Golfbegriffe von A bis Z

19th Hole

The 19th hole is the joking name for the clubhouse or the bar where the round winds down.

19th Hole

The 19th hole is the tongue-in-cheek name for the clubhouse, or rather the club restaurant, after the round.

Acceptable Round

An acceptable round is a round played under the official conditions whose result flows into the calculation of your handicap index.

Ace

An ace is a shot straight from the tee into the hole — the German term for a hole-in-one.

Address

The address is the address position — the posture you take up to the ball before the shot.

Addressing the golf ball

Addressing the golf ball is the preparation for the shot in which you take your stance and set the clubhead down on the ground directly in front of or behind the ball.

Aeration

Aeration is the mechanical ventilation of the soil on greens and fairways, in which small holes are punched into the turf.

Air balls

Air balls are outdated golf balls with a hollow core in which trapped air made the ball lighter and fly higher.

Air shot

An air shot is a swing with which you miss the ball completely — and it still counts as a stroke.

Air Shot

An air shot is a swing that misses the ball completely and still counts as a stroke.

Albatross

An albatross is three strokes under par on a hole.

Alignment

Alignment is the orientation of your body and the clubface towards the target.

All Square

All square means in match play that both sides have won the same number of holes and the match is therefore level.

Amateur

An amateur is a golfer who plays the sport without any intention of gain and adheres to the Rules of Amateur Status.

Approach

The approach is the shot intended to bring the ball onto the green — usually from the fairway or the rough.

Approach

The approach is the shot played toward the green.

Apron

The apron is the closely mown strip directly around the green, between the fairway and the actual putting surface.

Apron (Fringe)

The apron is the narrow, closely mown strip directly in front of the green.

Artificial Devices

Artificial devices are all objects and devices that could help you while playing and that, according to the rules of golf, do not belong to the permitted equipment.

ASG

ASG is the abbreviation for the Association Suisse de Golf, the Swiss golf federation.

Attachment

In the golf course context, an attachment is a working tool that is mounted on a vehicle and performs a specific maintenance task.

Back Nine

The back nine are the second nine holes of a golf round, holes 10 to 18.

Backspin

Backspin is the backwards spin that makes the ball stop or pull back on the green.

Backswing

The backswing is the first movement phase of the golf swing, in which you take the club up and away from the ball.

Backswing

The backswing is the backward swing — the movement with which you take the club back.

Bag Tag

The bag tag is an attachment on the golf bag that identifies you as a member or guest of a club.

Balata

Balata is a rubber-like natural substance that formerly served as the cover for golf balls.

Balk

A balk is the deliberate stopping of a started swing before the club reaches the ball.

Ball

The ball is the playing equipment of golf — conforming balls weigh at most 45.93 grams and measure at least 42.67 millimetres in diameter.

Ball Flights

Ball flights describe the path the ball takes through the air — height, direction and sideways bend.

Ball target line

The ball target line is the imaginary line from the ball to the target on which the ball is to fly or roll.

Ballooning

Ballooning is a ball flight that shoots steeply upward and therefore loses a lot of distance.

Baseball grip

The baseball grip is a grip style in which all ten fingers hold the club, without interlocking or overlap.

Bending

Bending is the deliberate bending of clubheads to adapt loft and lie to the player.

Bent grass

Bent, also known as bentgrass, is a fine-leaved grass species from which many high-quality greens are built.

Bib

A bib is the vest a caddie wears over their clothing so that they are recognisable on the course.

Big Bertha

Big Bertha is a well-known club series from the manufacturer Callaway that stands for large, forgiving clubheads.

Birdie

A birdie is one stroke under par on a hole.

Birdie Book

A birdie book is a small booklet with overview plans of all the holes on a golf course.

Birdie Maker

In golf, birdie maker is jokingly a putter or a player who makes many birdies.

Bite

Bite describes the moment when a ball lands on the green with a lot of backspin and stops almost dead.

Blade

Blade denotes a classic iron design with a compact, solid head — colloquially also a thinly struck shot with the leading edge of the club.

Blind Hole

A blind hole is a hole where you cannot see the target — green or flag — from the position of your ball.

Blue Post

The blue post is a course marking whose meaning each facility defines by local rule — in the rulebook the colour blue is not uniformly defined.

Bogey

A bogey is one stroke over par on a hole.

Bounce

Bounce is the angle between the leading edge and the sole of a club — it prevents the club from digging into sand or soft ground.

Brand-name golf

Brand-name golf refers to playing with equipment from well-known manufacturers — brand-name clubs and brand-name balls instead of no-name gear.

Break

The break is the sideways deviation a putt takes on its way to the hole due to the slope of the green.

Briefing

The briefing is the address by the committee before a competition in which players are informed about rules, course conditions and particularities.

Budget Golf

Budget golf means playing golf on a small budget — cheap green fees, used equipment and public courses instead of premium facilities.

Buffer Zone

The buffer zone is the score range in the handicap system in which your handicap stays unchanged.

Buggy

A buggy is a small, usually electric vehicle with which you move yourself and your bag around the golf course.

Bulge

Bulge is the horizontal curvature of the clubface on woods — it steers balls struck off-centre back towards the target line.

Bump and Run

A bump and run is an approach shot in which the ball flies briefly and then rolls a long way across the green towards the hole.

Bunker

The bunker is the sand hazard on the course.

Bunker Shot

The bunker shot is the shot from the sand in which you move the ball out of the bunker together with a portion of sand.

Buried Lie

A buried lie describes a ball embedded deep in sand or soft ground that has almost completely sunk in.

Butt

The butt is the upper end of the shaft — the thick end that disappears into the grip.

Caddie

A caddie is the person who carries your bag and advises you during the round.

Carry

Carry is the pure flight distance of the ball from the strike to first landing — without any roll.

Cart

A cart is a motorised golf vehicle for the round.

Casual Water

Casual water is temporary water on the course that gives you relief without penalty — in the current rules it is called "temporary water".

