Handicapped | Define Handicapped at Dictionary.com handicapped Sometimes Offensive. physically or mentally disabled. 2. of or designed for handicapped people: handicapped parking. Sports. (of a competitor) marked by, being under, or having a handicap : a handicapped player. (used with a plural verb) Sometimes Offensive. handicapped persons collectively (usually preceded by the): increased job opportunities for the handicapped. Origin of handicapped noun 1. a race or other contest in which certain disadvantages or advantages of weight, distance, time, etc., are placed upon competitors to equalize their chances of winning. 2. the disadvantage or advantage itself. 3. any disadvantage that makes success more difficult: The main handicap of our business is lack of capital. 4. Sometimes Offensive. a physical or mental disability making participation in certain of the usual activities of daily living more difficult. verb (used with object), handicapped, handicapping. 5. to place at a disadvantage; disable or burden: He was handicapped by his injured ankle. 6. to subject to a disadvantageous handicap, as a competitor of recognized superiority. 7. to assign handicaps to (competitors). 8. Sports.

to attempt to predict the winner of (a contest, especially a horse race), as by comparing past performances of the contestants. to assign odds for or against (any particular contestant) to win a contest or series of contests: He handicapped the Yankees at 2-to-1 to take the series from the Cardinals. Origin Expand 1640-50; 1870-75 for def 8; orig. hand i' cap hand in cap, referring to a drawing before a horse race Related forms overhandicap, verb (used with object), overhandicapped, overhandicapping. prehandicap, noun, verb (used with object), prehandicapped, prehandicapping. Synonyms 5. hinder, impede, cripple, incapacitate. Antonyms Examples from the Web for handicapped Expand Now All Americans Are Losing Ground David Frum February 7, 2012 Historical Examples Hamlin was quite as handicapped as Mrs. Yellam by principles adopted long ago which he deemed, before the war, to be bomb-proof. High Adventure James Norman Hall They were also handicapped for want of proper fuel and plant.

British Dictionary definitions for handicapped Expand (psychol) denoting a person whose social behaviour or emotional reactions are in some way impaired 3. (of a competitor) assigned a handicap Usage note Nowadays the use of the word handicapped to describe people with disabilities is generally considered inappropriate. It is preferable to refer to someone as having a disability and to talk about people with disabilities handicap something that hampers or hinders 2. a contest, esp a race, in which competitors are given advantages or disadvantages of weight, distance, time, etc, in an attempt to equalize their chances of winning the advantage or disadvantage prescribed 3. (golf) the number of strokes by which a player's averaged score exceeds the standard scratch score for the particular course: used as the basis for handicapping in competitive play 4. any physical disability or disadvantage resulting from physical, mental, or social impairment or abnormality verb (transitive) -caps, -capping, -capped 5. to be a hindrance or disadvantage to 6. to assign a handicap or handicaps to 7. to organize (a contest) by handicapping 8.

to attempt to forecast the winner of (a contest, esp a horse race) to assign odds for or against (a contestant) Word Origin C17: probably from hand in cap, a lottery game in which players drew forfeits from a cap or deposited money in it Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for handicapped Expand adj. "disabled," 1915, past participle adjective from handicap (v.). Originally especially of children. Meaning "handicapped persons generally" is attested by 1958. handicap n. 1650s, from hand in cap, a game whereby two bettors would engage a neutral umpire to determine the odds in an unequal contest. The bettors would put their hands holding forfeit money into a hat or cap.

The umpire would announce the odds and the bettors would withdraw their hands -- hands full meaning that they accepted the odds and the bet was on, hands empty meaning they did not accept the bet and were willing to forfeit the money. If one forfeited, then the money went to the other. If both agreed either on forfeiting or going ahead with the wager, then the umpire kept the money as payment. The custom, though not the name, is attested from 14c. ("Piers Plowman"). Reference to horse racing is 1754 (Handy-Cap Match), where the umpire decrees the superior horse should carry extra weight as a "handicap;" this led to sense of "encumbrance, disability" first recorded 1890. The main modern sense, "disability," is the last to develop, early 20c. v. "equalize chances of competitors," 1852, but implied in the horse-race sense from mid-18c., from handicap (n.). Meaning "put at a disadvantage" is from 1864.

