• E

  • eagle
    Score of two under par for a hole.
    embedded ball
    Portion of the ball is below ground.
    erosion
    Loss of land through water and wind damage - most common on the coasts.
    explode
    To play a ball from a bunker moving a large amount of sand. Or what you do if the ball doesn't get out of the bunker.
    extra holes
    Played when a match finishes even (is tied).
    etiquette:
    Accepted code of behavior and dress on the golf course. Examples include quiet while others play, not walking in another's line of play on the putting green, etc.
    European Tour:
    Professional golf circuit for players in Europe. Similar to the U.S. PGA Tour, but playing courses in Europe.
    even par
    A player's score that matches the par for the course at any point during a round.
    executive course
    A course with a par of well less than 72, usually between 54 and 68. Executive courses are designed to be played quickly by those (executives) who do not have ample time to play a full 18 hole round on a regulation course.
    explosion:
    Type of shot played to extricate a ball from a sand bunker. An explosion, also called a blast, is characterized by a player hitting sand while getting his ball out of the bunker.

  • F

  • face
    The front of a club or bunker.
    fade
    Type of shot that generally tends to curve to the right in the air (assuming a right-handed player.) A fade is a controlled shot preferred by many players.
    fairway
    The prepared surface running from tee to green.
    fairway wood
    Any wooden club that's not your driver. Nowadays, you say fairway metal because you don't see many wooden clubs anymore.
    fat
    Shot type in which a player hits behind the ball, resulting in a much shorter shot than normal. Fat shots are often characterized by a player taking an excessive divot.
    first cut
    Term given to a section of rough (or higher grass) directly bordering a fairway. The first cut of rough is deemed to be considered &quote;light&quote; rough and may vary from a few yards wide to over 10 yards wide, depending upon the course.
    Five-Minute Rule
    The amount of time (5 minutes) that the USGA Rules allow a player to look for his ball. A ball not found after 5 minutes after the search for it is begun is considered to be lost.
    flag
    Piece of cloth attached to the top of a flagstick.
    flagstick
    The stick with the flag on top, which indicates the location of the cup.
    flange
    Projecting piece of clubhead behind the sole (bottom).
    flat
    Swing that is less upright than normal, and more around the body than up and down.
    flub
    To hit the ball only a few feet.
    flex
    The amount of bend in a shaft.
    Flyer (Flier)
    A shot that flies substantially longer than desired, usually as a result of too much grass between the club face and ball. Flyers are more common from the rough than from the shorter fairway grasses.
    fly the green
    To hit a shot that lands beyond the putting surface.
    follow-through
    The part of the swing after the ball has been struck.
    foozle
    To make a complete mess of a shot.
    fore
    Term yelled toward a group who may be in danger of being hit by an errant shot. The sound of fore is a danger warning to take cover to avoid injury by being struck with a ball.
    forged irons
    Clubs made one by one, without molds.
    forward press
    Targetward shift of the hands, and perhaps a right knee, just prior to takeaway.
    Four Ball
    A type of match in which two players play their better ball against the better ball of two other players.
    foursome
    A match in which two players play against two others, with each side playing one ball. &quote;Foursome&quote; is also applied to any group of 4 golfers playing together; though this is not the USGA definition.
    free drop
    Drop for which no penalty stroke is incurred, generally within one club length of where the ball was.
    fried egg
    Lie in a sand bunker in which most of the ball is below the surface of the sand. Visually, the ball looks like a &quote;fried egg&quote;, hence the term.
    fringe
    Area of grass that borders a putting green. The fringe is typically higher than the grass on the green, but lower than the grass on the fairway.
    froghair
    Thick, tall grass that borders the fringe on certain courses. The froghair, due to its thickness, is a very difficult area from which to play a controlled shot.
    front nine
    The first half of your round of golf; the second half is the back nine holes.
    full swing
    Longest swing you make.
    Futures Tour
    Professional golf circuit for women players, one level away from the LPGA Tour. The top players on the Futures Tour each year gain membership in the LPGA Tour for the following season.

