Meaning of Golf Words - Par, Bogey, Birdie, Eagle, Albatross - Scottish Golf History Bogey to Blow-Up There is quite a history behind the golfing terms bogey, par, birdie, eagle and albatross. Bogey and par were central to the development of handicapping, pioneered by the LGU . The modern meaning of three of the terms - bogey, birdie and eagle - comes from their use in USA. Bogey Par Birdie Eagle Albatross Bogey "Bogey" was the first stroke system, developed in England at the end of the 19th Century. The full history is given in Robert Browning's History of Golf 1955 . In 1890 Mr Hugh Rotherham Secretary of the Coventry Golf Club conceived the idea of standardising the number of shots at each hole that a good golfer should take, which he called the 'ground score.' Great Yarmouth where term Bogey was first coined Dr Browne, Secretary of the Great Yarmouth Club, adopted the idea, and, with the assent of the club's golfers, this style of competition was introduced there for use in match play.

During one competition Mr CA Wellman (possibly Major Charles Wellman) exclaimed to Dr Browne that, "This player of yours is a regular Bogey man". This was probably a reference to the eponymous subject of an Edwardian music hall song "Hush! Hush! Hush! Here Comes the Bogey Man", which was popular at that time. So at Yarmouth and elsewhere the ground score became known as the bogey score. A 'bogle' was a Scottish goblin as far back as the 16th Century and a Bogey-man was a widely used term for a goblin or devil. Golfers of the time considered they were playing a Mister Bogey when measuring themselves against the bogey score. This allowed the introduction of bogey competitions, which we would call handicap competitions or stablefords. On 2nd January 1892, The Field reported that 'a novelty was introduced in the shape of a bogey tournament for a prize. ...

Fourteen couples started but the bogey defeated them all.' In 1892, Colonel Seely-Vidal, the Hon Secretary of the United Servic es Club at Gosport, also worked out the 'bogey' for his course. The United Club was a services club and all the members had a military rank. They could not measure themselves against a 'Mister' Bogey or have him as a member, so 'he' was given the honorary rank of Colonel. Thus the term 'Colonel Bogey' was born. Later, in the middle of 20th century, bogey was used as the term of one above par. Par Par is derived from the stock exchange term that a stock may be above or below its normal or 'par' figure. In 1870, Mr AH Doleman, a golf writer, asked the golf professionals David Strath and James Anderson, what score would win 'The Belt', then the winning trophy for 'The Open', at Prestwick, where it was first held annually from 1861 to 1870. Strath and Anderson said that perfect play should produce a score of 49 for Prestwick's twelve holes.

Mr Doleman called this 'par' for Prestwick and subsequently Young Tom Morris won with a score of two strokes 'over par' for the three rounds of 36 holes. Tom Morris Jnr Youngest Open Winner Although the first noted use of the word "par" in golf was in Britain and predates the bogey, today's rating system does not and the par standard was not further developed until later. It was the Ladies Golf Association, who, from 1893, began to develop a national handicapping system for women . It was largely in place by the end of the Century. The Men's association, founded in 1894, followed suit a few year's later. In 1911, the United States Golf Association (Men) of the day laid down the following very modern distances for determining par: Up to 225 yards Over 601 yards Par 6 As golf developed, scores were coming down, but many old British courses did not adjust their courses or their bogey scores, which meant good golfers and all the professionals were achieving lower than a bogey score.

This meant the US had an up-to-date national standard of distances for holes, while the British bogey ratings were determined by each club and were no longer appropriate for professionals. The Americans began referring to one over par as a bogey, much to the British chagrin. By 1914, British golf magazines were agitating for a ratings system similar to the US. However the Great War 1914-18 intervened and it was not until 1925 that a Golf Unions' Joint Advisory Committee of the British Isles was formed to assign Standard Scratch Scores (SSS), to golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland. Today, this committee is known as the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU). It is the Golf Unions of each country (and not the Royal and Ancient) who determine pars and handicaps. Birdie "Birdie", meaning a score of one stroke under Par, comes from the early 20th century American slang term "bird", meaning anything excellent.

The September 1911 edition of Maclean Magazine described a golf shot as - '"bird" straight down the course, about two hundred and fifteen yards.' The Country Club in Atlantic City lay claim to the first use of the word 'birdie' itself, as mentioned on the USGA website. In 1962 the US greenkeepers' magazine reported a conversation with A B Smith. He recounted that, in 1898/9, he and his brother, William P Smith, and their friend, George A Crump, who later built Pine Valley, were playing the par-four second hole at Atlantic City, when Ab Smith's second shot went within inches of the hole. Smith said "That was a bird of shot" and claimed he should get double money if he won with one under par, which was agreed. He duly holed his putt to win with one under par and the three of them thereafter referred to such a score as a "birdie". The Atlantic City Club date the event to 1903.

