Published on 15th Apr 2024
The beginners golf glossary: Golf terminology explained
Golf can be a bit of a confusing sport at times. If you are new to playing or the parent of a junior that has caught the bug, this can make the game seem daunting, especially if you have no idea what is going on!
You no longer need to worry about not understanding the clubhouse chatter with our beginners guide to golf glossary, breaking down barriers to the game we love.
Golf equipment terms
Driver
Theoretically the longest club in the bag. A Driver is used almost exclusively from the tee ground to gain maximum distance and (hopefully) hit the fairway.
Fairway (Fairway wood/Lofted wood/3-Wood/5-Wood/7-Wood)
Most golfers will carry a 3-Wood in their bag alongside a Driver, although higher lofted Fairway Woods are available. Many players now add a 5-Wood or even a 7-Wood to the bag, making getting the ball in the air easier.
These can be played from the tee or on longer holes as an approach shot to the green.
Hybrid (Hybrid wood)
Designed to be easy to hit and get the golf ball in the air, Hybrids replace long irons that make the game a bit easier for golfers of all skill levels.
Irons
The biggest section of the bag are irons. Ranging from 2-Iron to 9-Iron in most full club sets these are the clubs you will choose between when playing for position from the tee or trying to hit a green.
Quick tip: The higher the number on the iron, the higher the loft it will have. This will generally make it go higher but shorter.
Wedges (Sand wedge, Pitching wedge)
Often attached to a set of irons, but also available individually, wedges are used closer to the green and can be used in a range of shots. From full swings at around 100 yards from the pin to delicate chip shots from the green’s edge, wedges are a huge part of short game.
Putter
The most used club in the bag and the part of the game that is the most important. Putters are used in and around the greens to roll the ball to the hole. Styles can vary from a blade to a mallet putter but finding the one for you is one of the most important.
Golf glove
Used by some golfers to keep a grip of the club, golf gloves are used on the non-dominant or top hand of the golfer, as this has the most contact with the club in a conventional grip.
Remember: Right-handed golfers will wear a golf glove on their left hand, the hand closest to them when they grip the club.
Golf formats
Stroke Play
The most common way to play golf. Each time you hit the ball, that counts as a stroke on your score. At the end of each hole, you add up each shot and that is your score, do this for every hole you play and that is your final score.
Match Play
In match play, you compete against an opponent. This can be done in singles (2 players playing 1v1) or pairs (4 players playing 2v2). In either, the lowest score on an individual hole wins that hole and you then reset on the next. Matches end when one player or pair are more holes up than there are left to play.
Example: Player A is 3 holes up with only 2 holes remaining. Player A wins 3&2.
Stableford
Stableford works largely like strokeplay, except your score is translated to points which are marked on the scorecard.
Point Scores: Eagle - 4 Points, Birdie - 3 Points, Par - 2 Points, Bogey - 1 Point, Double-Bogey or worse - 0 points
Quick tip: If you are playing Stableford and go beyond a double-bogey, pick up your ball and go to the next hole. This helps to keep the pace of play up.
Scramble
Sometimes known as a Texas Scramble, this format is really fun and popular. It can be played by anything from 2-4 players in a group. All 4 players tee of on a hole. They select the best tee shot and then all 4 players play from that spot. This process repeats until a player holes their ball.
AM/AM
In an AM/AM format, 4 players play as a team but play their own golf ball at all times. From each group of 4, the best 2 scores on each hole count. At the end of 18 holes, the best two scores on each hole are added together for the team's total.
Golf scoring terms
Par
A Par is the number of shots a hole would be completed. This is generally dictated by the distance between the tee and the green. Short holes are Par 3 (3 shots) with the green typically reachable in one shot. A Par 4 (4 shots) is normally between 250 - 470 yards and reachable in 2 shots. A Par 5 (5 shots) is the longest golf hole type at over 471 yards and the green is typically reached in 3 shots.
Birdie
A Birdie is a score of 1 under the par on a single hole.
Eagle
An Eagle is a score of 2 shots under the par of a hole.
Albatross (Double Eagle)
You guessed it, an Albatross is a score of three under the par of the hole. In the US this can also be referred to as a double-eagle.
Hole in one (Ace)
Exactly as it sounds, a hole-in-one is completing the hole in just one shot and if you manage it you join a very exclusive club within the game. Most players that have recorded an ace do it on a par 3 but some have been known on short par 4s too!
Bogey
A Bogey is a score of one over the par of a hole.
Double Bogey
As you may have guessed, a Double-Bogey is a score of two over the par of a hole.
No Score (Blob)
A blob or a no score is when you exceed the number of shot you can take to record points in the Stableford format we mentioned earlier. If you reach this point, don’t worry, pick up your ball and head to the next tee with a positive attitude to try again. Even seasoned golfers have these so don’t get too down on yourself.
Golf course terms
Tee markers
Tee markers represent the starting place of the hole. There are different colours of tee markers on each hole to represent the starting place for different ages, abilities and genders.