Cavity Back

Cavity back refers to an iron with a hollowed-out back — the weight sits at the perimeter of the clubhead and forgives mishits.

Championship Course

A championship course is a golf course that meets the requirements for official tournaments and championships.

Chip

The chip is the short approach shot with little flight and plenty of roll.

Chip In

A chip in is a holed chip from off the green.

Chip Putt

The chip putt is a short approach shot around the green in which the ball, after a short flight, rolls across the green like a putt.

Chip Putt Practice Area

A chip putt practice area is a practice facility for the short game with a chipping area and putting green.

Chipping Area

The chipping area is the practice area around a practice green where you train chips and short approach shots.

Chunk

A chunk, said jokingly, is a missed stroke in which the club strikes the ground before the ball and the ball only hops a few metres.

Club

In golf, a club is the association that operates a facility and organizes its members — but it can also refer to the club you swing.

Club Championship

The club championship is the most important internal tournament of a golf club, in which the club champions of the year are determined.

Club Fitting

Club fitting is the professional adjustment of your clubs to body measurements, swing and skill level.

Club Fitting

Club fitting is the individual adjustment of your golf clubs to your body measurements, swing and playing ability.

Club Head

The club head is the massive part of the golf club that strikes the ball.

Club Length

Club length is the total length of a golf club from the end of the grip to the sole of the clubhead.

Club Loft

Club loft is the angle at which the clubface of a club is tilted backwards.

Club Manufacturer

A club manufacturer is a company that develops, produces and sells golf clubs.

Club-free / VcG

You are club-free if you play golf but have no home club.

Clubface

The clubface is the flat, slightly angled front of the clubhead that strikes the ball.

Clubface

The clubface is the striking surface of the club — the area that strikes the ball and determines its direction.

Clubface

The clubface is the face of the golf club, that is, the side of the clubhead with which you strike the ball.

Clubhead

The clubhead is the head of the club — the end of the club with which you strike the ball.

Clubhead Speed

Clubhead speed is the speed at which the clubhead moves at the moment it strikes the ball.

Clubhouse

The clubhouse is the central building of a golf facility with the club office, restaurant, changing rooms and pro shop.

Competition

A competition is an officially announced round of golf that is scored according to the Rules of Golf and fixed competition conditions.

Composite Shafts

Composite shafts are golf shafts made of composite material, usually carbon, which have replaced steel in many clubs.

Compression

Compression describes how strongly a golf ball deforms at the moment of impact — as a physical process and as a rating of the ball.

Conceding

Conceding means giving your opponent a putt in match play — the ball is deemed holed without being played.

Concession

A conceded putt in match play is a putt that the opponent accepts from you as holed without you playing it.

CONGU System

The CONGU system is the unified handicap system of the national golf unions of Great Britain and Ireland.

COR

COR is the coefficient of restitution of the clubhead, a measure of how efficiently the clubface transfers energy to the ball.

Course

The course is the golf facility with its holes on which you play your round.

Course

Course is the English word for the golf course, meaning the entire playing facility with its holes.

Course certificate

The course certificate is the qualification to play a golf course on your own.

Course Condition

Course condition describes the maintenance and quality state of a golf facility.

Course Handicap

The course handicap is your personal stroke allowance on a specific course, calculated from handicap index, slope and course rating.

course maintenance

Course maintenance covers all greenkeeping work that keeps the course healthy and playable.

Course Protection

Course protection is the targeted relief of the golf course through measures that protect turf and soil from excessive wear.

Course Rating

The course rating is the difficulty value of a course for a scratch player, expressed as the expected number of strokes.

Course Record

The course record is the lowest round ever played on a golf course.

CR Value

The CR value (Course Rating) is the difficulty rating of a golf course for a scratch player, expressed in strokes.

Cross Golf

Cross golf is a casual golf variant away from the regular course, played in parks, on meadows or in the city.

Cross Handed

Cross handed is a grip in which the normally top hand sits below the other hand — almost exclusively used when putting.

Cup

The cup is the hole in the green into which the ball must be holed — colloquially also the word for the flagstick.

Cup Liner

The cup liner is the insert made of plastic or metal that shapes the hole in the green and stabilises its walls.

Custom Fitting

Custom fitting is the individual adjustment of your golf clubs to your body measurements, swing and playing ability.

Cut

The cut is the qualification line in a stroke play tournament, above which only the best players advance to the remaining rounds.

Cut Shot

The cut shot is a controlled shot whose ball curves gently from left to right — the tame sister of the slice.

Dead

Your ball lies dead when it is so close to the flag that you hole it safely with your next stroke.

Dimple

Dimples are the small indentations on the surface of the golf ball that give it lift and a stable flight.

Divot

A divot is the piece of turf your club lifts out of the ground.

DnD Course

A DnD course is a golf course concept with nine fairways but eighteen greens, in which each hole is played differently over two rounds.

Dogleg

A dogleg is a hole with a pronounced bend in direction.

Dormie

In match play you are dormie when you lead by exactly as many holes as remain to be played.

Double bogey

A double bogey is two strokes over par on a hole.

Double Bogey

A double bogey is two strokes over par on a hole.

Down

Down, in match play, is the number of holes by which you trail your opponent.

Downswing

The downswing is the part of the golf swing from the point at the top to the moment of impact with the ball.

Draw

A draw is a controlled ball flight that, for a right-handed player, bends gently through the air from right to left.

Draw / Fade

Draw and fade are deliberate ball flight curves.

Dress Code

The dress code is the binding rule of a golf club for appropriate clothing on the course and in the clubhouse.

Drive

The drive is the tee shot played with the driver — the longest shot on the hole.

Driver

The driver is the longest club in the bag — for the tee shot on long holes.

Driving Distance

Driving distance is the length of your tee shot, measured from the tee to the spot where the ball comes to rest.

Driving Iron

A driving iron is a long iron with little loft that you use mainly from the tee for flat, controlled shots.

Driving Range

The driving range is the practice area where you hit balls.

Dropping

Dropping is the rule-compliant way of releasing the ball to put it back in play after relief or a penalty stroke.