The First Birdie Hole, Courtesy of Atlantic City County Club By 1913, the term had crossed the Atlantic and Bernard Darwin writing in the September 1913 issue of Country Life of a visit to the USA said "It takes a day or two for the English onlooker to understand that ... a 'birdie' is a hole done in a stroke under par." Eagle White tailed Sea Eagle, courtesy of RSPB "Eagle", a score of two under par for a given hole, was clearly the extension of the theme of birds for good scores from a " birdie ". It would be natural for American golfers to think of the eagle, which is their national symbol and the term seems to have developed only shortly after the 'birdie'. Ab Smith ( see Birdie above ) said that his group referred to two under as an 'eagle'. By 1919 the term was being introduced to Britain, as when Mr H D Gaunt's explained the use of 'birdie' and 'eagle' that he met in Canada .

For many years, eagle was always introduced as American terms, as in 1922 when Cecil (Cecilia) Leitch described a putt for a 3 on a par-5 hole as 'securing what is known in American golfing parlance as an "eagle"' (Golf XII 1922 p 202). Albatross Albatross is the term for three under par and is a continuation of the birdie and eagle theme, but is in fact a British term. Ab Smith said his group used the phrase 'double eagle' for three under ( see Birdie above ), which is still the term most Americans and the name for their Double Eagle Club (membership by invitation only). Three under par is a very rare score and an albatross is a very rare bird. The exact origin is unclear but the first known reference in 1929 indicates that it had been in use for some time before then. John G Ridland, who scored an 'albatross' in India in 1934 , theorized that it was the introduction of steel shafted clubs in 1920s which made this score achievable enough to necessitate a name for it.

Durban Country Club 18th Hole site of first recorded albatross, a hole-in-one on 271 yard par-4 The first ‘albatross’ score reported as such in the press is from South Africa when E E Wooler scored a hole-in-one in the summer of 1931 on the 18th hole of the Durban Country Club which is a par-4. It cost £40 in drinks but, had he known that he was making history, he would not have minded. More details of the first albatrosses, are given in The Albatross has Landed in News section. The Whaup and Double Bogeys No standard terms for 2 or 3 or more over Par have emerged. They are just double and triple Bogeys. Depending upon how good you are, anything over 7, 8 or 9 will be a ‘Blow-up’ or a ‘Disaster’. Joyce Wethered once suggested that a hole-in-one should be called a Curlew, known in Scottish as a 'Whaup', which, though fitting, did not catch on.

It seems that golfing terms came into popular use in much the same way as you find new words being invented and used on the Internet. If they sound good, people start using them. What we do not hear about are all the terms, such as beantops , that never made it because they did not catch on. Only the future can tell which of the terms that we invent will still be being used in a hundred years time. Scottish Golf History What Do Birdies, Bogeys and Pars Mean in Golf? By Brent Kelley Updated July 24, 2016. So you're new to the game of golf and you keep hearing references to birdies and bogeys , eagles and pars . What are those things, anyway? What do those golf scoring terms mean? Glad you asked. They are terms that describe different types of scores on an individual golf hole . Start With Par, Go From There Start with par, because all golf scoring terms are defined in relation to par. "Par" refers to the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete the play of one hole on a golf course . Golf holes of different lengths will require more or fewer strokes by a golfer.

And regardless of length, the par number of a hole always allows for two putts. So a 150-yard hole is one on which the expert is expected to hit the green with his tee shot , take two putts , and, therefore, require three strokes to finish that hole. Such a hole is therefore called a par-3 . A very good golfer - or a very lucky golfer - might complete a hole in fewer strokes than the par. continue reading below our video Golf Scoring Terms And of course, most of us aren't "experts" at golf, and so on most holes we'll need more strokes than the par. That's where those other terms - birdies, eagles, bogeys, et.al. - come into play. They describe a golfer's performance on a hole in relation to the hole's par: A birdie is 1-under par A bogey is 1-over par An eagle is 2-under par A triple bogey is 3-over par Given that a par-5 hole is the highest par most golfers will ever see, there is a limit to how far under par a golfer can go.

But a hole-in-one - knocking the ball in the hole with your first shot - is also called an "ace." ( On a par-5 hole, making an ace means a golfer is 4-under on that hole and, yes, golfers have a term for that, too: condor.) Scores over par can keep going up, and you just keep adding to the prefix, as in quadruple bogey , quintuple bogey, and so on. Here's hoping that's knowledge you'll never need. The Actual Number of Strokes That Result in These Golf Scores Here's what these most-common golf scoring terms mean for holes with pars of 5, 4 and 3, in the actual number of strokes: 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. Golf Score Terms | Golfsmith Golf Score Terms Golf Score Terms by William McCoy Like many other sports, golf is a game full of words that can seem confusing to the inexperienced player.

If you're new to the game, it might take you a period of time to get accustomed to the sport's specific terms, including those related to scoring. By learning the correct terms for each score in golf, you can sound knowledgeable among your peers even if you're still a beginner. Par "Par" is the term used to describe the number of stroke a skilled golfer is expected to take on a hole. On a par-4 hole, for example, this golfer would typically take to shots to reach the green and then two putts to get the ball in the hole. A par-3 hole is shorter, so the skilled golfer should be able to reach the green on his first shot. A par-5 hole is longer, so the skilled golfer would be expected to take three shots to reach the green. Par-6 holes are rare, but they do exist. Each hole's par is marked on the scorecard and on a sign posted at the hole's tee box. A standard 18-hole course typically has a total par of 72, although it's not unusual to find par-70 or par-71 courses.