Earliest verbal sense, now obsolete, was "to gain as in a wagering game" (1640s). Related: Handicapped ; handicapping. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Bad Golfer - Golf Jokes and Course Humour - Dictionary Golf Dictionary - What golf terms really mean S S-word Ssssssh! This is a very bad word in golf. A shank is a shot that flies ninety degrees to the right after the ball has been struck with the club's hosel. So devastating is this affliction that if you get the shanks, the best thing to do is leave the course immediately and seek professional help— from your bartender. Sand Trap - A deep depression filled with sand filled with golfers in a deep depression. Sandbagger A golfer who falsely posts high scores in order to inflate his handicap, thereby making him more difficult to defeat in matches. This is serious cheating. Also known as a ringer. Sandy When you escape from a bunker to make birdie or par, you've made a sandy. One of many junk bets golfers make during a match.

, Scats A betting game in which all the members of a group play against each other for a predetermined amount on each hole. Ties carry over to the next hole. Sclaff - Onomatopoetic Scottish word for a flubbed shot in which the ground is contacted before the ball is hit. The game's Celtic inventors had plenty of time to develop a rich vocabulary for golfing mishaps, such as a ball topped lightly into the water (firkel), a ball hit a short distance through dense grass (glef f ), straight into the air (pooth), into the woods (slessgrack), into rocks (lofonnock) and into other players (yebastard). Score - The total number of strokes needed to complete 18 holes or three times the caddy's tip, whichever is closest to 75. Scorecard - A piece of paper on which a player's opening offer is written prior to the commencement of serious negotiations. Scrambler A golfer who plays somewhat erratically but manages to salvage good scores from inconsistent play.

A scramble refers to a golf competition in which each of four players on a team hits a tee shot and picks a best ball, then plays a second shot from that spot. The team continues to pick a best ball and play from that spot until a shot is holed. Scrape it around To play spotty or inconsistent golf but still manage to post a good score. Great pros like Jack Nicklaus stay in tournament contention by scraping it around on days when they don't have their A game. Scratch Term to describe a golfer who has a zero handicap; that is, he is starting from scratch. Dream on. Scratch Player - A player with a handicap of zero; a par golfer; a rat; a louse; a stinker. Scuff A lousy shot that results from hitting the ground before hitting the ball. (See also fat, hit it.} Senior - A golfer who attributes poor play to the fact that he or she lacks the physique of a younger player. See JUNIOR . Set of Clubs - A collection of no more than 14 golf clubs, usually consisting of three or four woods, nine or ten irons, and a putter.

The chief distinction among the types of clubs is that the woods make a sound like "speck" or "frop" when the ball is improperly hit, whereas the irons emit a sharp "jink," "fank" or "whenng" and the putter produces a soft "tilk." Set them up What you do when you improve your lie in the fairway. Also what you ask the bartender to do after you've taken money from your archrival. (See also roll it.) Shag - To retrieve golf balls. Golf is full of odd terms and expressions. After hitting a 5-iron shot right onto the green, for example, you might answer an opponent's question about what club you used by saying, "The stick I used was a 7iron"; when citing a nonexistent rule to improve your lie, you might say, "I'm claiming relief from this lie under the rule covering tassleclots"; and after scoring a 6 on a hole, the right way to report your tally is to say, "I carded a five." Shag hag Any container used by a golfer to hold practice balls.

Shank - The most dramatic and unsettling form of misplayed shot, in which, as the clubshaft vibrates violently, the ball flies off to the right at nearly a 90° angle, embarrassing the golfer and endangering his or her fellow players. Duffers who consistently shank their balls are urged to buy and study Shanks-No Thanks by R. K. Hoffman or, in extreme cases, M. S. Howard's excellent Tennis for Beginners. Shape it To curve a shot intentionally to fit the hole. Corey Pavin is the absolute best at this. Shooting the lights out Hitting all the shots and making low scores. Short Game - The short shots played around the green (chips, putts, pitches and sand trap blasts) and the cheap shots taken between the green and the next tee (quips, digs, cracks, slams and jests). Short grass Where you are when you hit the fairway with your drive. Short hole Term used to describe any par three. Short stick The putter, so named because it's the shortest club in the bag. You can make up for a lot of bad work with other sticks if you can handle the short stick.

