GOLFING DICTIONARY .... M to Z
[ M ]
MAKE THE CUT... To qualify for the
final rounds of a tournament by scoring well enough in early rounds.
MALLET... A putter that has a head that
is much wider and heavier than that of a blade putter.
MARKER... A small object, like a coin,
that is used to mark the spot of the ball when on the green.
MARKERS... The objects placed at the teeing round that indicate the area in which players must tee their balls.
MARSHAL... A person at a golf course or
tournament to keep order and handle spectators.
MASHIE... Lofted iron club no longer in
use. Also known as a 5 iron.
MASHIE-IRON... An iron club that had
less of a loft than a mashie.
MASHIE NIBLICK... An iron club, no longer in use, with a loft somewhere between that of a mashie and a niblick. A 6 iron.
MATCH PLAY... A competition played with each hole being a separate contest. The team or player winning the most holes, is the winner. The winner of the first hole is "one up". Even if the player wins that hole by two or three strokes, he is still only "one up". This was the original form of golf competition.
MEDALIST... The player with the lowest
qualifying score in a tournament.
MEDAL PLAY... A competition decided by the overall number of strokes used to complete the round or rounds. Same as "stroke play".
MID-IRON... An iron club, no longer in use, A 2 iron.
MID-MASHIE... An iron club, no longer in use. A 3 iron.
MIS-CLUB... To use the wrong club for the shot.
MIS-READ... To not read the green or putt correctly.
MIXED FOURSOME... A foursome with each
side has a male and female player.
MUFF... To miss-hit a shot.
MULLIGAN... A second shot that is allowed to be taken in friendly play only, when a player hits a bad shot.
MUNICIPAL COURSE... A public course open to anyone.
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[ N ]
NASSAU... A three part bet in which separate wagers are made on the first nine, last nine and complete round.
NECK... The tapered part of the shaft
of a club that joins the head.
NET... A player's final score after he
subtracts his handicap.
NIBLICK... An obsolete lofted club, used for playing from sand and from the rough. A 9 iron.
NINE... A nine hole course or the front
or back sequence of 9 holes of an 18 hole course.
NINE IRON... An lofty iron club. Also called a Niblick.
NINETEENTH HOLE... The bar in the clubhouse.
NOSE... The toe of a wooden club.
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[ O ]
OBSERVER... A person who is appointed to assist the referee in a match, to decide questions and report any breach of rules.
OBSTRUCTION... Any artificial object that has been left or placed on the course with the exception of course boundary markers and constructed roads and paths.
OFFSET... A club with the head set behind the shaft.
ONE UP... Used in match play to mean
scoring one hole more than your opponent.
ONE IRON... An iron club with very
little loft. Also called a driving iron.
ONE PUTT... To hole the ball with only one shot on the green.
ONE WOOD... The driver.
OPEN... A tournament in that both amateurs and professionals are allowed to play.
OPEN STANCE... The left foot is behind an imaginary line of the direction of the ball. This allows the golfer to face more in the direction the ball is going to travel.
OUT... The first nine holes of an 18 hole course. The second 9 holes is considered "in".
OUT OF BOUNDS... The area outside of the course which play is prohibited. You are penalized stroke and distance. You must replay the shot with a penalty of one stroke.
OVER CLUB... To use a club that results in the ball traveling too far.
OVERLAPPING GRIP... When used by a right-handed player the little finger of the right hand overlaps the space between the forefinger and second finger of the left hand.
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[ P ]
PAIR... Two golfers playing together in a stroke competition.
PAIRINGS... Groups of two players.
PAR...(1) ... The number of strokes a player should take to finish a round. (2) ... A number assigned to each hole by a course.
PARTNER... Someone who plays together
with another in a match.
PEG... Same as a tee.
PENALTY STROKE... An additional stroke
added to a player's score for a rules violation.
PERSIMMON... A type of wood with a distinctive grain used in many clubs.
PGA... Professional Golfers Association
PICK UP... To take up your ball before holing out. In match play you concede the hole. In stroke play you are disqualified.