Birdie If a golfer score a birdie, he finished the hole with a score of 1 under par. On a par-4 hole, a birdie is a score of 3. A birdie is a significant accomplishment for any golfer. In a tournament, a birdie usually helps a player gain ground on the leader. A birdie is possible on a hole with any par. Eagle When a player is able to finish a hole at two strokes below par, he has scored an eagle. An eagle on a par-3 hole is a hole in one, also known as an "ace." Hole-In-One A hole-in-one is arguably the biggest accomplishment an amateur golfer can experience. This term is given to the situation in which a golfer's shot off the tee winds up in the hole. It's most common on par-3 holes, in which the green is typically reachable from the tee box. Another term occasionally used to describe a hole-in-one is an ace. How Low Can You Go? The equivalent of a double eagle, or three strokes below par, is called an albatross. It's one of the rarest scores in golf -- even rarer than a hole in one.

A double eagle is the same as a hole in one on a par 4 or a score of two on a par-5 hole. Bogey When you finish a hole with a score of 1 over par, this score is called a bogey. If you finish two strokes over par, it's called a double bogey. Someone who is said to play "bogey golf" averages a bogey a round, meaning he would post a score of 90 on a par-72 golf course. HOT PRODUCTS ON Golfsmith.com Golf Lingo | Golf for Cause - Tempe, AZ Golf Lingo Glossary Ace: A hole-in-one. Hitting the ball into the hole in one stroke. Albatross: A score of three less than par — as you can imagine, a very rare occurrence! You'll also hear "double eagle." It's the same thing as an albatross. Apron: The shorter grass directly in front of the green. All square: When the score is tied in match play. Away: The ball that's farthest away from the hole, as in "you're away." The player farthest away typically hits first.

Back tees: The farthest set of tees from the hole on each hole, also referred to as "the tips." Ball marker: A coin-sized object, typically round, used to mark the position of a player's ball on the green. Ball mark: A small indentation on the surface of a green resulting from the impact of a golf ball. Beach: Slang term for a sand bunker. Best ball: A format of play typically used in tournaments, in which the team score for each hole is the "best score" of at least one of the players in a foursome. Birdie: A score of one less than par. Bite: A ball with lots of backspin is said to "bite," since it stays pretty close to where it landed or even spins back toward the player. Sometimes a player will shout (pray) for a ball to bite if it looks like it's going past the hole. (A humorous way of doing this is to shout, "Grow teeth!") Bogey: A score of one over par. Bracket: To take additional clubs — one higher and one lower — than the club you believe you need to hit a certain shot.

This means you'll be prepared for a situation different from what you originally expected, so it's generally a good idea. Bunker: A concave area containing sand or the like, considered a hazard. Casual water: An accumulation of water on the golf course that is not part of a water hazard. Generally, you encounter casual water after heavy rains. The player is allowed to move the ball without penalty. Chipping: A low-trajectory, short golf shot typically made from just off the green. Cup: The four inch deep, 4.5 inch diameter hole on the green. Dance floor: Slang term for the green. Deep: A flagstick or hole that is located toward the back of the green. Divot: The small chunk of turf that is dislodged when a clubhead strikes the ground as a player hits the ball. Divot repair tool: A small metal or plastic tool with a prong(s), used to repair ball marks on the green. Double bogey: A score of two over par. Generally shortened to "a double." Drained: Slang term for having sunk a putt. Draw: A golf shot in which the ball gradually moves right to left (for a right-handed golfer).

Drive: The first shot taken at the teeing ground at each hole — even if you don't hit it with a Driver. Driver: The longest club (and the one with the biggest head), used for tee shots as it's designed to hit the ball the farthest. Duff: A bad shot. Duck hook: When a right-handed player strikes the ball such that it curves sharply from right to left and stays low to the ground. Eagle: A score of two under par. Etiquette: The rules governing a golfer's behavior. Executive course: A golf course that is shorter and has a lower par than regular golf courses. Consisting of mostly par 3 holes, it is designed to be played quickly by skilled golfers and to be welcoming for beginner golfers and juniors. Fade: A golf shot in which the ball gradually moves left to right (for a right-handed golfer). Sometimes called "a cut shot." Fairway: The center, short-mown portion of a golf hole in between the teeing ground and the green. Fat: A shot in which the club hits the ground (more so than intended) prior to striking the ball.

Sometimes also called "thick" or "chunked." First tee: Where a round of golf play begins. Flyer: A ball, usually hit from the rough, that goes much farther than intended. Fly the green: A shot that goes over the green. Fore: A warning shouted when the ball is heading toward a person. Forward tees: The teeing ground located closest to the green. Fringe: The short grass surrounding the green that is kept slightly longer than the grass on the green. Get up: A phrase shouted at a ball that looks like it's going to land short of the target. If it looks like it's going to land in a difficult spot (perhaps water or a bunker), you'd say "get over." Gimme: A putt that is so close to the hole that it's assumed that the player will make it. You can only have a "gimme" in casual, non-tournament play or in match play. An old-fashioned term for this is "in the leather," a reference to the ball being closer to the hole than the length of a putter from the putter's face to the bottom of its grip. Green Fee: The cost to play a round of golf.