Shotgun start Some tournaments station players on each tee to start a round so that they can all finish at roughly the same time. This is called a shotgun start because the beginning of play was once signalled by a shotgun blast. Now they use a horn to signal the beginning of play—it's a lot safer. Side Each nine holes—front and back. Also each team in a competition. Sitter Term for a ball sitting atop the grass in the rough. Pray for a sitter when you see your tee shot heading for trouble. Skull - To hit the upper part of the ball, causing a fast, low driving shot. You might try hitting slightly more under the ball with a sweeping movement of the arms. Sky - To hit too far under the ball, causing a high, ballooning shot. You might try using your hands to open up the clubface a bit. Slam-dunk To hit the ball into the hole with great force. This usually happens when a putt or chip that is moving much faster than the ideal speed slams into the back of the cup, pops into the air, and falls into the hole. Slice - To hit the ball with too open a clubface. You might try closing it up a little.

Slice A shot that curves to the right. The most common fault of amateur golfers, generally caused by an open club face at impact. Slick Term used to describe fast greens. Slider A putt that breaks slightly and subtly in either direction. Also a low, hard left-to-right shot. Fred Couples hits lots of sliders off the tee. Smile Balls that are skulled or otherwise mishit often wind up with a cut on their surface that resembles a smile, though you won't be smiling as you reach into your bag for another ball. Smoked Term for a ball that is hit hard and far. Smother - To hit the ball with too closed a clubface. You might try opening it back up and hitting more on the upper part of the ball. Smother hook A hook that flies left and low to the ground, though only for a short distance; it is struck with a severely closed club face. Snake A long putt that breaks in more than one direction. One of the most famous snakes ever holed was a sixty-footer by Ben Crenshaw on the tenth hole at Augusta National Golf Club during the 1984 Masters Tournament. Snap hook See duck hook and rope hook.

Sniper See duck hook, rope hook, and snap hook, all names for the same crummy shot. Snowman A score of eight for a hole, so named because the digit resembles a snowman. Also called lots of unprintable names. (See also Frosty.,) Sock - To hit someone under the chin or on the lower part of the face with a closed hand driven by a fast, upward-sweeping movement of the arm. Spin - Professional golfers and other accomplished players can apply a variety of spins to the ball to make it curve around obstacles, turn into the wind or stop dead where it lands. These shots take skill and practice, but most beginners have a bag of tricks, too! For example, even the rankest of amateurs can amaze their playing companions and themselves by making a ball run right across the centre of the hole without going in, rise straight up into the air, execute unbelievably sharp left or right turns, travel sideways or even backwards, or disappear entirely. Spinach The roughest of the rough. When you were a kid, you hated spinach for the taste. Now, as a mature, open-minded adult golfer, you hate spinach because you can't play a decent shot out of the stuff.

(See also cabbage.} Spraying Term that means your shot pattern is all over the place and your misses are about as predictable as the weather. Stake it To knock the ball really close to the hole (stake). (See also leaner.) Stance - The proper positioning of the feet for the golf stroke may seem a fairly complex matter, but there are really only a few basics to master: just remember to put the clubhead behind the ball with your left hand on the grip (some say the right hand), then step forward with your right foot (some say the left foot), bring up your left foot (or right) and grasp the grip with your right hand (or left). Now line up the ball with your left heel, your left toe, the inside of your left foot, or between your feet, with the left foot slightly forward, the right foot slightly forward, or both feet parallel. That's all there is to it! Stand on it What you do when you swing your hardest, to get maximum distance out of a club. Stick Short for flagstick Also, a shot that hits and stops quickly is said to stick to the green. Sticks Your clubs.