PILL... Slang for the ball.
PIN... The marker used to show the
location of the hole.
PIN HIGH... A ball that is even with
the pin but off to one side.
PIN PLACEMENT... The position of a hole on a putting green.
PINEHURST... A game in which a partner plays the other partner's drive. One ball is then selected to finish the hole.
PITCH... A short shot, made by lofting the ball into the air in a high arc and landing the ball with backspin.
PINSETTER... An official responsible
for the placement of the pins.
PITCH & PUTT... A short golf course
designed primarily for pitching and putting.
PITCH & RUN... A pitch shot but hit with a lower-numbered club to reduce loft and backspin. Resulting in the ball to running after it lands on the putting green.
PITCHING IRONS... The short irons.
PITCHING WEDGE... A lofty iron club designed for making pitch shots.
PIVOT ...The rotation of the shoulders,
trunk and pelvis during the golf swing.
PLAY... To hit the ball with the club.
The playing the game of golf.
PLAY OFF... Used to determine a winner
in a tie match by playing extra holes or another round.
PLAYING THROUGH... Passing another group of players on the course who are playing slowly ahead of you.
PLUS HANDICAP... The number of strokes a player gives to adjust his ability to the common level.
POP UP... A short, high shot.
POT BUNKER... A small, deep sand trap with steep sides.
PREFERRED LIE... Local rules which allow a player to improve his lie in a specific manner without penalty.
PROFESSIONAL... A player who receives
payment for teaching or playing in tournaments.
PRO AM... A competition which pairs
amateurs and professionals.
PRO SHOP... The shop at a golf course where golf equipment is sold.
PROVISIONAL BALL... A ball played if the previously played ball may be lost or out of bounds.
PULL... A ball that goes to the left of the target with little curve as hit by a right-handed player.
PUNCH SHOT... Low, controlled shot into the wind. Made with a short swing by hitting the club down into the ball.
PUSH... A ball that goes to the right of the target with very little curving for a right handed player.
PUTT... A shot made on the green.
PUTT OUT... To hole the ball with a
putt or to finish putting.
PUTTER... A short club with a straight
face used to putt.
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[ Q ]
QUALIFYING SCHOOL... Where would-be
professionals attempt to qualify for the PGA and LPGA tours.
QUARTER SHOT... A shot made with a
reduced swing, less a half shot.
QUITTING ON THE BALL... Not hitting
through the shot with your follow through.
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[ R ]
R&A... Royal and Ancient Golf Club of
St. Andrews.
RABBIT... A touring professional with
no tournament exemptions and must qualify to play in tournaments.
RAKE... (1) ... An obsolete lofted iron club, was used for playing from sand and out of water.(2) ... used to rake your foot prints from a sand trap.
RANGE... A practice area.
READING THE GREEN... To determine the path which the ball will likely take on its way to the hole by analyzing the slope, contour and texture of the green.
RECOVER... To make a shot to get yourself back into a satisfactory position on the fairway or onto the green from an undesirable position on the course.
RELEASE... The point in the downswing
where you uncock your wrists.
REVERSE OVERLAP... A putting grip where the index finger of the right hand overlaps the little finger of the left for a right-handed player.
RIFLE... Hitting a shot accurately and
for a great distance.
RIM OUT... To putt a ball that runs
around the edge of the cup and fails to drop in.
ROLL ON A SHOT... To turn the wrists too much at impact.
ROUGH... Thick longer grass areas
adjacent to fairway, greens, tee off areas or in hazards.
ROUND... A complete a game of golf, 18
holes is considered a round.
ROUND ROBIN... A tournament in which every player has the opportunity to play every other player.
RUB OF THE GREEN... An accident, that moves or stops a ball in play. Not caused by a player or caddie, and for which no relief is given under the rules. When your ball is deflected by agencies beyond your control that are not part of the match or the competitor's side in stroke play.
RUN... The distance the ball rolls on
the ground after it lands on the ground.
RUNNING IRON... A club that is used for
making short running shots.