(This usually includes the cost of the golf cart rental and practice balls.) Grounding: Setting the heel of the golf club on the ground, however briefly. Handicap: A numerical representation of a golfer's playing ability. Honors: The right to tee off first based on having the best score on the last hole or being furthest away from the hole. Hook: When a right-handed player strikes the ball such that it curves sharply from right to left. Hot: A shot that goes faster or farther than intended. Lie: The position or location of the golf ball while in play. Lip: The edge of the hole. If your ball hits the lip but doesn't go in the hole, then you have "lipped out." Loft: The degree or angle of the face of the club. Match play: A format of golf in which the goal is to win individual holes rather than tallying the total of all of the strokes. Modified scramble: Also known as a shamble or Texas scramble, a golf format in which the players select the best shot off the tee, move all balls to that spot, and play individual stroke play for the rest of the hole.

Mulligan: In casual play only, a "do-over" shot made to replace a poorly hit shot, taken without counting the stroke toward the score. Nineteenth (19th) hole: A golf course's restaurant or lounge. OB: Out of bounds. Out of bounds: The area outside the course where play is not allowed, most often marked by white stakes. Pin: The flagstick standing inside the cup on the green. Also known as "the stick." Pitching: A high-trajectory golf shot made near the green, intended to land softly with a minimum amount of roll. Playing through: What takes place when one group of golfers passes through another group of slower playing golfers, ending up ahead of the slower group. Provisional ball: A second ball that is played in the event that the first ball is or may be lost or out of bounds. If the first ball is found and is playable, the provisional ball is picked up. If the first ball isn't playable (if it's lost or out of bounds), the provisional ball is played and penalty strokes apply. Hitting the provisional ball when in doubt about whether a shot went out of bounds often speeds up the pace of play.

Pull cart: Used by golfers who prefer to walk but don't wish to carry their golf bags. Punching the greens: Aerating the greens by pulling small plugs (1/4" - 3/4" diameter) or using poking with small tines that leave the appearance of a pattern of "punched" holes in the turf. Pure: A well-struck shot, often used as a verb. "She pured her shot!" Putting: The golf stroke used to roll the ball on the green. Ranger: The golf course staff member who provides player assistance on the golf course and who is responsible for keeping the overall pace of play. Ready golf: Players hit when ready in order to speed up or maintain pace of play. Regulation, In: When a player's ball is on the green in one shot on a par 3 hole; 2 shots on a par 4; or 3 shots on a par 5. Rough: The long grass bordering the fairway. On some courses, there is a "first cut" of shorter rough and a "second cut" of heavier, longer rough. Sand bunker: A bunker filled with sand. Sand trap: Slang for "sand bunker".

"Trap" is not defined in the "Rules of Golf." Sandy: Hitting the ball out of a sand bunker and hitting (usually putting) the ball into the cup on the very next shot. Scramble: Probably the most popular format for charity golf tournament play. Each player in the foursome hits, then the group selects the best shot. Each player hits from that spot and the process continues until the ball is holed out. Shank: Be aware, this is a word you should *not* use on the golf course — it's considered bad luck and is therefore a breach of etiquette. However, you should still know what it is: a very poor shot that hits the hosel of the clubhead and "squirts" errantly off to the side. It's sometimes called a "lateral." Shotgun start: When golfers are sent to every hole so that play begins for everyone at the same time. Sit: A term shouted at the ball to encourage it to stick very close to where it lands. This is similar to "bite." Skull: A mishit golf stroke in which contact is made above the equator of the ball, resulting in a line-drive trajectory.

Slice: When a right-handed player strikes the ball such that it curves sharply from left to right. Smoked: A term describing a well-hit long shot, particularly a drive. Snowman: A darkly humorous reference to scoring an 8 on a hole. Solheim Cup: A biennial women's golf tournament in which teams from Europe and the United States compete against each other. It is named after Karsten Solheim (Ping Golf). Starter: A golf associate who provides golfers at the first tee with any special information they will need during play and maintains the appropriate amount of time between groups of players starting off the first tee Sticks: When referred to in the plural, "sticks" means golf clubs (as opposed to the flagstick). For example, "I'm buying a new set of sticks this season." A putter is sometimes colloquially called a "flat-stick," due to its lack of loft. Stroke play: A golf format in which the objective is to finish the game using the fewest total shots. Sweet spot: The center of the clubface, which will produce the longest shot from a given club. Tap-in: A very short putt.

Tee box: The area on a golf hole where the ball is first struck, also known as the "teeing ground." Although you hear "tee box" a lot, "teeing ground" or "tee" are the preferred terms. Tees: Pieces of golf equipment used to raise the ball on the teeing ground for a player's first stroke on the hole. Usually made of wood, plastic or earth-friendly composite material. Thin: A shot that strikes near the center of the ball, typically causing a low trajectory. Sometimes also called "skinny." The tips: The farthest teeing ground from the green, usually demarcated by blue, black or gold tee markers. Also called the "championship tees" or the "back tees." The turn: The halfway point in a round of golf. Up and down: Chipping or pitching the ball onto the green and putting it into the hole on the very next shot. Woods: A type of golf club with a round head, usually made out of wood, metal or composite materials. The most common woods include the Driver, 3-wood and 5-wood.