When your tee shot lands near the hole, your competitor might ask, "What stick did you use?" Then you hold up five fingers to identify the three iron you just hit. Stiff Term used to describe a ball hit very close to the hole. Also, when a club shaft has very little bend, it is a stiff shaft. And when you don't tip your caddie after the round, you stiff him. Stoney When a golfer knocks the ball to within gimme range, it is stone dead, or stoney. Stop the bleeding Finally to make a par or birdie after several less than stellar holes. Strait Jacket - Confining garment that some golfers have found to be necessary after long periods spent attempting to master the stance. Striped it To hit a good tee shot. Stroke - Any forward movement of the club that is made with the intention of hitting and moving the ball and is observed by another golfer. Stymie - A ball whose path to the hole is blocked by another ball is said to be "stymied," and under current rules the impeding ball is marked and moved.

At one time, such shots had to be played by making the ball hop over or curve around the impediment, but a notorious, deliberately laid stymie during extra holes of the 1951 English Amateur Championship led to a modification of the rule, first in Britain and then, a little later, in the U.S.

Other important rule changes and the circumstances under which they were made: LIMIT SET ON TIME SPENT SEARCHING FOR LOST BALL: "The Lang, Lang Combing of the Glen," 14th hole, Loath Links, October 11, 1871-April 8, 1872 UNORTHODOX SWINGS AND CLUBS DISALLOWED: Lacrosse player Francois Foisette wins the Canadian Open, 1899 "ELIGIBLE PLAYER" MORE FULLY DEFINED: Kabu, a chimpanzee, wins the Calcutta Open, 1901 PLAY STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM LIES BEYOND THE BOUNDARY of A COURSE: "The Mashie Incident," British-Chinese border skirmish, Hong Kong, 1909 FOURTEEN-CLUB MAXIMUM ESTABLISHED: "Relatively Bloody Saturday," the Caddy Strike of 1926 DISCONTINUANCE OF TOURNAMENT PLAY PERMITTED: "The Battle of the Glorious Leg-of-the-Dog 15th," third round of the Spanish Open, Valencia, 1937 BALL REMOVED FROM COURSE BY DOG DECLARED UNPLAY

ABLE: A.S.P.

C.A. v. U.S.P G.A., 31. U.S. 564, 1948 PENALTY FOR ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKING BALL OFF TEE Executive Order #l, President Gerald Ford, 1974 Sudden Death - Term for the situation that exists when a match is tied at the end of 18 holes and the player who feels the least amount of confidence about beating the opposition in extra-holes play suddenly remembers the death, earlier in the day, of a beloved aunt. Suck back A ball that hits the green and then reverses direction due to backspin is said to have sucked back. As far as amateur golfers are concerned, this phrase is useful only as a spectator, since amateurs rarely generate enough back-spin to get a ball to suck back. Sucker pin A pin that is cut so close to a hazard that only a sucker would fire right at it. Swing - A full golf swing consists of the backswing that carries the clubhead up to the topswing point, the downswing that brings the clubhead to the point of impact, and the follow through.

If the ball dribbles a few feet forward or hooks or slices violently into the woods or rough, the follow-through can be extended into the foresling-a graceful, lateral motion that sends the club spiraling into the underbrush. Alternatively, the follow-through may be stopped and the club brought up sharply in a vertical arc until the clubhead is behind the back, pointing at the ground, then swept smoothly up into the more classic topfling, which combines the power and accuracy necessary to send even the heaviest club into a distant water hazard. Swing doctor A teaching professional. Consult with caution; often the cure is worse than the disease. Golf Terms Subscribe Golf Terms Ever wonder what all those golf terms mean? What’s a bogey? What is all this talk about the back side? How much does a free drop cost? Unless you know the answers to these questions, you had better read up here. We’ve tried to make it a little easier for you and even inserted a couple of funnies too. We’ve researched our massive memories (that is the 1st funny!) and come up with a whole bunch of golf terms to assist you on the course and in the clubhouse.

