ADDRESS - preparing to hit the ball.
APPROACH - this is a short or medium iron that is used to get you on the green, often referred to as an "approach shot".
APRON - the closely cut area just around the edge of the green (AKA the "Fringe").
BACKSPIN - this is a reverse spin, which causes the ball to stop very quickly on the green.
BALL MARKER - a token or small coin which is placed directly just behind the ball in order to mark the position of the ball on the green. This is usually done to allow another player who is farther away to put without hitting any other balls.
BALL WASHER - These are usually found near the tee boxes. Use these instead of the water hazards to wash your golf ball.
BIRDIE - a score of one under par for a hole (eg: a par 4 and you made it in three).BITE - a term used for the action of the backspin on the ball stopping it very quickly on the green (no roll).
BOGEY - a score of one over par on a hole (e.g. a par four and you made it with 5 strokes).
BUNKER - the strategically placed sand trap, where the ball always seems to gravitate too.
CARRY - the distance in the air that the golf ball travels before it hits the ground (e.g. 149 yards should carry it, meaning get you past the hazard, like water)
CHIP SHOT - a short approach shot hit from close to the green.
CHIP IN - you made the shot, refernce the "Chip Shot".
COURSE RATING -the rating established for the scratch golfer, the higher the rating the more difficult the course. Usually the higher the course rating the harder it is.CUP - it holds the flag stick.
DIVOT - a piece of ground that is taken up by the club after hitting the ball. A good golfer ALWAYS replaces his/her divots and tamps them back down so they will grow back again!
DOGLEG - a hole that goes straight for a while then has a bend to the left or right (you may hear someone use the term "draw" the ball).
DOUBLE BOGEY - a score of two over par for one hole.
DOWNHILL LIE - the ball's position is on the downslope of a hill.
DRAW - This is when you intentionally make the ball hook from right to left.
DRIVE - the first shot of the hole, your tee shot.
DRIVER - the club usually referred to as your wood, the one that hits the farthest.
DROP - putting you ball back in play after hitting it out of bounds, most frequently used after losing the ball in the water (don't forget to to add a stroke).
EAGLE - a score of two under par on a hole (e.g. a Par 4 that you made in two shots).
FAIRWAY - the portion of the hole that lies between the tee box and the green. You want your first shot to land in the fairway for the best approach to the green.
FOLLOW-THROUGH - the completion of the golf swing.
FORE - the term yelled, shouted, hollered when you hit a golf ball toward another golfer to warn them of danger.
FREE DROP - a drop (putting the ball in play) that doesn't add a stroke to your score (usually due to water on the course, grounds being repaired, geese on the course)
FRINGE - the closely cut area just around the edge of the green.
FRONT SIDE - the first nine holes of the golf course.
GRAIN - this is the direction that the grass on the green is growing, critical in placing the ball in the hole.
GREEN - the putting surface on the golf course, please pickup your feet (don't drag or pivot your shoes) to spare the greens from being ripped by your golf shoes.
HACKER - a golfer, loosely used, that plays occasionally and is not ranked.
HANDICAP - The number of strokes a player may deduct from his actual score to adjust his score to that of a scratch golfer.
HAZARD - a hazard are strategically placed sand traps, and lakes, etc. to provide for a more challenging round of golf.
HONOR - the privilege giving to the golfer that had the best score on the previous hole.
HOOK - to hit the ball and have it curve gradually from right to left.
IRON - a club with a metal head.
LIE - the position that the ball ends up when it comes to rest on the ground.
LOFT - the angle of the club face from vertical the lower the loft degree the farther the ball will travel.
MULLIGAN - an extra shot which your opponent may allow you to take if you hit a really bad first shot (should be discussed prior to starting the round of golf).
OUT-OF-BOUNDS - the area outside of the golf course limits in which play is prohibited.
PAR - the number of stokes to complete the hole.
PENALTY STROKE - an added stroke to th golfers score for a rules violation, going out of bounds, and losing a ball etc.
PIN - another term for the flagstick in the cup of the hole.
PITCH - a short high arcing shot that lands on the green and stops
PITCH AND RUN - a pitch shot but hit with a lesser lofted club, causing it to roll.
PLAYING THROUGH - slow players allowing the faster players to move ahead.
PULL - a ball that is hit to the left of the target.PUSH - a ball that is hit to the right of the target.
ROUGH - long grass area adjacent to the fairway before the out of bounds area.
ROUND - the completion of 18 holes of golf.
SAND TRAP - hazard that is made of sand and high bunkers facing toward the hole.
SAND WEDGE - an iron normally used to hit the ball out of the sand or to hit a pitch shot.
SCRATCH GOLFER - a player that normally shoots an even par (a handicap of zero).
SHORT GAME - putting and chipping to the hole on the green.
SHOTGUN START - in tournament play, all teams go to a specified hole (tee box), hitting the first shot at the same time.
SLICE - a shot hit which curves dramatically from left to right (usually not on purpose).
SLOPE RATING - the difficulty of a course for bogey golfers (one over par golfer). The higher the slope, the more difficult the course plays for bogey golfers. Slope ratings range from 55 to 155 and 113 is considered average.
STARTER - this is the person who is responsible for sending the groups of players off the first tee. He ensures that each group gets off on time and that there is a good interval between groups.
TURN - to start the back nine holes of the golf course (usually the time is marked on your score card).
WEDGE - an iron with a high loft used for short shots requiring a high trajectory.
WOOD - a club which is used for shots requiring long distances.WORMBURNER - a shot that skims across the dew on the golf course. See your Golf Pro in the pro shop for some friendly advice.