Dropping Zone

A dropping zone is a marked area on the course in which you drop your ball when a rule or local rule provides for it.

Dual Wedge

A dual wedge is a wedge with a sole you can use in two ways, equally suited to bunkers and fairway.

Eagle

An eagle is two strokes under par on a hole.

EDS

EDS stands for Extra Day Score — a handicap-counting round you play outside a tournament.

Eisenhower Tree

The Eisenhower Tree was a famous pine on the 17th hole of Augusta National, named after US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Entrant

An entrant is a golfer who registers for a competition or a membership.

Equipment

Equipment includes everything you need to play golf: clubs, balls, bag and accessories.

Even

Even in golf means "level" — in stroke play exactly at par level, in match play a tied match between the sides.

Even Par

Even par is scoring exactly on par — on a par-72 course, then, exactly 72 strokes for a round.

Explosion Shot

The explosion shot is the shot from the sand bunker in which you strike the sand underneath the ball, letting it "explode" out of the lie.

Extra Holes

Extra holes are the additional holes played when there is a tie after the regular round, to determine a winner.

Face Angle

Face angle describes the direction in which the clubface points at the moment of impact.

Fade

The fade is a deliberately played ball flight in which the ball curves slightly from left to right for a right-handed player.

Fairway

The fairway is the closely mown playing corridor between the tee and the green.

Fairway Bunker

The fairway bunker is a sand bunker lying at the side or in the middle of the fairway that mainly endangers the tee shot or the long shot.

Fat Shot

A fat shot is a shot in which the club strikes the ground behind the ball first and therefore loses a lot of energy.

Feedback

Feedback is the response that club and ball give you about the strike through hands, arms and body.

Fellow Competitors

Fellow competitors are the golfers you play a round together with in one group.

Ferrules

Ferrules are the small rings at the transition between shaft and clubhead that finish the joint cleanly.

Fertiliser

Fertiliser is the nutrient with which the greenkeeping team keeps the grasses of the golf course healthy and resilient.

Fett

Fett is a shot in which the club strikes the ground before the ball and the ball therefore flies much too short.

Final Round

The final round is the last round of a competition in which victory and placings are decided.

Finish

The finish is the end position of the golf swing in which you swing out after striking the ball.

Flag

The flag is the pennant at the hole that shows you from a distance exactly where on the green the hole is cut.

Flag

The flag is the marker at the hole that shows you from a distance where the hole is positioned on the green.

Flag (Pin)

The flag marks the position of the hole on the green.

Flex

Flex describes how strongly the shaft of a club bends during the swing.

Flexpoint

The flexpoint is the point on the shaft where it bends the most during the swing.

Flight

A flight is the group of players out on the course together — two to four players are usual.

Flight Partners

Flight partners are the fellow players with whom you walk the round together in a flight.

Follow-Through

The follow-through is the swing phase after impact in which the club carries the ball towards the target and winds down.

Fore Caddie

A fore caddie is a person who goes ahead of the group, watches the struck balls and marks their position.

Fore Caddie

A fore caddie is a caddie who walks ahead of a whole group and keeps an eye on the balls.

Fore!

"Fore!" is the warning shout when a ball is flying towards other people.

Forward Press

The forward press is a small forward movement of the hands toward the target immediately before the swing.

Fourball

The fourball is a competition format in which two players compete as a team and each plays their own ball.

Fourball

The fourball is the team format of play in which everyone plays their own ball through and per hole only the better result counts.

Foursome

The foursome is the team format of play with only one ball, which both partners hit alternately.

Foursomes

Foursomes is the competition form in which two partners play the same ball alternately.

Free Drop

The free drop is the penalty-free dropping of the ball when a rule grants you relief from an interfering situation.

Free Drop

The free drop is the penalty-free lifting and dropping of the ball from an interfering situation.

Fringe

The fringe is the narrow ring of grass around the green, cut between green and fairway height.

Front Nine

The front nine are the first nine holes of an 18-hole round.

Gambling

Gambling is the colloquial term for playing for money among golfers.

Gap Wedge

The gap wedge is a wedge that closes the distance gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.

Gimme

A gimme is a putt that is conceded to you in match play because it is considered safely holed.

Ginty

The Ginty is a classic utility wood regarded as the forerunner of the modern hybrid clubs.

Girlie

Girlie is a colloquial, outdated joking term for a tee shot that does not fly past the ladies' tee marker.

Given

Given is a conceded stroke — a putt that your opponent grants you in match play without you having to play it.

Glow Balls

Glow balls are golf balls with an integrated light element for playing in the dark.

Golf Academy

A golf academy is the training and education facility of a golf club or golf facility.

Golf classes

Golf classes are organized training programs in which you learn golf or specifically improve your game.

Golf club test

A golf club test is the systematic comparison of clubs — in specialist magazines, on the internet or in your own trial swing.

Golf Course

Golf Course is the English term for the golf course — the entire playing facility with its holes.

Golf guide

A golf guide is a directory of golf courses — printed as a book or online as a database — with descriptions, contact details and key data of the facilities.

Golf ID Card

The golf ID card is the proof of your playing eligibility — it documents your course certificate and your handicap to other facilities.

Golf import

Golf import refers to dealers and brand names in the golf trade that focus on imported golf products — from clubs to accessories.

Golf info

Golf info is the collective term for all information about the sport of golf — from rules and technique to equipment and course search.

Golf instructor

The golf instructor is the trained coach who teaches you the golf swing and the game on the course.

Golf on a Budget

Golf on a budget stands for the idea of playing golf even with a small budget.

Golf portal

A golf portal is an online platform that bundles information, services and data around the sport of golf.

Golf shop

The golf shop is the specialist store for golf equipment — from the pro shop at the club to the specialized retailer.

Golf Shopping

Golf shopping means buying golf equipment and clothing — from specialist retailers, at the pro shop or online.

Golf Trolley

The golf trolley is the pull or push cart on which you transport your golf bag during the round.

Golf24

Golf24 is the brand name of a German online shop for golf equipment.

