it's been putted, and a reasonal amount of space on either side of the indended path. Line of putt does not extend beyond the hole.

Links - "links" is a specific type of golf course and what The Open Championship is always played on.

A traditional links course will have many - perhaps all - of the following features:

• The course is built along the seaside;
• The soil is sandy and drains easily;
• The course is laid out naturally, so that unusual bumps and slopes in the fairways and greens remain, rather than being smoothed over;
• The rough features natural seaside grasses;
• Bunkers are numerous, very small and very deep (to keep the seaside breezes from blowing the sand away)
• Fairways are rarely (if ever) watered and play firm and fast;
• Links courses usually have few if any trees;
• The course routes out and back. The No. 1 hole begins at the clubhouse and the front nine plays straight out so that No. 9 is farthest hole from the clubhouse; the direction turns back in at No. 10 and the course ends with No. 18 back at the clubhouse.

Lip - "Lip" has a couple of meanings:

1. A rim of sod usually a couple inches above the level of the sand in a bunker that prevents the possibility of putting out of the bunker.So you would say"the lip of the bunker"

2. The rim of the hole or cup, which leads to the phrase "lip out" when a putted ball catches the edge of the hole without going in.

Loft - A measurement, in degrees, of the angle at which the face of the club lies relative to a perfectly vertical face. Technically, iron loft and wood loft are measured slightly differently, but the effective result is the same.

The loft will also give you an idea of how far your ball will travel, the higher the loft, the less distance you will get.

M

Make the Cut - Many golf tournaments include a cut, a trimming of the field that eliminates golfers in (typically) the lower half of the standings, while those in the top half of the standings continue playing. A 72-hole tournament with 144 golfers in the field, for example, typically has a cut after 36 holes to the low 70 scores plus ties (although specifics vary). When a golfer is said to "make the cut," it means he continues playing beyond the point where the field is cut.

Mid Iron - Exactly what it says on the tin, a middle iron that you have in your bag, anything from 5-6 or 7 iron.

Miss the Cut - Exact opposite of 'making the cut'. When a golfer is said to "miss the cut," it means he did not score well enough to continue playing beyond the point where the field is cut.

Movable Object - An obstruction is defined a movable if it can be - without unduly delaying play, causing any damage or requiring unreasonable effort - moved. No penalty.

Mulligan - Hit a bad shot? Take a mulligan and replay that stroke. Usually used in non-competetive games or practice rounds.

Municipal - A golf course owned by a city (municipality, hence the term). County-owned courses are also referred to as municipals.

N

Nearest Point of Relief -  Players are allowed to drop without penalty within one club length of the "nearest point of relief" when there is interference from an immovable obstruction or abnormal ground condition, or when the player's ball is on the wrong putting green.

Nearest the Pin - Mostly used in society day's and club competitions, on one or all par 3's there will be a 'Nearest the Pin' competition, whereby the player wins by getting the tee shot closet to the hole.

Net Score - The "net score" is a player's gross score minus the strokes his or her course handicap allows to be deducted during the course of the round.

A golfer may have a gross score of 92 (gross score being the actual number of strokes played), but with a course handicap of 9. So 92 minus 9 equals the net score, in this case 83.

O

Open - An "open" golf tournament is one in which participation is not limited only to golfers who have been invited or only to those who have gained entry through some pre-set list of qualifications.

Open Face - "Open face" refers to the position of the clubface relative to the target line at impact (the moment the clubface strikes the ball).

An open face is one of the common causes of the slice and the push.

Out of Bounds - Those areas outside the course from which play is not allowed, or any area designated as out of bounds by the committee. Out of bounds will be marked usually by white stakes.

Over Par - Any score, whether on an individual hole or for a completed round, that is above the given par for that hole or round. If a hole is a par-4, "over par" is any score greater than 4 for that hole. If the par for the course is 72, over par is a score of 73 or higher.

OWGR - he initials "OWGR" are sometimes used on golf Web sites or in golf media, usually followed by a number. OWGR stands for Official World Golf Ranking, and when the initials are used in conjuntion with a number - for example "Tiger Woods (OWGR 1)" - the numeral represents the player's standing in the rankings.

