37 Golf Terms Everyone Should Know

There are A LOT of golf terms. Some – like an ace – are pretty intuitive. But bite, snowman, eagle? These terms can leave you scratching your head.

So today we’ve compiled a list of common golf vocabulary to help you learn the language. And if you’re a seasoned golfer take a look and see, how many golf terms do you really know?

Basic Golf Terms 101

Ace

An ace, or hole-in-one, is the epitome of scoring in golf. It occurs when you sink the ball with just one stroke, typically on par-3 holes but occasionally on par-4s. Tradition dictates that a player who scores an ace should celebrate with their group or clubhouse by sharing a drink.

Albatross

An albatross, also known as a double eagle, is an exceptional feat in golf. It means you’ve completed a par-5 hole with just two shots—a very rare occurrence even for experienced golfers.

Eagle

While still an infrequent achievement, eagles are more common than aces and albatrosses. An eagle is attained when you finish a hole two strokes below its par rating. This often happens on par-5 holes when a golfer can reach the green in two shots and sinks the subsequent putt.

Birdie

Birdies are more common and well-loved among golfers. A birdie signifies that you’ve completed a hole one stroke below its par rating. For instance, scoring a 3 on a par-4 hole counts as a birdie.

Par

Par represents the number of strokes an accomplished golfer is expected to use on a given hole. Holes are assigned as par-3, par-4, or par-5 based on their difficulty and length. A golfer who consistently achieves par is considered to play “par golf,” with an average score of around 72.

Bogey

Completing a hole one stroke above par is called a bogey. Someone who claims to play “bogey golf” averages one bogey per hole, equating to a score of 90 on a par-72 course.

Double Bogey

A double bogey means you’ve taken two more strokes than the hole’s par rating. For example, on a par-4 hole, a double bogey is a score of 6.

Triple Bogey

A triple bogey, or “trip” for short, occurs when a golfer finishes a hole three strokes above par.

Funny Golf Terms

Mulligan

A mulligan is a chance for golfers to retake a shot when they’re unhappy with the initial result. Although often allowed in casual play with friends, mulligans aren’t legal in official golf tournaments, and taking one would result in a penalty.

Chunk (Fat) or Thin (Skinny)

A chunk, or hitting “fat,” occurs when the club strikes the ground before making contact with the ball, causing a large divot and a shot that falls short of the target. On the other hand, a “thin” or “skinny” shot is made when the lower part of the clubface connects with the ball, resulting in a longer-than-normal distance.

Gimme Putt

A gimme putt is a short putt that your fellow players agree you can skip, considering it as a made putt. It’s a nice gesture that saves you the effort of actually hitting the ball into the hole.

Scramble

Scramble has two meanings in golf. In tournament play, a scramble format is when a team selects the best ball off the tee and on the approach. While match play is most often played in pro tours, you could also encounter stroke play and scrambles.

Alternatively, scramble describes when a golfer misses the green but still manages to make par.

Flop Shot

A flop shot is a high, soft shot that lands delicately on the green. Usually executed with a lob or sand wedge, this type of shot is often associated with skilled golfers like Phil Mickelson.

Yips

A dreaded golfing affliction, the yips result from muscle spasms or mental blocks that hinder a golfer’s ability to perform basic tasks. This issue mostly affects putting, often causing jerky swing motions that ruin the shot.

Shank

The shank, also known as “The S Word,” is a golfer’s nightmare. It occurs when the ball is hit off the neck or heel of the club, sending the shot sharply to the right. Shanks are considered contagious, so be careful not to mention them out loud!

Lip Out

A lip out refers to a putt that appears to be on its way into the hole, only to suddenly change direction and miss. A slightly less frustrating version is called a “burnt edge.”

Topped Shot

A topped shot happens when the bottom of the club strikes the top half of the ball, leading to a disappointing shot that only travels a few yards.

Slice

A common issue for amateur golfers, a slice causes the ball to curve from left to right in the air. This excessive sidespin results in a shorter overall shot distance. A milder version is called a cut or a pull-cut.

Hook

The opposite of a slice, a hook affects right-handed golfers by curving the ball from right to left in the air. This type of shot can create additional distance due to the topspin but can also be problematic in the form of a duck-hook. A less severe hook is known as a draw or a push-draw.

Snowman

Dubbed the snowman due to its visual resemblance, this term refers to getting an 8 on your scorecard – an outcome that can dramatically impact your overall round.

Waggle

A waggle is a small motion golfers make to help relax before addressing the ball. It usually involves making one to three waggles, and is more commonly seen among older golfers or some professional players like Jason Dufner.

Fried Egg

A “fried egg” is an unfavorable situation in golf when your ball lies with a partially buried appearance in a bunker, similar to a fried egg. These shots require extra finesse, as generating spin can be challenging.

Golf Phrases for Beginners

Caddie

A caddie is an individual hired to carry your golf clubs and provide advice throughout a round. They often have additional course knowledge and can help improve your performance. A “fore-caddie” is another type of caddie who walks ahead to locate shots and assists the entire group without carrying clubs.

Fore

This warning is shouted when a ball might hit or come close to other players. Always yell “fore” if there’s even the slightest chance your shot might endanger someone else.

Tee Box

A tee box is where you take your tee shot at the beginning of each hole. Always tee your ball behind the markers to avoid a one-shot penalty.

Fairway

The fairway is the short-mown area between the tee box and green, where you’d ideally want your tee shot to land. A high rate of tee shots successfully landing in the fairway often correlates with lower scores.

Green

The green is the location of the hole and flag. Hitting more greens tends to make scoring easier and is often measured by tracking “greens in regulation.”

Fringe

The fringe is a slightly higher-cut area of grass encircling the green. Although landing on the fringe doesn’t count as a green in regulation, it can often be treated like a green if putting from it.

Rough

The rough is the longest grass around the fairway and green, making shots landed in it more difficult. Depending on the course, the rough length can vary significantly, and there may be intermediate and deep roughs present.

Putt

A putt is when you use your putter on the green. The objective is to have as few putts as possible and can be measured on a per-round basis.

Bunker

A bunker is a sand-filled obstacle on a golf course. There are two types: greenside bunkers near the green and fairway bunkers located along the fairway.

Links

“Links” can refer to flat European golf courses with larger greens, or it can simply mean playing a round of golf.

Slope

Slope measures a golf course’s difficulty for amateur players and can range from 55 to 155, with higher numbers being more challenging.

Scratch

A “scratch” golfer has a handicap of zero and typically plays at or below par.

Handicap

A handicap measures the average number of strokes above par during a round, allowing players of different skill levels to compete against each other.

Pull/Push

A “pull” occurs when a right-handed golfer’s shot goes straight left, while a “push” is the opposite.

Short-Sided

Being short-sided means hitting an approach shot to the same side of the green where the pin is located, making chips or pitches more difficult.

FAQ: Golf Terms, History & More

Do you have a favorite golf term we missed? Leave a comment and keep us up-to-date on the latest golf lingo.