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[ S ]
SANDBAGGER... A golfer who lies about
his ability to gain an edge.
SAND TRAP... Another name for a bunker.
SAND WEDGE... An iron with a heavy flange on the bottom that is used primarily to get out of sand traps.
SANDY... Making par on a hole after being in a bunker.
SCOOP... A swing in where the club has a digging action.
SCOTCH FOURSOME... A match that has partners alternating hitting the same ball. You alternate driving regardless of who holed out on the previous hole.
SCRATCH... Par play. A zero handicap.
SCRATCH PLAYER... A player who has a
zero handicap.
SCRUFF...To misplay the ball by hitting or grazing the ground with the club head prior to hitting the ball.
SEMI PRIVATE COURSE... A course that
has members but is still open to the public.
SET... A complete group of golf clubs.
SET UP... The position you place yourself in at address.
SEVEN IRON... An iron club. Also known as a mashie-niblick.
SHAFT... The part of the club joined to the head.
SHAGGING... Picking up golf balls from practice ranges.
SHANK... A shot struck by the club's hosel, usually ends up to the right of the intended target.
SHORT GAME... The part of the game that
is made up of chip shots, pitching and putting.
SHORT IRONS... The highly lofted irons.
SHOT GUN... The start in tournaments when everyone starts at different holes. A shotgun may be used to start play.
SHOT... to hit the ball.
SHOTMAKER... Someone who has the ability to play many different shots.
SHOTMAKING... The ability to play a great many different shots.
SIDE... (1)... The first 9 holes or the last 9 holes of an 18 hole course. (2)... Two or more players who are partners.
SIDE HILL LIE... A lie with the ball
either above or below your feet.
SINK A PUTT... To make a putt.
SIX IRON... An iron club. Also known as a or spade-mashie.
SKULLING... Hitting the ball at or
above its center causing the ball to be travel too far.
SKY IT... To hit underneath the ball
sending it higher than intended.
SLICE... A shot that curves strongly
from left to right as a result of side spin.
SLOPE RATING... Adjusts your handicap to the difficulty of the course you play. The more difficult the course, the more strokes you'll need. Under slope, golfers will no longer have a handicap. You will have an index. An average course will have a slope rating of 113. Your index is a mathematical calculation of your playing ability on an average course. Maximum index allowed is 36.4 for men and
40.4 for women. Conversion charts will be located at the first tee.
SLUMP... A prolonged period of bad play.
SNAKE... A very long putt that travels
over several breaks in the green.
SNAP HOOK... To hit a shot with an sharp hook.
SOLE... The bottom of the club head.
SOLE PLATE... The metal plate on the bottom of a wood.
SPGA... Senior Professional Golf Association.
SPADE MASHIE... Another term for a 6
iron, no longer used.
SPIKE MARK... The mark made on the
green by the cleats of a golf shoe.
SPOON... Another term for a 3 wood, no longer used.
SPRAY... To hit the ball erratically
off line to the left and right.
SQUARE STANCE... Placing your feet in a
line parallel to the direction you would like the ball to travel.
STABLEFORD... A method of scoring that
uses points instead of strokes.
STANCE... The position of your feet when addressing the ball.
STARTER... Person who determines the
order of play from the first tee.
STICK... The pin or flag stick in the hole.
STIMPMETRE... Superintendents measure green speed with a stimpmetre. Its readings give a snapshot of the green speed at that time of day. Stimpmetre readings in the five to six range mean slow greens, seven to eight mean medium, nine to 10 fast and above 11 extremely fast.
STIPULATED ROUND... The playing of all
holes of a course in the correct order.
STRAIGHT FACED... Refers to a club with
little or no loft on the face.
STROKE... A unit of measurement recording the forward motion of the club head made with the intent to hit the ball whether contact is made or not.
STROKE PLAY... A competition in which the total number of strokes for one round, or a pre-determined number of rounds, determines the winner.
STYMIE... An old term used when an opponent's ball is in the line of the other player's putt. The term is used these days to refer to a tree or object in the path of an intended shot.
