Simply put, a layup refers to any shot that you have to hit deliberately short in order to avoid a hazard or other obstacle.  Naturally, you can’t just hit the ball from the tee to the green in one shot, so you will need to plan your route across the course with several layup shots. A dogleg on the other hand refers to a hole that isn't straight. This means there is a corner or change in direction between your current location and the green.