Golfde

Golf.de is the official website of the German Golf Association and thus the central online point of contact for golfers in Germany.

Golfdiscount

Golfdiscount is a well-known name in German golf mail order — and as a term it at the same time stands for the whole segment of budget-conscious online golf shops.

Golfexport

Golfexport is a company name under which golf mail-order retailers have operated in the German-speaking region — as a term it stands for the mail-order segment of the golf market.

Golfexpress

Golfexpress is a typical brand name in golf mail order — the "Express" in the name signals fast shipping and uncomplicated ordering.

Golfinfo

Golfinfo is the name of well-known golf portals in the German-speaking region — in particular the Austrian portal — with a course database, tee time info and news about golf.

Green

The green is the area with the hole — this is where you putt.

Green fee

The green fee is the fee you pay as a guest for a round — per person.

Green Reading

Green reading is recognising slope, grass growth and speed in order to determine the correct putting line.

Gross

Gross is your result without deduction of your course handicap — the purely counted strokes.

Ground Under Repair

Ground under repair is a defined area of the course that must not be played from and from which you get relief without penalty.

Grounding

Grounding is touching the ground or sand with the club before the shot — allowed in some situations, penalised in others.

Grounding the club

Grounding the club is setting the clubhead down on the ground directly behind or beside the ball before the shot.

Guest Player

A guest player is a golfer who plays at a facility without being a member there.

Hacker

In golf jargon, a hacker is an inexperienced player with a high score.

Half Stroke

A half stroke is the shared count that both parties receive in match play for a drawn hole.

Halfway House

The halfway house is a refreshment stop at the halfway point of the golf round, usually between holes 9 and 10.

Halved

In match play, halved refers to a hole or an entire match that both sides finish with the same result.

Handicap

The handicap is the number of strokes you are entitled to on a particular course to level out playing strength.

Handicap

The handicap is the allowance number that expresses your playing ability and makes golfers of different levels comparable.

Handicap (Handicap Index)

The Handicap Index is your playing ability number in the World Handicap System.

Handicap calculation

The handicap calculation is the score-based assessment of the rounds you play, from which your handicap results.

Handicap Change

A handicap change is the adjustment of your handicap index after a scored round.

Handicap Classes

Handicap classes were the categories into which golfers were once classified according to the level of their handicap.

Handicap Classes

Handicap classes were the former tiers for classifying playing ability in the German handicap system.

Handicap Conversion

Handicap conversion is the conversion of your handicap index into the course handicap for a specific course and set of tees.

Handicap Hunter

A handicap hunter is a golfer who deliberately presents their playing ability as worse in order to win net competitions with an allowance that is too high.

Handicap Protector

A handicap protector is a golfer who protects his good handicap by avoiding handicap-relevant rounds or playing them tactically.

Hazard

Hazard is the old collective term for the built-in difficulties of the course, above all bunkers and water areas.

Head Pro

The head pro is the lead golf instructor and sports manager of a club.

Heel

The heel is the heel of the clubhead — the part of the clubface closest to the shaft.

Hickory

Hickory is the classic hardwood of the early golf shafts and today stands for historical golf.

Hole

The hole is the target on the green, around 108 millimetres in size, into which you play the ball.

Hole

The hole is the opening in the green — exactly 108 millimeters in diameter — and at the same time the term for every hole played.

Hole in One

A hole in one is a hole with only one stroke.

Hole index

The hole index is the difficulty ranking of a course's 18 holes as it appears on the scorecard.

Hole length

Hole length is the distance of a hole from the tee to the middle of the green, measured along the intended line of play.

Holed

A ball is holed when it is at rest in the hole and lies entirely below the rim of the hole.

Honour

The honour is the right to tee off first at the next hole — it belongs to the player with the best score on the previous hole.

Hook

The hook is the unwanted ball curve that bends strongly to the left for right-handers.

Hosel

The hosel is the part of the clubhead into which the shaft is inserted.

Hybrid

The hybrid is the blend of wood and iron — the forgiving club in the bag.

Identification

Identification is the rule-compliant proof that a found ball really is yours.

Impact

The moment of impact is the moment the clubface touches the ball.

Inch

The inch is the imperial unit of length with which many standard measurements in golf are defined.

Indoor Golf

Indoor golf is playing golf indoors, usually on simulators or in practice halls.

Insert

An insert is the inlay in the face of a club, usually on a putter.

Interlocking Grip

The interlocking grip is a type of grip where the little finger of the lower hand interlocks with the index finger of the upper hand.

Intermediate Target

An intermediate target is a nearby reference point on the target line that makes aiming easier for you.

Iron

Iron is the English word for the German "Eisen" and denotes the group of clubs with flat metal heads and numbered lofts.

Iron

Irons are the clubs for the middle distances between the drive and the short game.

Island Green

An island green is a green that is completely surrounded by water.

Kick Point

The kick point is the place on the shaft where the shaft bends most during the swing.

Knickerbockers

Knickerbockers are knee-length baggy trousers and the classic image of historical golf clothing.

Lady

Lady is an older English term for the female golfer and today lives on above all in the name for ladies' versions of clubs and equipment.

Lady

A "Lady" is the colloquial term for a botched tee shot in which the ball does not even fly over the line of the frontmost tee.

Lake Balls

Lake balls are used golf balls that are recovered from water hazards, cleaned and sorted, and sold again.

Landing Zone

The landing zone is the area where your ball is supposed to land after the shot.

Leaderboard

The leaderboard is the scoreboard on which the scores of a tournament are continuously updated during the round.

Leading Edge

The leading edge is the lower front edge of the clubhead — the edge that touches the ball or the ground first at the moment of impact.

Left-hander

A left-hander plays the golf swing mirrored — standing right of the ball and swinging the club towards the left.

Lie

The lie describes how your ball is sitting on the course — on a club, the term means the angle between shaft and sole.

Lie

The lie describes how your ball rests on the ground and how well you can play it from there.

