The Quarry One Minute Clinic #7: Decoding Golf Lingo

Golf Terms for Newbies: How to de-code the lingo!

Ok, so after having some conversations over the past few weeks with friends new to the game, I am realizing there are many golf terms the casual golfer may not be aware of. Sure, you have the basics down, right? You know to hit the ball, seek it out, hit it again and hopefully it ends up in the hole.

Nonetheless, golf like any other sports has its own lingo and the more you know the easier it seems.



Putting Green & Hole



• Putting Green: (also "green, putting surface, dance floor") the most closely-mown and smooth--hopefully--area on the course, which is specifically prepared for putting and on which the hole is placed
• Bunker: a depression in the ground usually--but not always--filled with sand
• Fairway: the closely-mown area between the tee and green
• Divots: a portion of turf ripped out of the ground by your club
• Ball marks: (also "pitch mark") the depression a ball makes when it strikes the ground. Usually, but not always, associated with the putting green
• Foursome: four players playing together in a group  
• Chip: (also "chip and run, chip and roll, bump and run") a shot designed to roll (run) farther than it flies (usually, but not always, from near the green)
• Grip: 1. the handle of a golf club (usually covered with rubber, leather, etc.)  2. the holding, or method of holding, a golf club
• Club head: the most massive part of the club at the bottom end (opposite the grip or handle) of the shaft (ideally the part of the club that makes contact with the ball)
• Shaft: the part of the club extending from the grip (actually all the way to the top of the club inside the grip) to the club head
• Sandbagger: (euphemism for "liar, cheater") a golfer who lies about their ability in order to gain an advantage in a match or wager, or posts (submits/enters/turns-in) artificially high scores in order to inflate their handicap
• Sand trap: (also "trap, bunker, sand bunker") another commonly used term for a sand-filled bunker -a depression in the ground filled with a prepared surface of sand or similar
• Sand save: (also "sandy, sandie") getting the ball in the hole in just two shots from a green side bunker (usually assumes making par or better)

Club Head

These definitions and more can be found at http://www.pgaprofessional.com/golf_glossary. This website was created and maintained by PGA Professional Mark Blakemore.

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This One Minute Clinic provided kindly by Sean Etheredge, former Quarry Golf Club Head Golf Pro. If you would like to see a specific topic addressed, e-mail your idea to clewis@quarrygolf.com