Worm burner: A golf shot (not a putt) in which the ball never rises off the ground. Yips: The inability to make short putts due to nervousness and lack of a smooth putting stroke. Zone: When you're playing well, you're said to be "in the zone." Sometimes described as "playing lights out." © 2017 Golf for Cause, LLC | 1050 N. 52nd St. | Phoenix, AZ 85008 | 602.722.3605 Golf Today's A to Z of Golf Three under par score at a hole. Known as a 'double-eagle' in the US. Approach Short or medium shot to either the pin or putting green. Attend the flag To remove and hold flag whilst another player putts. Away The person furthest way from the hole and the first to play. B Back The last nine holes of a golf course. Also a tee position that makes hole the longest. Banana A slice , or shot that curves strongly left to right. For some reason, 'banana' always refers to a slice, although a ' hook ' is simply a banana facing the other way.

Also what professional golfers munch several times a round to maintain their energy levels. Below the hole Your ball is 'below the hole' on a green if your next putt is uphill. Uphill putts can be struck firmly, meaning that any break is less important and there is less risk of running way beyond the hole. This is particularly true of fast greens, such as one finds in high-level tournaments. The opposite of ' above the hole '. Best Ball / Better Ball Best score on a hole by partners in a best-ball match. Birdie One under par score on a hole. Bogey One over par score on a hole. Break In putting, the curve the ball will follow due to slope and/or grain in the green. Turf removed when hitting a shot. Dogleg Left or right bend in fairway. Dog Licence If the winning margin in match play is 7&6, the victory (or defeat) is called a dog licence. In Great Britain, until 1987, dog owners bought a licence for their pet which cost 7/6d (pre-decimal currency = 37p). Dormie In match play , having a lead equal to the number of holes remaining to be played, ie.

two up and two to play. Draw Controlled right to left shot with a moderate curve (or left to right for left-handers). Drop When the ball is lost, or there is an unplayable lie, a ball is dropped from arm's length at shoulder height onto the course. The short-grass area between the tee and the green. Follow-through The latter part of the swing from striking the ball to completion of the motion. Fore! Warning shout when a shot may endanger another player. Four-Ball Group of two pairs of golfers recording the better ball score of each pair based on gross or net scores. Foursome Group of two pairs of golfers playing shots alternately with the same ball. The partners drive at alternate holes, so one will drive the even numbers and one the odd numbers. Free drop When a player is entitled to make a drop without a penalty stroke. G Gilligan The opposite of a Mulligan . When gilligans are agreed in a match, your opponent has the right to ask you to play a shot again - typically a good drive or a long putt holed. Gimmie Very short putt close to a hole, awarded by other players.

Only used in match play, or in friendly golf - in stroke play everything must be holed out. Grain Direction in which blades of grass grow and influence the speed and roll of the ball on the putting green. When looking 'into the grain' a green will appear darker, and 'with the grain' it will appear lighter or shinier. When putting 'across the grain' the ball will move left or right. Green Area of course around the hole with very short grass, for putting. Gross score The total number of actual strokes played within a round, before handicap is taken into account. Ground under Repair (GUR) If an area of the couse is under maintenance and your ball lands there, you can remove your ball without penalty. Normally identified by stakes or a line. H Half Shot Reduced swing when taking a shot. Used for shorter shots, or when extra control is required. Hole out To finish a hole by getting the ball in the cup or hole. Usually done with a putt, but sometimes with a chip from off the green, and occasionally with a full shot. Honour Given to the player scoring lowest on last hole, and granting the right to tee off first on the next.

Hook Shot that curves strongly from right to left (or the opposite, if you play left handed!). Hosel Hollow part of clubhead where the shaft is attached. Sometimes called the 'neck'. I In play A shot that comes to rest within the boundaries of the course (the opposite of 'out-of-bounds'). Interlocking grip A right-handed player using this grip will interlock the little finger of his right hand with the index finger of his left hand (vice versa for lefties). A good grip for players with small hands. Used by Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, among others. In the leather A ball that lies very close to the hole; so called because it was measured by the leather of the putter grip. In friendly play, a putt 'within the leather' is often conceded . J Jigger Name of an old club with similar loft to a modern 4-iron. Confusingly, it was also sometimes used to describe a short pitching club for work around the green, otherwise called a pitching niblick, or lofting iron, roughly equivalent to a modern pitching wedge. K Kikuyu Fast-growing, thick African grass that like full sunshine and hot weather. Not suited to woodland or temperate climates.