Lift

Lift is the physical force that keeps the golf ball in the air through its backspin and surface structure and carries its flight path.

Links

A links is a golf course on the coast on sandy soil — the oldest and most original course type in the sport of golf.

Lip-out

A lip-out means the putt touches the edge of the hole but does not drop in.

Liquid Core Balls

Liquid-core balls are golf balls whose core consists of a liquid-filled sphere around which rubber thread is wound.

Lob Shot

The lob shot is a very high, short approach shot that climbs steeply and lands softly on the green.

Local Rules

Local rules are the local rules of a facility that supplement the general Rules of Golf for the respective course.

Loft

Loft is the tilt angle of the clubface — it determines how high and how far the ball flies.

Long Game

The long game comprises all full swings from the tee and from the ground — drive, woods and long irons.

Long hitter

A long hitter is a golfer who hits the ball significantly farther than average.

Longest Drive

The longest drive is the special competition at tournaments for the longest tee shot on a designated hole.

Loose impediments

Loose impediments are movable natural objects such as leaves, stones, branches or tufts of grass that you may remove without penalty.

Loose Impediments

Loose impediments in golf are the loose natural objects on the course that are in your way and that you may remove.

Lost Ball

A lost ball is a ball that is not found within three minutes of the start of the search.

Low Handicapper

A low handicapper is a golfer with a low handicap, usually in the single digits.

LPGA

The LPGA is the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the governing body and professional tour of women golfers.

Majors

The majors are the four most important tournaments in professional men's golf.

Marker

The marker is the person who records and confirms your strokes on the scorecard in a handicap-relevant round — colloquially, the small stroke counter on the bag is also called this.

Marker

The marker is the fellow player who records and confirms your strokes on the scorecard in a competition.

Marking

Marking is marking the ball's position on the green with a small flat object before you lift the ball.

Marshal

The marshal is the supervisor on the golf course who looks after pace of play, order and etiquette.

Match

A match in golf is the hole-by-hole contest — the winner is whoever decides the most holes for themselves.

Match play

Match play is the format of play in which every single hole is its own duel.

Matchplay

Matchplay is the English term for match play.

Monthly Cup

The Monthly Cup is a regular club tournament, usually held once a month.

Mulligan

A mulligan is an unofficial replayed shot, usually after a botched tee shot — it is not permitted under the rules.

Municipal Course

A Municipal Course is a public golf course in municipal ownership, usually with no membership requirement.

Muscle Back

Muscle Back refers to a design of irons with a full, solid back behind the clubface.

Muscle Memory

Muscle memory is the body's ability to automate movement patterns through repetition.

Muscle Twitch

Muscle twitch is an involuntary twitching of the hand and forearm muscles that in golf occurs mainly when putting.

My Golf Outlet

My Golf Outlet is a provider name under which golf equipment is sold at reduced prices — an outlet for everything to do with golf.

Nap

Nap refers to the direction of grass growth on the green, which can accelerate, slow down or pull the putted ball sideways.

Nature Conservation

Nature conservation on the golf course refers to the protection of plants, animals and habitats on and around the golf facility.

Nearest to Pin

Nearest to Pin is a side competition in a tournament, won by the player whose ball comes to rest closest to the flag.

Net

Net is your result after deduction of your course handicap.

Net Scoring

Net scoring is the tournament scoring in which your handicap is deducted from the strokes played.

No Return

No Return (abbreviated N.R.) means forgoing the scoring of a round or a hole, which you note on your scorecard.

Observer

An observer is a person appointed by the committee who follows what happens on the course and reports facts to the referees without making rule decisions themselves.

Obstruction

An obstruction is an artificial object on the course for which, depending on its type, you get relief without penalty.

Offset Club

An offset club is a golf club whose clubface is set back behind the shaft axis.

ÖGV

The ÖGV is the Austrian Golf Association, the umbrella organisation of organised golf in Austria.

Olympics

Olympics in golf refers to the sport's return to the Olympic Games — since 2016 golf has been an Olympic sport again after a break of more than a hundred years.

One Putt

A one putt is a hole that you finish with only a single putt.

Open

An open is an open golf tournament — a competition that is fundamentally open to all players who meet the entry conditions.

Open Tournaments

Open tournaments are competitions that golfers may enter even without membership of the host club.

Operating company

The operating company is the company that runs a golf course as a business and is responsible for its day-to-day operation.

Order of Merit

The order of merit is the season ranking of a professional tour — it ranks the players by prize money earned or points collected over the whole year.

Out

Out refers to the first nine holes of a round of golf — the half on which you play "out" from the clubhouse.

Out Nine

The out nine are the first nine holes of a golf course — holes 1 to 9, the half of the round on the way out.

Out of bounds

Out of bounds is the area beyond the course boundary where the ball may no longer be played.

Out of Bounds

Out of bounds is the area outside the course boundary in which your ball must not be played.

Out of Bounds

Out of bounds is the area outside the course — a ball there no longer counts.

Oversize

Oversize refers to clubs with an above-average large club head — built for more forgiveness.

Pace of Play

Pace of play is the speed at which your group completes the round.

Pacing

Pacing is the measuring of distances on the course by counting your steps.

Par

Par is the predetermined number of strokes for a hole or the entire course.

Par Round

A par round is a round of golf in which you play exactly par in total across all holes.

Pay & Play

Pay & Play means: you pay per round and do not have to be a club member.

PE

PE is the common abbreviation for Platzerlaubnis (course permission) — the official playing eligibility for a golf course.

Penalty

Penalty is the English word for a punishment — in golf usually the penalty stroke added to your score.

Penalty Stroke

The penalty stroke is the stroke added to your score for a breach of the rules.

Perimeter Weighting

Perimeter weighting is the shifting of weight to the edge of the club head — for a larger hitting area and more stability on mishits.

Persimmon

Persimmon is the hardwood from which the heads of woods were made until the 1980s.

PGA

The PGA is the professional association of golf pros — in many countries at the same time a training body, tournament organizer and representative of interests.

Pin

The pin is the flagstick in the hole — the marker you aim at on the green.