  • G

  • gallery
    Spectators at a tournament.
    GHIN
    Golf Handicap Information Network. The USGA system used by a majority of golf courses in the U.S. to calculate handicaps.
    Gimme
    A shot, usually on the green, but that may be anywhere on the course, that is conceded by a player's opponent. Gimmees are usually applied to short putts that are almost certain to be holed.
    G.I.R
    Slang for greens in regulation - greens hit in regulation number of strokes.
    glove
    Usually worn on the left hand by right-handed players. Helps maintain grip.
    Golden Bear
    Jack Nicklaus.
    Golf Club
    A golf course, either public or private, dedicated solely to golf. There are no pools, tennis courts, etc. at a golf club. Also, the piece of equipment used to hit a golf ball.
    Golf Professional
    A career in golf dedicated to helping others to enjoy the game. This may be accomplished in a number waysgiving lessons, managing operations, running events, etc.
    golf widow(er)
    Your significant other after he or she finds out how much you want to play!
    good-good
    Reciprocal concession of short putts.
    gorse
    Very thick grass and/or shrubs from which it may be impossible to play a shot. Gorse is common on European seaside courses.
    go to school
    Watching your partner's putt and learning from it the line and pace that your putt should have.
    grain
    Direction of growth of blades of grass. Particularly noticeable on putting greens, the grain will have an influence on the direction and speed of the ball as it rolls.
    Grand Slam
    The four major championshipsMasters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship.
    graphite
    Lightweight material used to make shafts and clubheads.
    green
    The shortest-cut grass where you do your putting.
    green jacket
    Prize awarded to the winner of the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.
    greenkeeper
    The person responsible for the condition, care and maintenance of the golf course. He or she may also be called the &quote; greens' superintendent.&quote;
    greens fee
    Fee charged to play a golf course.
    greenside
    Close to the green.
    grip
    Piece of rubber/leather on the end of a club. Or your hold on the club.
    groove
    Scoring along the clubface.
    gross score
    Actual score shot before a handicap is deducted.
    ground the club
    The process of placing the clubhead behind the ball at address, generally touching the bottom of the grass.
    Ground Under Repair (GUR)
    A marked area (usually by paint, chalk or roping) of the course from which a player may move his ball without penalty prior to playing his next shot. Common reasons for GUR to be marked are new constructions, damaged water lines, etc.

  • H

  • Hack(er)
    Slang, derogatory term given to a player of lesser ability.
    half
    Tied hole.
    half shot
    Improvised shot with ordinarily too much club for the distance.
    halve
    To tie a hole.
    ham and egging
    When you and partner play well on alternate holes, forming an effective team.
    handicap
    The number assigned to a player's ability level, as related to the number of strokes over or under par a player is expected to play. The lower the handicap, the better the player. A player's handicap is deducted from his gross score to establish his net score.
    hanging lie
    Your ball is on a slope, lying either above or below your feet.
    hardpan
    Term given to an area of the golf course (not bunkers or hazards) on which no grass is growing. Shots from hardpan are among the most difficult as it requires a high level of skill to get the club under the ball from such lies.
    hazard
    Can be either sand or water. Don't ground your club in hazards - it's against the rules!
    head cover
    Protection for the clubhead, usually used on woods.
    heel
    The part of the club head closest to the hosel. If a shot is struck there, it is said to be &quote;heeled.&quote;
    hickory
    Wood from which shafts used to be made.
    high side
    Area above the hole on a sloping green.
    hogan tour
    Now-defunct professional golf circuit for male players one level below the PGA Tour. The Hogan Tour, sponsored by the Ben Hogan Company, evolved into the Nike Tour and then into the Buy.Com Tour.
    hole
    Your ultimate 4 1/4-inch-wide target.
    hole-high
    Level with the hole.
    hole out
    Complete play on hole.
    home and home match
    A type of competition in which contestants play one round at one home course and the second at the other. Generally used in country club versus country club competition. 
    home green
    The 18th green, or any other designated as the last to be played.
    honor
    The player who hits first on a hole is said to have the &quote;Honor&quote;. The honor is gained by having the lowest score on the most recently played hole.
    hood
    Tilting the toe end of the club toward the hole. Lessens the loft on a club, and generally produces a right-to-left shot.
    Hook
    Type of shot, for a right-handed golfer, that often starts to the right of the target and curves dramatically to the left, usually ending much more left of target than desired. A hook is normally considered to be a non-desirable shot.
    Hooters Tour
    Professional golf circuit, sponsored by the Hooters restaurant chain, for male players a few levels below the PGA Tour. The Hooters Tour schedules events throughout the U.S. each year.
    hosel
    Curved area where the clubhead connects with the shaft.
    hustler
    A golfer who plays for a living. Plays better than he claims to be. Usually leaves your wallet lighter.

  • I

  • impact
    Moment when the club strikes the ball.
    impediment
    Loose debris that you can remove from around your ball as long as the ball doesn't move.
    improve your lie
    To move the ball to make a shot easier. This is illegal unless local rules dictate otherwise.
    initiation
    Fee paid, up-front, prior to joining a private club. An initiation fee may vary between a few hundred dollars to nearly $100,000 at some of the most elite clubs in the world.
    in jail
    Term used when faced with a difficult shot with little option for hitting towards the green.
    in play
    Within the confines of the course (not out-of-bounds).
    insert
    Plate in the face of wooden clubs.
    inside
    Area on your side of a line drawn from the ball to the target.
    Inside-Out
    Swing path in which the player's club, on the downswing, crosses under its path on the backswing, ending up directed more to the right of target than desired. Inside-Out swings typically result in either pushes, draws or hooks, depending on the position of the club face at impact.
    intended line
    The path on which you imagine the ball flying from club to target.
    interlocking
    Type of grip where the little finger of the right hand is entwined with the index finger of the left.
    into out
    Swing path whereby the clubhead moves across the ball-target line from left to right.
    investment cast
    Clubs made from a mold.
    Invitational
    Type of tournament in which contestants must be invited in order to play. The most recognizable invitational event in the world is the Masters Tournament held each spring in Augusta, Georgia.