P

Par - A number assigned to an individual hole and to the full collection of holes on a course that represents the expected number of strokes it should take to play each hole.

Par 3 Course - A course that consists of nothing but par-3 holes.

Pin - Another name for the flagstick.

Pin High - "Pin High" is a term that describes the depth to which a golfer places his or her approach shot onto the green. Picture the green from front to back; "pin high" means your ball comes to rest even with the pin, or flagstick. You didn't leave the ball short, you didn't hit it long - your shot was pin high.

Pitch Shot - A pitch or "pitch shot" is a shot played with a highly lofted club that is designed to go a short distance with a high trajectory. Pitch shots are usually played into the green, typically from 40-50 yards and closer.

Pitch Mark - The indentation or depression that a golf ball makes in the putting surface when it lands on the green. Pitch marks should be repaired with a pitch mark repairer.

Preferred Lies - "Preferred lies" (also known as "winter rules") is a condition that exists by local rule only and under which golfers are, on certain parts of a golf course, allowed to improve their lies without penalty.

Professional - A golfer that gets prize money for a finish in an event. The best golfer in the world are Professional's or Pro's.  A pro golfer would play golf for a living.

Pro Shop - The location at a golf course, where green fees are paid and where golf merchandise is sold.

Provisional Ball - A second ball played by a golfer who believes his first ball may be lost (but not in a water hazard) or out of bounds.

Pull - "Pull" describes a trajectory or ball flight in which the golf ball starts to the left (for a right-handed golfer) of the target line and continues traveling left in a straight line, ending up well left of the target. The opposite of a pull is a push. A pull is distinguished from a hook by the fact that a hook curves to the left (for a righthander), while a pull flies on a straight path to the left.

Punch Shot - A type of golf shot designed to fly lower than normal. It is hit with the ball played farther back in the stance and a shorter follow-through. The player often chokes down on the club used. Punch shots are frequently used in windy conditions.

Push - "Push" describes a trajectory or ball flight in which the golf balls starts out right (for a right-handed golfer) of the target line, and continues traveling right on a straight line, winding up well right of the target. A push is the opposite of a pull. A push is distinguished from a slice by the fact that a slice curves to the right (for a righthander) while a push travels on a straight path to the right.

Putt - You "Putt" the ball when your ball finds the putting surface (Green).

Q

R

Range Ball - A golf ball specifically manufactured for use on a driving range, or used balls that in use at a driving range.

Rough - The areas outside of fairways that generally features higher, thicker grass or naturally growing (unkept and unmowed) vegetation. Rough is designed to be punish players who miss the fairways.

Round - A completed 18 holes of golf, or the score you recorded for those 18 holes.

S

Sand Trap - "Sand trap" is the vernacular term for a bunker filled with sand. The term actually does not exist in the Rules of Golf, where "bunker" is always used.

Scratch Golfer - In common usage, a golfer who shoots par or better or has a handicap of 0 or better i.e +1, +2 and would be on the verge of being a pro.

Shank - A shank is a mis-hit that is so bad the golfer makes contact with the ball with a part of the club other than the clubface. A shank results in a ball that shoots out to the right (for a right-hander) at a severe angle.

Shotgun Start - A way to start a tournament in which all groups of players tee off simultaneously from different holes. If there are 18 groups of foursomes in a tournament, then each hole on the course will serve as the starting hole for a different group.

Signature Hole - The term "signature hole" is nothing more than a marketing term, although it's now been adopted by golf media and fans. The "signature hole" at a golf course is the one hole that the course has decided is most aesthetically pleasing and most photogenic.

Skyball - A mis-hit in which the teed ball contacts the driver (or other club) on its crown or just at the very top of its face as a result of the clubhead slipping underneath the teed ball.

When a skyball occurs, the ball pops way up into the air and travels only a very short distance forward.

Slice - A type of shot in which the ball curves in the shape of a banana - starting out to the left of the target and then bending dramatically back to the right of the target (for a right-handed golfer; reverse for left-handed golfers). Because of the shape of the slice trajectory, the slice is sometimes colloquially called the "banana ball." A slice is rarely played intentionally, and is the most common miss hit of amateur golfers.