Pin High

Pin high means your ball comes to rest level with the flag — the distance is right, only the line is not.

Pin Position

Pin position is the spot on the green where the hole is placed for the day.

Pin Position

The pin position is the spot on the green where the hole is cut on this day.

Pitch

The pitch is the high approach shot over a hazard or onto the green.

Pitch Mark

A pitch mark is the indentation your ball leaves when it lands on the green.

pitch shot

The pitch shot is the high approach shot from a short distance that lands steeply and stops with little roll.

Pitching Green

The pitching green is the practice area for short, high approach shots from ten to fifty metres.

Play-off

A play-off is the tiebreaker used to decide a tournament when scores are tied after the final round.

Playing Eligibility

Playing eligibility is the permission that allows you to play a round on a golf course.

Playing Over Your Handicap

Playing over your handicap means you play worse than your handicap allows — you need more strokes than expected.

playing pro

A playing pro is a golf professional who earns his money primarily by playing tournaments.

Playing Through

Playing through means that a faster group passes the slower group and the order of groups on the course changes.

Playing Under Your Handicap

Playing under your handicap means you play better than your handicap allows — you need fewer strokes than expected.

Plus Handicap

A plus handicap is a handicap better than zero — the player must add strokes to their score instead of subtracting them.

Pop-up

A pop-up is a golf shot with an extremely high, steep ball flight and hardly any distance.

Pot Bunker

A pot bunker is a small, deep sand bunker with steep walls whose shape is reminiscent of a pot.

Pot Bunker

A pot bunker is a small, deep bunker with steep walls — the classic pot trap on links courses.

Practice Swing

The practice swing is the swing without a ball directly before the actual shot.

Preferred lies

Preferred lies is the penalty-free lifting and replacing of the ball at an improved spot when a local rule or the committee expressly allows it.

preshot routine

The preshot routine is the fixed, always identical sequence of thoughts and movements before every shot.

Private Round

A private round is a round of golf outside of tournaments — simply you, your playing partners and the course.

prize money

Prize money is the money that professionals are paid at a tournament for their placement.

pro

A pro is a golf teacher or professional player who earns a living from golf.

Pro-Am

A Pro-Am is a tournament in which a pro plays in a team together with amateurs.

Proette

A proette is a female golf teacher or professional player, in other words the female form of the pro.

Provisional Ball

The provisional ball is your replacement ball when the first one may be lost or out of bounds.

Public Course

A public course is an open golf course that you can play without club membership by paying a green fee.

Public Golf Course

A public golf course is a facility that anyone can play for a fee, without club membership.

Pull

A pull is a mishit where the ball starts straight left of the target and stays on that line.

Punch

The punch is the low, controlled shot played under wind or through tree canopies.

Punch Shot

A punch shot is a deliberately low shot with which you control the ball under wind or obstacles.

Push

A push is a ball flight that starts straight to the right of the target and holds that direction without any significant curve — for right-handed players.

Putt

The putt is the stroke on the green in which the ball rolls instead of flying.

Putter

The putter is the club for the green — a flat face, straight ball contact.

Putting

Putting is rolling the ball across the green towards the hole — the stroke with the putter that decides the round.

Putting Green

The putting green is the practice area with holes where you work on your putting before and after the round.

Putting Line

The putting line is the imaginary path along which your ball should roll across the green into the hole.

Qualifying School

The Qualifying School is the multi-stage tournament series through which professional golfers play their way to playing eligibility on a professional tour.

Quit

Quit means giving up a hole in match play — you concede it to your opponent without the hole being played out.

Rabbit

Rabbit is a colloquial term for a golfer who rushes very quickly, and often hectically, around the course.

Rain

Rain is the weather condition that changes the game, the course conditions and partly the rules on the golf course.

Rake

The rake is the tool you use to remove your marks from the bunker.

Rake

The rake is the raking tool with which you smooth out your marks in the bunker after the shot.

Range

Range is the short form of driving range, the practice area at a golf facility.

Range Fee

The range fee is the charge for using the practice facilities, above all the driving range.

Ranger

The ranger is a course supervisor who drives around the facility keeping an eye on order, safety and pace of play.

Ranking

The ranking orders golfers by their performance, from club level up to the world rankings.

Ready Golf

Ready Golf means: play as soon as you are ready — not strictly in turn.

Recovery

The recovery shot is the deliberate rescue shot that gets you out of trouble and back into play.

Red Stakes

Red stakes mark a penalty area, usually a lateral water hazard, from which you can take relief for a penalty stroke.

Relief

Relief is the rulebook's umbrella term for situations in which you free your ball from an interfering lie without penalty or for one penalty stroke.

Rest Area

A rest area is a marked-off area on the golf course that you as a player must not enter so that it can recover or stay protected.

Retained Honour

Retained honour means that the honour at the tee stays with the player who won the previous hole — when the hole is halved.

Rhythm

Rhythm is the even timing of your swing, which ensures repeatability and clean contact.

Rim Out

A Rim Out is a putt that circles the lip of the hole and jumps back out.

Roll

Roll is the distance the ball keeps rolling after landing — together with the carry it makes up your total length.

Rookie

A rookie is a newcomer — in golf both the absolute beginner and the professional in their first tour year.

Rough

The rough is the tall grass beyond the fairways.

Round

A round is the play over the full sequence of holes of a course, classically 18 holes, often also 9.

Royal and Ancient

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is the Scottish traditional club from which the worldwide rules authority The R&A emerged.

Rules Evening

A rules evening is an event at the golf club where members learn or brush up on the rules of golf.

Rules Official

The rules official is the rules referee who decides rules questions on the course during competitions.

Runner-Up

The Runner-Up is the second-placed player of a tournament, i.e. the loser of the final or the player behind the winner.

Sand Bunker

A sand bunker is a sand-filled depression in the course that, as a hazard, defends fairways and greens.

Sand Hazard

Sandhindernis is the older German term for the bunker — a sand-filled hazard on the course.