That’s right, you can be that guy who knows all the cool things to say… read on! ACE – This is a term used when a golfer makes a hole in one! In other words, the tee shot is hit and it goes into the hole – how about that! ADDRESS – Contrary to popular belief, this is not where the mailman delivers to but it is the position of one’s body taken just before the golfer hits the ball. You will often hear the term “addressing the ball” which means the golfer is standing there preparing to hit the ball. ALBATROSS – An old British name for a double eagle. What’s that you say, two eagles? No, it means you scored 3 under par on a single hole! In other words, you scored a 2 on a par 5 hole. It’s a very good score and doesn’t happen very often. APPROACH – This is a short or medium iron which is played into the green. Often referred to as an “approach shot”. APRON – The closely cut area just around the edge of the green. Often referred to as the “Fringe”.

BACKSPIN – This is a reverse spin, which causes the ball to stop very quickly on the green. BACKSWING – The backward part of the swing starting from the ground and going back over the top of the golfer’s head. BAIL OUT – A shot played to the “safe” part of the course. For example if the flag is right next to the water and the golfer intentionally shoots away from the flag to avoid the water – thus “bailing out” 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 putt without hitting any other balls. BALL RETRIEVER – A long pole with a scoop on the end of it used to get balls out of water hazards. BALL WASHER – Come on, this one is self explanatory. These are found all over the golf course usually at the tee boxes. They clean and wash your ball. BANANA BALL – A slice that curves in a banana like shape from left to right (for right-handed golfers). BASEBALL GRIP – Holding the golf club like one would hold a baseball bat.

All 10 fingers are on the grip. BEACH – An expression for sandtrap. (i.e. I’m in the beach) BENT GRASS – Type of grass which is found in mostly in northern climates. BERMUDA GRASS – Now think about this one for just a minute. This is a type of grass found mostly in southern climates, as it is tougher and more resilient to harsh sunlight. Kind of like you would find in… that’s right Bermuda! You are a genius! BIRDIE – A score of 1 under par for a hole. (i.e. a score of 3 on a par 4 hole) BITE – A term used for the action of the backspin on the ball stopping it very quickly on the green. BOGEY – A score of 1 over par on a hole. (i.e. a score of 5 on a par 4 hole) BUNKER – Another name for a sandtrap. CADDIE – A person who carries a player’s clubs during play and offers assistance in accordance with the rules. CARRY – The distance in the air that a ball must travel before it hits the ground. (i.e.

you need 160 yards to carry the water means you need to hit the ball 160 yards in the air to clear the water) CASUAL WATER – No this is not water dressed in blue jeans and T-shirt but rather any temporary puddles of water on the course which are not supposed to be there, like say for instance after a rainstorm. There is no penalty for a player to move his ball out of casual water. CHIP SHOT – A short approach shot with a low trajectory usually hit from close to the green. CHIP IN – This happens when you hit a chip shot (see above) into the cup. (Note: this is usually good!) CHOKE – This word has two meanings. One is to grip lower on the club than normal (you may hear the term “choke down” on the club) The other definition in golf (and most other sports) means to collapse under pressure (i.e. he “choked” under the pressure of the Master’s). CHOP – To hit the ball with a hacking motion or the word immediately after “pork”. CLUBHEAD – The hitting area of the golf club.

CLUBHOUSE – The main building at the golf course where players usually go to have refreshments and tell about their 2 under par round (note: at times, you can actually see their noses grow!) COURSE RATING – The difficulty of a course. Usually the higher the course rating the harder it is. CUP – The thing in the hole that holds the flagstick. DEUCE – Hmmm, now lets see, if an ace is a hole in one, then a deuce must be a hole in two! That’s right Sherlock! It is a score of 2 on a hole! DIMPLE – The small round indentations on the golf ball. A lot of really smart guys (some call them scientists) got together and figured out how many dimples would help the ball fly straight and true. DIVOT – A piece of ground that is taken up by the club after hitting the ball. A good golfer ALWAYS replaces his divots and tamps them back down so they will grow back again! DOGLEG – This is one of two things.