Golfers can tee off from anywhere between the markers and up to two club lengths behind them, but never in front of them
White tees: White tee markers typically represent competition tees and on most courses will be the furthest back on the tee box, in some cases even having their own tee box set back from general play.
Yellow tees: Yellow tee markers signify most often the general play tees for male golfers. These will be the most commonly used on the course.
Red tees: Red tees are on most courses the shortest and will generally be used by younger juniors and women in both general play and competitions.
Quick tip: It is important to select the tee box that best fits your level of ability. There is nothing wrong with selecting a shorter tee box to maintain the pace of play and more importantly, your enjoyment on the course.
Fairway
The fairway is the short cut grass that you will be aiming to hit. It runs between the tee box and the green and gives golfers the best chance of a good lie as they look to progress down each hole.
Rough
The rough is the longer grass that surrounds the fairway and greens. It can be cut to different lengths and will normally be longer and thicker the further away from the centre of the hole you get.
First cut
This is a term used to describe the lowest cut of rough and is generally on the edges of the fairway. At most courses, this isn’t too penalising and won’t affect your next shot too much.
Bunkers
These are sand traps that are placed as obstacles. They can be placed around the fairway, known as fairway bunkers, or as a defence of the green, known as greenside bunkers.
Pot bunkers
A pot bunker is a small and deep bunker that is designed to be challenging to get out of. They are most common on links courses and should be avoided at all costs!
Quick tip: Remember that if you go into a bunker, you can’t ground your club before taking the shot. If you do it is a penalty.
Ground under repair (GUR)
Ground under repair is a part of the course the greenkeeper has marked for ongoing repair and if your ball finishes here it should not be played. GUR will be marked by a white sprayed line with “GUR” also sprayed on the grass.
If your ball finishes here, pick it up and drop it at the nearest point outside of the white line. This is done without penalty and you can play on from this point as normal.
Out of bounds (OOB)
As you may have guessed, Out of Bounds defines the course boundary. This will be visible by white posts that mark the boundary line. If you hit a ball over the out-of-bounds line, the shot must be replayed with a one-shot penalty added to your score.
Example: If a tee shot is hit OOB, it will be replyed from the tee ground as the player's 3rd shot.
Provisional ball
A provisional is played when a player thinks they may not find their first ball. This is played as a backup and only becomes active if the first ball is not found. The main aim of a provisional is to speed up play which means the player won’t need to return to the place of the previous shot.
If the original golf ball is found, the provisional can be picked up and the player continues with the original ball. If it is not found, the provisional becomes active with a penalty stroke added for the lost ball.
Explaining handicaps
You may know many golfers talk about handicaps. We are giving you some beginner’s tips here but if you want to know more, check out our complete handicap guide!
Handicap index
A numeric identity of a player's ability. This will change as rounds are recorded
Playing handicap
A player’s handicap index is multiplied with the course rating to find an on-course playing handicap. This will equal the number subtracted from a player’s final score to achieve a nett score.
Stroke index
The stroke index is a rating of each hole on the course from hardest to easiest. It also signifies on which holes a player will get handicap shots. Stroke index 1 identifies the hole that is statistically the hardest, down to stroke index 18, typically the easiest.
For handicap purposes, a player will get a shot on every hole with a stoke index up to their playing handicap. If a player’s handicap is higher than 18, the extra shots are added to the hardest holes.
Example: A player with a 10 handicap will get 1shot back per hole from stroke index 1 to 10. A player with a playing handicap of 20 will get 2 shots back on stroke index 1 and 2, with 1 shot back on every other hole.
Other helpful golf terms...
"FORE"
FORE is the shout that you may hear on the course. It is arguably the most important term to know in golf as it signifies that a golf ball is heading towards another golfer. If you hit a shot where you didn’t want to and it is close to another player, make sure to shout fore to let them know!
Unplayable
There may be times out on the course where you can find your golf ball, but you can’t make a swing to hit it. When this happens a player can declare the golf ball unplayable and can move the ball two club lengths from the nearest point the shot is playable. This will mean a shot penalty but is sometimes the better option.
Gimme
If you are playing for fun, your playing partners may give you a putt if it is close enough to the hole that you wouldn’t miss it.
Local Rules
A local rule is one that is specific to the golf course you are playing. It can be an adaptation of a wider golf rule or something specific to the golf course design. They are normally found on the back of the scorecard. `
Preferred lies
Preferred lies often happen in winter months when there is likely to be less grass around. If your golf ball finishes on the fairway or mown grass, you are able to lift, clean and replace it within 6 inches of the original position without penalty.
Want to know more? Read our full guide to understanding preferred lies
Ready golf
Ready golf is a great way of keeping up the pace of play, rather than the traditional etiquette of the player that is furthest away playing next, ready golf means if you are ready to play, you can, regardless of honours or distances.
You're now ready to golf!
You've now expanded your golfing knowledge and you're ready to head out and hit the course! Grab your clubs and head to the tee full of confidence and terms to impress your friends.