A feature of courses in southern Africa, requiring great skill to play from around the greens. Knee knocker A short putt, which you really shouldn't miss, but often do. Knickers American name for golf trousers that stop just below the knee, worn with knee socks. Called 'plus fours' or 'plus twos' in Britain. Knife Golfing slang for the 1-iron. In the days when all all iron heads were forged, they were often known as 'blades', and the 1-iron was the sharpest (and most dangerous to use) blade of all. L Lie Resting place of the ball on the course, hence a 'good lie', or 'poor lie'. Also the angle at which the clubhead is set on the shaft. Tall people usually have clubs with an 'upright' lie (making the shoft more vertical) and shorter people use a 'regular' or 'flatter' lie (placing the cubhead further away from the body). Links Golf course on coastal terrain, usually with sand dunes and very few trees, and exposed to the wind. Literally a piece of ground that 'links' the mainland to the sea. Lip Edge of the hole.

Lip-out A putt that catches the lip of the hole and turns around the rim without falling in. Lucy Rhyming slang: Lucy Locket = socket, or shank . Arguably the worst shot in golf. M Marker Thin, flat item used to mark the position of a golf ball on the green to prevent your ball obstructing other player's shots. Small coins may be used, or specifically designed discs of metal or plastic. Also a person who keeps the score in a match, either as a spectator accompanying the players, or one's opponent. Match Play Competition scored by the number of holes won or lost. The opposite of 'stroke' or 'medal' play. In this format, matches often do not go the full 18 holes. Medal Play Another name for 'Stroke Play', keeping the score on every hole. The lowest number of strokes, gross or net, wins. Mixed Man and woman playing together, eg: 'Mixed Foursomes'. Each partner plays off their own tees. Mulligan Chance to replay one's last shot, granted in a friendly game by an opponent. Not permitted in competition. (See also Gilligan ) Score after the handicap strokes have been deducted from the gross score.

Niblick Old-fashioned Scottish term for nine iron. Nobble To nobble is to top a ball, or catch it on the upper half, causing a low, weak, running shot, called a 'nobbler' O OB Short for 'out of bounds'. Area outside the course play area, usually marked by a white line or white stakes, or boundaries such as walls, fences or railings. P Par Standard number of strokes for each hole, always including two putts. Almost all golf holes are par 3, 4 or 5, although some new courses are building ultra-long par 6 holes. Penalty Extra stroke(s) added to a player's score for violation of the rules, loss of ball, out of bounds, etc... PILS No... not yet. You can enjoy a Pils or three in the 19th when you're done with your putting practice. This PILS stands for 'Pure In Line Square' - the putting method advocated by scientist turned short game guru Dave Pelz, and many others. Essentially it involves a pendulum motion from the shoulders, eliminating all independant hand and arm movement, keeping the putter-face square throughout the stroke.

Pin A ball which is level with the pin, but to one side. Pitch Shot used to approach the green, shorter swing than normal, but longer and more lofted than a chip. Play Through When a group of slower golfers or those searching for a ball allow others to pass them. It is good etiquette to allow faster players to 'play through'. 'Plus' Golfer A golfer whose handicap is better than scratch, so he has to add or 'plus' strokes to his gross score after a round, rather than subtracting them. Plus Fours / PlusTwos Golfing trousers once very popular because they end just below the knee, avoiding getting mud on the trousers when playing. Plus fours are more traditional and fuller cut, folding over 4 inches below the knee, while plus twos are slimmer and more modern, folding only two inches. Q Quarter Shot Greatly reduced swing in taking a shot. Used for short shots, or when great control is required. (Also 'three-quarter' shot, somewhere between a 'half-shot'and a full swing.) Practice area (also called the Driving Range). Recovery Shot played back into a good position from an unfavourable one.

Redan Permission to lift and drop the ball without incurring a penalty. Rough Longer and thicker grassed area of the course. S Sandie Term used when playing for money, betting against an opponent. Either a) making par on a hole after being in a bunker at some point, or b) getting out of a bunker and into the hole in two (an ' up and down '). Sand Save Professional equivalent of a ' sandie ' (version b). Getting out of a bunker and into the hole in two shots. Whether the player makes par or not is immaterial, it is the ' up and down ' which counts. Expressed as a percentage of the number of times achieved out of the number of attempts, and one of the many statistical categories computed on the various pro tours. Shank Shot struck by the hosel of the club which causes the ball to go sharply right. Also called a 'socket'. Shiperio Similiar to a Mulligan , ie a second shot graciously allowed by your opponent, but in this case you can choose which of the two balls you will play. Skinny Said of a shot hit thin , which flies lower than usual and with no control. Slice A shot that curves violently to the right, banana-shaped.

Usually caused by striking the ball with an open clubface and an in-to-out swing. The commonest shot shape among beginners and high-handicappers. T Thin A shot somewhere between a top (see below) and a well-struck ball. The ball is hit below the equator, but not enough to get properly airborne, causing a low and uncontrolled shot. Especially destructive when chipping or pitching around the green. Top To hit the ball above the centre, causing the ball to dive down and roll rather than rise. Turn After the 9th hole, ie the halfway point on a golf course, where you 'turn' for home. U Unplayable lie When it is impossible to play a shot because of ground conditions or an obstruction. The player may drop the drop the ball in a better position, in accordance with the rules, under penalty. Up and Down When a player fails to be on the green in regulation, but gets on it with an approach shot and one-putts into the hole. V Vardon Grip Another name for an overlapping grip made popular by Harry Vardon. The little finger of the right hand (for right-handers ) overlaps the forefinger of the left hand.