It is either one of four things that Rover walks on or it is a hole that goes straight for a while then has a bend (or “dogleg”) to the left or right. You decide which fits here! DOUBLE BOGEY – A score of two over par for one hole. These are not very good! DOUBLE EAGLE – NO, this is NOT two eagles, but it is a good score for one hole! In fact it is an excellent score for one hole – three under par for one hole! (i.e. a two on a par five!) This is also referred to as an “albatross”. DOWNHILL LIE – The ball is on the downslope of a hill. When a right handed player addresses the ball his right foot will be higher than his left foot. DRAIN – To make a putt (“drain it”). DRAW SHOT – This is when a right handed player hits a controlled hook, which goes from right to left. DRIVE – This is the term which means your tee shot. It is also usually the way you get to the golf course. DRIVER – This is the club known as the 1 wood. It is usually the club that hits the ball the farthest.

It is also a person that very rich people have to haul them around. DROP – This is a way that you get the ball back in play after hitting a shot into the water or out of bounds. This also happens to waitresses when they carry too many plates. DUB – A poorly hit shot. I “dubbed” that shot. DUFFER – One who hits a lot of bad shots. Can also be called a “hacker”. EAGLE – This is a bird in real life, but in golf it means a score of 2 under par on a hole. (I.e. a score of 3 on a par 5 hole) FACE – This is what you see when you look in the mirror and it is also the part of the clubhead that makes contact with the ball. FADE – This is a shot (for a right-handed golfer) which curves gradually from left to right. FAIRWAY – This is the area on the golf course which lies directly between the tee box and the green and is cut really short and maintained really nice. You want to hit from this area if at all possible. FAT SHOT – This is a shot which is not good.

The club hits the ground behind the ball and results in a poorly struck shot that usually doesn’t go very far. FLAGSTICK – Come’on, you gotta know this one. FLUB – See dub above. FOLLOW-THROUGH – The continuation of the golf swing to the end. FORE – This is spelled differently than the number 4. This is the term yelled when one hits a shot toward another person on the golf course to alert him/her of impending doom from being hit by the ball. FOURSOME – A term given to a group of… come’on how many do you think players? (hint: 4!) FREE DROP – A drop that you don’t have to pay for, really that is correct, you get to drop the ball and don’t have to add a stroke to your score. This can happen when there is casual water on the course or ground under repair. FRINGE – The closely cut area just around the edge of the green. FRONT SIDE – The first nine holes is usually referred to as the “front side”.

GIMME – A term for a putt that is close enough to the cup that it will certainly be made so the other player says “it’s a gimme” and the player doesn’t have to putt it. However, he does need to add this stroke to his score! GRAIN – This is the direction that the grass on the green is growing. A golf ball will roll faster with the grain and slower against it. GREEN – This is a color and also the term used to describe the putting surface on the golf course. GRIP – This refers to either the part of the shaft by which the club is held by the golfer or the manner in which the golfer holds the club. (i.e. an overlapping grip) GROSS – The total number of strokes a player takes on his round. GROUNDING THE CLUB – Placing the clubhead on the ground behind the ball at address position. GROUND UNDER REPAIR – An area on the golf course that is being repaired. Golfers are able to take a “free drop” if their ball ends up in ground under repair. HACKER – A golfer who is not very skilled. Same as a duffer.

HANDICAP – The number of strokes a player may deduct from his actual (or gross) score to adjust his score to that of a scratch golfer. HAZARD – A hazard is any sand trap, lake, pond, bunker, etc. that may cause problems on the golf course. It is normally a good idea to avoid a hazard on the golf course. HEEL – What you tell your dog to do when walking him/her OR the part of the clubhead nearest the shaft. HOLE – A 4 inch round receptacle on the green that you try to get your ball into. HOLE HIGH – An approach shot which is even with the hole but off to one side. HOLE-IN-ONE – See ACE above. HOLE OUT – the process of a player completing the hole. HONOR – the privilege of hitting first on the next tee. The “honor” is gained by having the lowest score on the preceding hole. HOOK – To hit the ball and have it curve gradually from right to left (for right-handed golfers). HOSEL – The hollow part of the clubhead that the shaft fits into.