Snap Hook - Term for a very severe hook. A snap hook might start curving hard from right to left (for a right-handed player) almost as soon as it leaves the clubface.

Spikes - What a player has underneath his/her's golf shoe. Could be metal or moulded. Some golf courses only allow moulded to preserve the course.

Split Fairway - A fairway that is split, natch. That is, the fairway branches into two separate fairways each approaching the same green. The fairway may be split by a natural feature, such as a creek or ravine. Or the feature that splits the fairway may be manmade, such as a waste bunker, mounding, or simply a long patch of rough. When faced with a split fairway, the golfer much assess which presents the best path to the hole.

Stadium Course - A "stadium course," or stadium golf course, is one that is constructed with one its goals being to provide great vantage points for fans. A stadium course will incorporate mounding and hillsides around greens, in particular, where spectators can sit and get a great view. So many greens at stadium courses have something of an amphitheater effect. The TPC at Sawgrass is the most famous of the stadium courses.

Stance - The setting of the feet just prior to making a stroke. A stance is not the same as "being at address." At address, a player has set his feet and grounded the club (unless in a hazard, where grounding is not permitted). Stance refers only to the setting of the feet preparatory to the stroke.

Stimpmeter - A device used to measure the speed of greens. It's very low-tech, essentially just a small metal ramp that is angled down to a flat part of a putting green. A golf ball is released down the ramp. How far the ball rolls determines the "stimp" or stimp rating of the green, which is a measurement of green speed. The farther the ball rolls, the faster the greens.

The Stimpmeter was invented by a fellow named Eddie Stimpson, but it wasn't until the USGA adopted and modified the device in 1978 that it was accepted as a universal method for measuring green speed.

Stroke - Any swing which is completed with the intent to strike the ball, putting it into play. A swing that is voluntarily stopped prior to making contact with the ball is not a stroke. A swing that is completed with the intention of hitting the ball, but in which the ball is not struck, counts as a stroke.

T

Takeway - The "takeaway" is the initial movement of the golf club away from the golf ball in the golf swing; the start of the backswing.

Tee Time - The pre-arranged, specified time for you or your group to begin your round. Tee times are allotted throughout the day, usually in increments of 7-15 minutes depending on the expected pace of play.

Thin - A shot in which the clubhead strikes the ball too high (near its midpoint or slighly lower), often resulting in a low, sometimes slicing shot that can travel a long distance.

Through the Green - Refers to a player overshooting the green or being 'through the back'.

Tight Lie - Any lie in which your ball is sitting on bare dirt, very short grass or similar position in which there is very little grass beneath the ball.

Topped Shot - A topped shot - often just called a "top" - is one in which the golfer very nearly swings over the ball, with impact between club and ball occurring near the crown of the golf ball. How severe the top is determines how far the ball will go, with more severe tops (nearly missing the ball completely) sending the ball only few yards forward.

TPC - "TPC" stands for "Tournament Players Club." Golf courses with a TPC designation are owned by the PGA Tour.

Trap - Another name for a "bunker," although the governing bodies of the game prefer the term "bunker" in all uses.

U

Up and Down - To get the ball into the hole in two strokes when starting from off the green or in a greenside hazard. Say your second shot on a par-4 is just short of the green. If you make par, you've made an up-and-down.

V

W

Water Hazard - A pond, lake, river, stream, sea, bay, ocean or any other open water on the course, including ditches and drainage ditches.

Winter Rules - "Winter rules" (also called "preferred lies") is a condition that exists by local rule only and under which golfers are, on certain parts of a golf course, allowed to improve their lies without penalty.

Generally, winter rules are put into place during, of course, the winter, when adverse weather conditions can impact the golf course itself. Under the most common winter rules, a player whose ball is in the fairway would be allowed to improve the lie if that ball was, for example, on a bare patch of ground.

X

Y

Yips - An nervous affliction in which the person putting cannot make short putts due to the inability to create a smooth putting stroke.

Z

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