W Whiff To swing and miss the ball completely. Counts as a stroke. Also called an 'air-shot', or 'fresh air'. Worm-burner A topped , or thinned shot that runs along the ground, thus endangering the useful invertebrates that might be getting a breath of fresh air. X X-outs Balls that do not meet a manufacturer's stringent quality controls, either because of a small cosmetic blemish or because they are very marginally outside the size or weight tolerances (1.680" and 1.620oz). They are sold at a reduced price and the manufacturer's name is 'x'-d out. Otherwise perfectly normal and very good value, but beware of using them in competition as incorrect tolerances will make them illegal. Y Yardage The distance between the player's ball and the target he is aiming for. The 'yardage' of a hole is officially the figure given on the scorecard from a specific tee, but will vary according to the position of the tee-markers and the pin position on the green. Top players use 'yardage charts' to calculate their distance from specific points on the course and to help with club selection.

Yips Chronic missing (or fear) of short putts, usually because of a nervous twitch. Very difficult to overcome, but can be alleviated by unorthodox grips or long (eg 'broom-handle' or 'belly') shafted putters. Z Zoysia A very thin bladed, slow-growing grass with deep roots that is resitant to drought and extreme temperatures. Golf Vocabulary | English Club 1000 Phrasal Verbs for download! Golf Vocabulary This page covers the vocabulary and language of golf by looking at its background, equipment and people. Check your understanding with the vocabulary quiz and comprehension quiz . The dream of many people is to make lots of money, retire from work, and then spend the rest of their days walking around beautifully kept parks with finely-cut lawns, grassy fields and groves of leafy trees. They dream of visiting these parks, or courses, day after day, and of using long metal sticks, called clubs, to hit a little white ball towards, and finally into, a small hole or cup in a manicured lawn they call a green. What they are dreaming of, of course, is playing the game we call golf.

It is one of the few sports that nearly everyone can play, regardless of age, body shape, or level of fitness. It is a good form of light exercise, it can help people to relax, and it gives them plenty of time between shots to chat, joke around, or even discuss serious topics like business with their playing partners. As a result, golf has become a very popular game, enjoyed by millions of people in nearly every country of the world. History The first recorded game of golf was played at Bruntsfield Links, in Edinburgh, Scotland, in A.D. 1456, and until recently most historians believed the game originated in Scotland in the 11th century. But new evidence suggests a game very similar to golf was played in China during the Song Dynasty (A.D. 960-1279). It was played with 10 clubs similar to modern golf clubs, and Chinese records and drawings show the clubs were used to hit small balls into holes in the ground, just like in modern golf. This game could have been introduced to Scotland in the 11th century by Mongolian traders and travellers.

One of the oldest and most important organizations in the history of golf is the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) in Scotland, founded in 1754. The club's course had nine holes, and players would go around twice to complete a full round. As a result, eighteen holes became the standard number of holes in a round of golf. The rules of golf also originated at the R&A, although now they are jointly controlled by the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA). How The Game Works Golf is played on specially-designed course consisting of a series of numbered holes. Some holes are short, just two or three hundred metres, while others are longer, up to five or six hundred metres. Each hole has a tee-off area, or tee box, from which the first shot is played. Then a long fairway with short grass leads to a small area of very short grass called a green. There's is a small hole in the green called a cup in which a pin stands with a flag flying on it. The object of the game is to hit the ball and get it into the cup with as few shots as possible.

But course designers don't want to make this too easy, so they build hazards into the course. On both sides of the fairway, and around the green, areas of long grass called the rough are usually found. Areas thick with trees and bushes are also common, along with hazards such as bunkers, lakes, creeks and gullies. Most golf courses have eighteen holes, though some only have nine. Players use one of several clubs to hit the ball towards the green, and then into the cup. Players carry up to fourteen clubs in a golf bag, or they have a caddie carry them. These clubs (see picture at right) include woods for long shots (on the left), irons for medium-length shots (top), and a putter for shots hit along the ground on the green (bottom). Players also carry their own score card, and record every stroke they play on each hole. Each shot, whether it's a three-hundred metre drive or a two-centimetre putt, counts as one stroke. For each hole, a number known as par indicates the number of shots a very good player would normally take to complete the hole.

Short holes are usually "par 3", medium-length holes are "par 4", while longer holes are "par 5". If a player completes a hole in one shot less than par, they have made a birdie. Two shots under par is an eagle and three shots under par is an albatross. One shot over par is a bogey, two shots over par is a double bogey and three shots over par is a triple bogey. If we add up the pars of all the holes on an eighteen-hole course, we find the par for the whole course. Most courses are par 72, with four par-3 holes, ten par-4 holes, and 4 par-5 holes. If a player shoots a round of 70 on a par 72 course, we can say they shot a "two-under-par" round. In most formats of the game, the winner is the player who completes a round, or a series of rounds, with the lowest number of strokes. Tours and Tournaments As recreational golf became a popular hobby, professional golf became big business.