INTERLOCKING GRIP – A type of grip where the little finger of the lower hand is interlocked with the index finger of the upper hand. IRON – A club with a metal head which is not a wood! JAIL – A golfer’s term for a ball hit into a lot of trees which makes it very difficult to hit your ball out of…”in jail” JUNGLE – A golfers term for heavy rough or in the woods. (i.e. in the jungle) KICK – A golfer’s term for bounce. (I got a bad kick means I got a bad bounce) LAG – To putt the ball with the intention of leaving it short of the hole so that the golfer is able to have a very easy putt on the next shot. LATERAL HAZARD – Any hazard that runs parallel to the fairway. LIE – This is what you tell your wife when she asks if you went to work and you really went golfing OR it is the position that the ball ends up when it comes to rest on the ground. LINKS – Another word for a golf course. This originally meant a seaside course. LIP – The top rim of the cup or what you have two of on your face.

LOB SHOT – A shot that goes straight up in the air and stops very quickly on the green. LOCAL RULES – A set of rules for a particular golf course as determined by that course. LOFT – This is an apartment in England OR it is the angle of the clubface from vertical. MATCH PLAY – This is a form of competition by holes. Each hole is worth one point no matter how many strokes one player beats another by. MEDAL PLAY – This is a form of competition decided by the overall number of strokes. This may also be referred to as stroke play. MULLIGAN – An extra shot which your opponent MAY allow you to take if you hit a really bad first shot. NOTE: this is NOT the way we suggest to play golf. MUNICIPAL COURSE – A public course which is owned by a local government agency. NASSAU – A form of competition which breaks down the play into front nine, back nine and overall 18 holes. A point is allowed for each nine and the total 18. NINETEENTH HOLE – Another term for the clubhouse or in particular the bar at the clubhouse. This is Waggle’s favorite hole!

OFFSET – A club with the head slightly behind (or offset) the shaft. OUT-OF-BOUNDS – The area outside of the golf course limits in which play is prohibited. If you hit the ball out of bounds you must hit again from the same spot and take a penalty stroke. OVERCLUBBING – Using a club that will hit the ball farther than necessary. PAR – The number of stokes that is recommended to take to complete a hole (or 18 holes). PENALTY STROKE – An additional stroke which is added to a golfer’s score for a rules violation, going out of bounds, losing a ball, or various other situations. PIN – This is the flagstick or the pole that is in the cup. PITCH – A short high arcing shot that lands on the green and usually stops quickly. PITCH AND RUN – Same as a pitch but hit with a lesser lofted club which causes it to roll farther. PIVOT – The rotation of the shoulders, waist, and pelvis during the golf swing. PLAYING THROUGH – The process of slower players in front of faster players allowing the faster players to move ahead of the slower group.

PREFERRED LIE – A lie that may be improved by a player. PRO SHOP – The golf course shop operated by the golf pro. PROVISIONAL BALL – An additional ball which is hit in case the first ball can not be found. If the first ball is found, it is played. If the first ball is not found, the provisional must be played and the player is assessed a penalty stroke. PULL – A ball that is pulled (or hit) to the left of the target (for right handers). PUNCH THE GREENS – No we’re not mad and hitting the greens… this is another way to say the greens are being aerified. PUSH – A ball that is pushed (or hit) to the right of the target (for right handers). PUTT – A shot that rolls on the green hit with the putter. PUTTER – The club with a flat face used to putt. Often called the “flat stick” PUTTING GREEN – The surface area around the hole that is specially prepared for putting. RANGE – This is the area where you go to practice. It usually has many stations to hit practice shots. READING THE GREEN – Determining which way the putt will curve based upon the slope of the green.

