Don’t know your bunkers from your double bogies? We’re here to help! Expand your golf lingo with our golf glossary.
You won’t have to be in the game for very long to learn that golfers have their own language.
And whilst understanding the lingo won’t make you a better golf, it will make you at least sound one (and know what on Earth everyone is talking about!).
Here’s an A – Z of golfing terms to get you started.
Ace: A player completes the hole in just one shot, also known as a hole-in-one.
Birdie: A player completes the hole in one shot less than the par.
Bogey: A player completes the hole in one shot more than the par.
Bunker: Filled with sand, these hazards line fairways and guard the greens. Also known as “The Beach”.
Double bogey: A player completes the hole in two shots more than the par.
Eagle: A player completes the hole in two shots less than the par.
Fairway: Where you want your tee shot to finish, the stretch of shorter grass that leads to the hole.
Fore: What golfers shout when they hit a bad shot to alert other players.
Green: Where the hole is, the very short patch of grass at the end of the fairway.
Hook: A type of golf shot that moves dramatically from right to left for right-handed golfer or the opposite way for left-handed golfers.
Lie: The position of the ball when it rests on the ground. A good lie would be nicely on the fairway. A bad lie would be buried in the rough.
Out of Bounds: An area that is out of play for golfers, defined by white steaks or painted white lines on the ground.
Par: The ideal number of strokes a golfer should take to complete the hole.
Penalty area: Water or other area where a ball is often lost or can’t be played from.
Pin or Flag: The object that sits in the hole to let you know where to hit your shots.
Rough: Areas of longer grass that line the fairway.
Slice: A type of golf shot that moves dramatically from left to right for right-handed golfers and the opposite way for left-handed golfers.
Stroke or shot: Every time you take a swing at or hit the golf ball, it counts as a stroke or shot.
Tee box: The designated area on each hole where you hit your first shot from.
Tee shot: The first shot you hit on each hole from the tee box.
New to the game or know someone who is? We've got plenty of useful tips and advice for new golfers, from basic rules to what to wear without having to spend a fortune.