Sand Par

A Sand Par is a par on a hole on which your ball lay in a bunker along the way.

Sand Save

The Sand Save is the statistic of how often you still finish the hole with par or better after a bunker shot.

Score

Your score is your result on a hole or over the whole round — quite simply the number of strokes you take.

Scorecard

The scorecard is the sheet on which you record your strokes per hole.

Scramble

Scramble is the team format of play in which you always play on from the best ball.

Scrambling

Scrambling is the art of getting out of the hole with par or better despite a missed green.

Scratch Golfer

A scratch golfer is a player with a handicap of 0 — on average they play the course exactly at par level.

Screen Golf

Screen golf is golf at a simulator — you hit real balls into a screen while sensors measure the ball flight and put a virtual course onto the screen.

Seamless

On the golf ball, seamless describes a surface without a visible mold seam — and generally any construction that gets by without an obtrusive seam.

Semi-Rough

The semi-rough is the transitional vegetation between fairway and deep rough — a strip of medium-length grass that makes the ball harder to play but does not punish you like the deep rough does.

Senior

In golf, senior denotes the age class of older players, usually from 50 or 55 years of age.

Set of Clubs

The set of clubs is the entirety of the clubs in your bag — your complete set of golf clubs.

Set-Up

The set-up is your basic position before the stroke: stance, alignment, ball position and posture.

Shaft

The shaft is the connecting piece between grip and club head — it transfers your swing to the ball.

Shag Bag

A shag bag is a bag with a built-in pickup device for collecting and carrying practice balls.

Shank

The shank is the mishit off the hosel — the point where the shaft joins the clubhead.

Shanking

Shanking describes the strike with the shaft neck of the club, in which the ball bounces off almost at a right angle to the right.

Short Course

A short course is a golf facility with only short holes, usually par-3 holes, often with 6 or 9 holes instead of 18.

Short Game

The short game is the play around the green: chipping, pitching, bunker shots and putting.

Short Game

The short game comprises all shots around the green and from short distance — chip, pitch, bunker shot and putt.

Short Iron

The short irons — in German kurze Eisen — are the 8 iron and 9 iron plus the pitching wedge in the set of clubs.

Short Irons

The short irons are the 7 to 9 irons, often including the pitching wedge — the clubs for short distances and precise approach to the green.

Shorty

A shorty is colloquially a very short putt that, from close range, appears almost impossible to miss.

Shot

A shot in golf is simply a stroke — the umbrella term for every ball strike from the tee shot to the putt.

Shotgun start

The shotgun start lets all flights begin at the same time on different holes.

Shotgun Start

The shotgun start is a starting format in which all groups begin simultaneously on different holes of the course.

Side Bet

A side bet is a side competition that runs parallel to the actual competition.

Sidehill Lie

The sidehill lie is a slope position in which the ball lies higher or lower than your feet or the slope points uphill or downhill.

Sides and Forms of Competition

Sides and forms of competition are the various formats of play in which golfers compete against each other.

Simple Golf

Simple golf stands for the uncomplicated way of playing golf — without membership, without tournament pressure, without high barriers to entry.

Single Figures

Single figures in golf means: a handicap under 10, i.e. a single-digit handicap index.

Single Handicap

Single handicap means a single-digit handicap — that is, a playing level below 10.

Skins Game

A skins game is a competition format in which each hole has its own value and the best player on that hole wins this "skin".

Sleeve

A sleeve is the small packaging unit for golf balls — three balls in a transparent wrapper.

Slice

The slice is the unwanted ball curve that flies strongly to the right for right-handers.

Slope Rating

The slope rating measures how much harder a course is for an average golfer compared with a very good player.

Sloping Lie

A sloping lie means your ball lies on an incline and your feet and the ball are at different levels.

Snow Mold

Snow mold is a fungal disease of turf that develops mainly under long-lasting snow cover and damages greens and fairways.

Socket

A socket is the dreaded mishit in which the ball is struck with the hosel — the neck of the shaft — instead of the clubface.

Sole

The sole is the underside of the clubhead — the surface along which the club glides over the ground.

Special Competition

A special competition is an additional award within a tournament that is given independently of the overall result.

Specialty Shot

A specialty shot is any shot played deliberately outside the normal flight pattern — for example especially flat, especially high or with a planned curve.

Speedgolf

Speedgolf is a format of play in which your result is made up of stroke count and running time.

Spin

Spin is the rotation you give the ball at impact — it determines how the ball flies, curves and reacts on the green.

Stableford

Stableford is a scoring format in which you collect points instead of strokes per hole.

Stroke

A stroke is any forward movement of the club with the intention of striking the ball — it counts even when you miss the ball.

Stroke play

Stroke play is the format of play in which all strokes of the round are added together.

Support

Support is any physical help or shielding that gives you an advantage during the stroke — and it is against the rules during the stroke.

Suspension

A suspension is the stopping of play — due to weather, darkness or an order from the committee.

Swing

The swing is the overall movement with which you take the club from addressing the ball to the finish.

Swing Path

The swing path is the route the clubhead travels during the swing — it decides the curve of the ball's flight.

Swing Plane

The swing plane is the imagined slanted plane on which the club travels around your body during the golf swing.

Swing Speed

Swing speed is the tempo at which you move the club through impact — it is the most important factor in how far you hit the ball.

Swing Weight

Swing weight describes how heavy a golf club feels when you swing it — it is a ratio measure, not a reading from scales.

Tab In

A tab in, more commonly spelled tap-in, is a putt from the shortest distance that only needs to be tapped in.

Take Away

The takeaway is the first movement phase of the golf swing — drawing the club back from the address position.

Target Golf

Target golf is a training and play format in which you play at marked targets instead of holes.

Target Line

The target line is the imaginary line on which your ball should roll or fly towards the target.

Taster Course

A taster course is a non-binding introductory course in which you try out golf without any prior knowledge and usually without your own equipment.

Teaching Pro

A teaching pro is a qualified golf instructor who teaches golf technique as their main profession.