ROUGH – Long grass area adjacent to the fairway. Normally you try to avoid the rough. ROUND – Complete 18 holes of golf. (i.e. a round of golf is the playing of 18 holes) RUN – The distance the ball will travel along the ground after it lands. SANDBAGGER – This is a golfer who purposely tells others that he is a worse golfer than he really is in order to gain an edge in competition. SAND TRAP – The common name for a sand hazard. These are areas that are filled with sand and should be avoided. SAND WEDGE – An iron normally used to hit the ball out of the sand. It can also be used on short pitch shots. SANDY – A player makes a sandy when he hits a shot out of the sand and sinks the following putt. SCRATCH GOLFER – A player who has a handicap of 0. This player will theoretically shoot even par or better every time out. SHORT GAME – The part of the game made up of chipping, putting and other shots around the green. SHOTGUN START – A method of starting play where players go to every tee box on the golf course and hit their tee shots at the same time.

Sometimes a horn is sounded to start play. SIDE – This is a term, which is interchangeable with the word “nine” as in front side which means the front nine or front nine holes. Now if you are really smart, you can also figure out that the back side is the back nine or last nine holes! SIDEHILL LIE – This refers to a lie when the ball is resting on a slope and the golfer’s feet are either above or below the ball. SLICE – This is either a piece of bread or a shot struck by a golfer which curves pretty severely from left to right (for a right handed golfer). SLOPE RATING – USGA term that represents the difficulty of a course for bogey golfers relative to the USGA Course Rating (which represents the difficulty for scratch golfers). 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. SNAKE – An award 🙁 given to a player in a friendly game when the player three putts. Whoever has the snake at the end of the round usually ‘gets’ to treat the other players to a beverage.

STARTER – The person who is responsible for sending the groups of players off the first tee. Usually the starter is located somewhere close to the first hole. STIMPMETER – This is a device which is used to calibrate the speed of the greens. Often referred to as ‘stimp’. A reading of 5 to 11 is the normal range with 5 being slow and 11 being extremely (PGA) fast! STONY – You just stuck it next to the pin… congratulations on the stony. This is the shot you wiggle and grunt to try and make it go in because you hit it so close to the hole. STROKE – This is often used in the following context, “how many STROKES are you giving me” which means how many shots or additional swings are you giving me to even out the match. It can also be the term used for the actual process of swinging the club through the ball. SUDDEN DEATH – This is a method of breaking a tied match by playing extra holes. The first player to win a hole is the winner. SUMMER RULES – Ordinary rules according to the rulebook. SWEET SPOT – The center point on the face of the club.

When you hit it here it feels really good! TAKEAWAY – This is what a golfer does when he starts the backswing. TEE – This is the wooden (usually) peg which is used to hold the ball up for driving. It is also the term for the area where play begins on a particular hole (i.e. the third tee is where the third hole starts) TEXAS WEDGE – The term for the putter when it is used from off the green. THREESOME – Hmmm… now if you think about this you might just get it. Hint: it refers to three players playing in the same group. TIGHT FAIRWAY – A narrow fairway with not much area on either side to miss. TOE – This is a term for what you have on your feet OR it refers to the part of the club farthest from where it joins the shaft. TRAJECTORY – The flight path of the ball. If it goes way up in the air it is referred to a high trajectory. TURN – To start the back nine holes. To “make the turn” means you have finished the 1st nine holes and are “turning” to the 2nd nine.

UNDERCLUBBING – Using a club that does not provide enough distance to hit the ball to the intended target. UNPLAYABLE LIE – A lie from which the ball can not be hit. (i.e. it is up against a tree and the player can not hit it) WAGGLE – The movement of the clubhead just prior to the player taking a swing. WEDGE – An iron with a high loft used for short shots requiring a high trajectory. WHIFF – Swinging and missing the ball. WINTER RULES – Local golf rules that permit the player to improve the lie of the ball in the fairway. There may be additional winter rules allowed depending on the golf course condition. WOOD – A club (either wood or metal) which is used for shots requiring a lot of distance. WORMBURNER – A shot which skims very low along the ground. Thus killing any worms that may be poking their heads up.

Question: What adjective is used to describe a golfer with a handicap of zero?
Answer: Scratch