Television broadcasts of major tournaments attract millions of viewers worldwide, and professional golfers play for millions of dollars in prize-money in hundreds of tournaments held all over the world. The biggest prize-money is offered in tournaments which are part of major tours such as the European Tour, the U.S. PGA Tour, and the U.S. LPGA Tour. Players must qualify to play on these tours, but qualifying is very difficult. Those who can't qualify can join other smaller tours such as the high-paying Japanese Tour. The four most important tournaments in men's golf are called 'the majors', held every year. They are The Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship (also called The British Open) and the PGA Championship. A player who wins all four majors in a single year has achieved a "Grand Slam", while a player who wins each major at least once during his career has achieved a "career Grand Slam". The total number of major tournaments a player wins determines his status in golfing history, and the current leader is Jack Nicklaus with 18 majors, although Tiger Woods is fast approaching this number.

Women's golf doesn't have a set of widely-recognised major tournaments, but the most important of the current events are the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the LPGA Championship, the U.S. Women's Open and the Women's British Open. Famous Players Annika Sorenstam Annika Sorenstam, born near Stockholm in Sweden in 1970, is one of the greatest female golfers of all time. She won a record 8 Player of the Year awards between 1995 and 2005. Annika (at right, after playing a wood shot) has also won over 70 LPGA tournaments and nearly 20 other international tournaments. In 2008, she topped the LPGA's all-time money list with career earnings of over $21 million, $7 million more than any other female golfer. During her career she was the only female golfer to have shot a 59 in competition, and in 2004 she achieved the all-time lowest season scoring average of 68.6969 shots per round.

Tiger Woods Eldrick "Tiger" Woods (right, teaching a boy how to hold a golf club) is one of the most successful golfers of all time. Born in 1975 to an African-American father and a Thai mother, Tiger played golf from the age of two. As a boy he was the best young golfer in the world, winning the Junior World Championship six times. In 1994, Woods became the youngest ever winner of the U.S. Amateur Championship. After winning this event two more times over the next two years, Tiger turned professional in 1996. Since then he has won over 60 PGA events, including more major titles than any other golfer in history except for Jack Nicklaus. He is also the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam, and he won his first 50 PGA tournaments at a younger age, and in less time, than any other player in golf's history. He has been awarded PGA Player of the Year a record nine times, and the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring average a record eight times. Golf Vocabulary List Bogey | Define Bogey at Dictionary.com Word Origin and History for bogey Expand n.

World War II aviator slang for "unidentified aircraft, presumably hostile," probably ultimately from bogge, a variant of Middle English bugge "a frightening specter" (see bug (n.)). Thus it shares ancestry with many dialect words, such as bog/bogge (attested 16c.-17c.), bogeyman (16c.), boggart "specter that haunts a gloomy spot" (c.1570, in Westmoreland, Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire). The earliest modern form appears to be Scottish bogle "ghost," attested from c.1500 and popularized c.1800 in English literature by Scott, Burns, etc.

in golfing, c.1891, originally "number of strokes a good player is supposed to need for a given hole or course;" later, "score one over par" (1946); from the same source as bogey (n.1), on the notion of a "phantom" opponent, represented by the "ground score." The word was in vogue at the time in Britain because of the popularity of a music hall tune "Hush, Hush, Hush, Here Comes the Bogey Man." One popular song at least has left its permanent effect on the game of golf. That song is 'The Bogey Man.' In 1890 Dr. Thos. Browne, R.N., the hon. secretary of the Great Yarmouth Club, was playing against a Major Wellman, the match being against the 'ground score,' which was the name given to the scratch value of each hole.

The system of playing against the 'ground score' was new to Major Wellman, and he exclaimed, thinking of the song of the moment, that his mysterious and well-nigh invincible opponent was a regular 'bogey-man.' The name 'caught on' at Great Yarmouth, and to-day 'Bogey' is one of the most feared opponents on all the courses that acknowledge him. [1908, cited in OED] Other early golfing sources give it an American origin. As a verb, attested by 1948. bogart v. 1969, "to keep a joint in your mouth," dangling from the lip like Humphrey Bogart's cigarette in the old movies, instead of passing it on. First attested in "Easy Rider." The word was also used 1960s with notions of "get something by intimidation, be a tough guy" (again with reference to the actor and the characters he typically played).

In old drinking slang, Captain Cork was "a man slow in passing the bottle." Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Slang definitions & phrases for bogey Expand A police officer (1930s+ Underworld) An enemy aircraft, esp an attacking fighter plane (WWII Army Air Forces fr British RAF) A golf score of one stroke over par on a given hole (late 1800s+ British) [all senses fr bogy or bogey, ''evil spirit, hobgoblin,'' the boogy or boogy-man invoked to frighten children; the golf sense originated in 1890 when Dr Thomas Browne, a naval surgeon, compared his opponent, the ''ground score,'' to the ''Bogey Man'' of a popular song, at any rate, so it is said] bogart verb To behave truculently; get something by intimidation: The little old lady bogarted her way into the grocery line/ some hotshot from Brooklyn trying to Bogart a game from the regulars (also bogart a joint) To take more than one's share, esp of a marijuana cigarette; hog [1960s+ Black; fr the tough roles played

 in films by Humphrey Bogart] The Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PhD.

and Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D. Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.

Question: What term is given to a score of one over par in golf?
Answer: Bogey