Tee

The tee is the small peg on which the ball is placed at the start of the hole — and at the same time the name for the teeing area itself.

Tee

The tee shot is the first stroke of a hole — and at the same time the marked-out starting area from which it is played.

Tee (accessory)

The tee is the small peg you place your ball on at the tee.

Tee (Teeing Ground)

The tee is the marked area from which you start each hole.

Tee markers

Tee markers are the two marks that delimit the area from which you must play your first stroke on a hole.

Tee Shot

The tee shot is your shot from the tee — the first shot on every hole.

Tee sign

The tee sign is the sign at the tee box that shows you the key data for the hole.

Tee time

The tee time is the fixed clock time at which your group starts from the first tee.

Tee time

The tee time is your reserved slot for the first tee shot.

Tee Time

The tee time is your reserved starting time for the round of golf.

Tee Up

Tee up means placing the ball on a tee to play the tee shot.

Teeing up

Teeing up is placing the ball on a small peg, the tee, at the start of a hole.

Temporary Water

Temporary water is water on the course that is only there temporarily, for example after rain — it is one of the abnormal course conditions and entitles you to free relief.

Ten-Finger Grip

The ten-finger grip is a grip style in which all ten fingers wrap around the grip of the club without the hands interlocking or overlapping.

Tending the flag

Tending the flag is the removal of the flagstick from the hole by a fellow player while you putt.

Tending the Flag

Tending the flag means holding, lifting out or putting back the flag for a fellow player while they play.

Texas Wedge

The Texas wedge is the putter you use from off the green.

Thin

A thin is a thin strike in which you catch the ball too high with the lower edge of the clubface.

Thin

A thin shot strikes the ball with the lower edge of the clubface above its middle — it flies flat, hot and usually too far.

Threesome

A threesome is a playing group of three golfers who play a round together.

Tie

Tie means a deadlock — two players or sides have the same result.

Tiger Line

The tiger line is the risky direct line to the target that shortcuts across hazards.

Tip

The tip is the end of the shaft that is glued into the clubhead.

Toe

The toe is the front tip of the clubface — the end of the clubhead furthest from the shaft.

Token

A token is a small marker or coin that you use to mark the position of your ball on the green.

Topdressing

Topdressing is the thin application of sand or a sand mixture to greens and fairways as part of course maintenance.

Topdressing

Topdressing is a maintenance practice in which a thin layer of sand is applied to the green or fairway.

Topped shot

Topped is the shot in which the club strikes the ball on top instead of in the middle.

Topping

Topping means striking the ball above its center, so that it takes off flat, hops or only rolls along the ground.

Topspin

Topspin is the forward rotation of the ball, in which its top side turns in the direction of flight and pulls it down and forward.

Torque

Torque is the measure of the torsional stiffness of a golf club shaft — specified in degrees.

Torque Point

The torque point is the point on the shaft where the twisting of the club is most clearly concentrated during the swing.

Torsion

Torsion is the twisting of shaft and clubhead, especially at impact.

Touch

Touch is the fine feel for distance and power control, especially in the short game.

Tour

The tour is the series of tournaments of professional golfers, on which pros play for prize money and ranking positions.

Tournament announcement

The tournament announcement is the official announcement of a tournament with all its conditions.

Trailing Edge

The trailing edge is the rear edge of the club sole — the counterpart to the front leading edge.

Trajectory

Trajectory is the flight path of the golf ball — its height and shape from tee shot to landing.

Triple Bogey

A triple bogey is three strokes over par on a hole.

Trouble Shot

A trouble shot is a rescue shot from a difficult position back into play.

Twilight

Twilight is a reduced green fee for late evening tee times.

Under

"Under" refers to a result under par — you needed fewer strokes than par.

Undulation

Undulation is the wave-shaped unevenness of a surface, above all on the green.

Unplayable Ball

You declare your ball unplayable yourself when you cannot play it sensibly — against a penalty stroke.

Up

"Up" refers to the lead in holes won in match play.

Up and Down

Up and down means: holing out in two strokes from close to the green.

USGA

The USGA is the American golf association that, together with the R&A, publishes the Rules of Golf worldwide.

Vardon Grip

The Vardon grip is the classic overlapping grip in which the little finger of the lower hand rests on top of the index finger of the upper hand.

Verticutting

Verticutting is a maintenance measure in which vertical blades cut the thatch out of the green or fairway.

Waggle

The waggle is the small back-and-forth movement of the club just before the actual swing, usually made while standing over the ball.

Water Hazard

A water hazard is a body of water on the course — in the current Rules of Golf this zone is officially called a penalty area.

Water Hazard (Penalty Area)

The penalty area is a hazard area, mostly water, from which you do not have to play the ball — but from which you may drop against a penalty stroke.

Wedge

Wedges are the clubs with the most loft — for short, high shots around the green.

WGPA

The WGPA is the association of female golf professionals — the abbreviation stands for Women Professional Golfers' Association.

White Stakes

White stakes mark the boundary of the golf course — beyond them begins out of bounds.

Wind

Wind is the weather factor that influences ball flight in golf more than any other.

Winter Green

A winter green is an alternative green that is played instead of the regular green during the cold season.

Winter Rules

Winter rules are local rules that allow you to improve the lie of your ball during the cold and wet season.

Wood

A wood is the English term for the wooden club — the long clubs designed for maximum distance.

World Cup

The World Cup is an international team competition in golf in which two-player teams represent their countries.

Wrist

Wrist is the English word for the wrist — in golf, it almost always refers to the movement and position of the wrists in the swing.

Wrong Green

A wrong green is a green-like area next to the actual green that does not belong to the hole being played.

Yard

A yard is the English unit of length used to measure distances on many golf courses — one yard equals 0.9144 metres.

Yardage Book

A yardage book is a distance booklet in which every hole of a golf course is mapped out with measurements, hazards and green details.

Yellow Stakes

Yellow stakes mark a penalty area from which you may take relief only with a penalty stroke and limited options.

Yips

The yips are involuntary twitches or cramps when executing short shots, especially when putting.