SUDDEN DEATH... When in a match or
stroke competition the score is tied after completing the round, play continues until one player wins a hole.
SUMMER RULES... Ordinary play according
the Rules of Golf.
SUOINATION... The rotation of the wrist
so that the palm of the hand faces upward.
SURLYN... Material from which most golf
balls are made of.
SWALE... A moderate contoured
depression or dip in the terrain on a hole.
SWEET SPOT... The center of the face of the club (center of gravity). The best place to hit the ball on your club.
SWING... The action of stroking the ball.
SWING WEIGHT... The measure of a club's head weight as felt during the swing.Given as a letter, number ie. D-1 would be mens normal average swing weight. This weight or feel is often confused with a clubs total weight, which is a completely different measurement.
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[ T ]
TAKEAWAY... The start of the back swing.
TAP IN... A very short putt.
TEE... A disposable wooden peg which
the ball is placed for driving.
TEE BOX... The area from which the ball
is hit on the first shot of a hole.
TEE OFF... To hit or play a tee shot.
tee up - To place the ball on the tee.
TEE SHOT... A shot played from a tee.
TEEING GROUND... The area in which you
must tee off your ball. Ball must be teed off within the markers and no more than two club lengths behind them according to the rules.
TEMPORARY GREEN... A green used in the
winter to save the permanent green or when a green is under repair.
TEND THE PIN... To hold the flag stick
while another player putts.
TEXAS WEDGE... What a putter is called
when it used from off the green.
THIN... A ball is hit thin when it is
hit above center with the club head traveling on too high a line.
THREAD... To direct the ball through a narrow opening.
THREE BALL... Three players playing
against each other with each playing their own ball.
THREE IRON... An iron club. Also called a mid-mashie.
THREE PUTT... To take three putts on a green.
THREE QUARTER SHOP... Less than a full
shot. A shot made with a reduced swing.
THREESOME...(1) ... A match in which two players play the same ball and alternate strokes and play against a single player. (2) ... Three players playing a round together.three-wood - A wooden club. Also known as a spoon.
TITANIUM... A lightweight material used
to make shafts and club heads.
TIGHT FAIRWAY... A narrow fairway.
TOE... The part of the club farthest
from where in joins the shaft.
TOED IN... A club head having a prominent toe with a slightly turned-in face.
TOP... To hit the ball above its center
causing it to roll or hop rather than rise off the fairway.
TOPSPIN... The forward rotation of a
ball in motion.
TOUCH... Accuracy, especially in
pitching, chipping and putting.
TOUCH SHOT... A very delicate shot.
TOUR... A series of tournaments for professionals.
TOUR PRO... A professional golfer who
primarily competes in tournaments.
TOURNAMENT... A stroke or match play
competition which a number of golfers compete.
TRAJECTORY... The flight path of the ball.
TRIPLE EAGLE... A four-under par shot
or a hole-in-one on a par 5.
TROUBLE SHOT... A shot with a bad lie in the rough, bunker or behind a tree.
TURN... To start the back 9 holes.
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[ U ]
UNCOCK... To straighten the wrists in the downswing.
UNDERCLUBBING... Hitting a shot with a
club that does not give the needed distance to the target area.
UNDERSPIN... Same as backspin.
UNPLAYABLE LIE... A lie in which the
ball is impossible to play.
UP...(1)... A shot reaching at least as far as the hole. (2)...A specified number of strokes you are ahead of your opponent in match play.
UP & DOWN... Getting out of trouble
with one shot and holing your next putt.
UPRIGHT SWING... A swing that carries
the club head more directly backward and upward from the ball.
U.S.G.A.... United States Golf Association.
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[ V ]
VARDON GRIP... An overlapping grip.
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[ W ]
WAGGLE... Movement of the club behind
or over the ball head prior to swinging.
WATER CLUB... Obsolete club that was
designed for playing the ball from a water hazard.
WATER HOLE... A hole with water, such
as a stream or lake, that forces the players to shoot over it.
WEDGE... An iron used for short shots
that has a high-loft, a pitching wedge or sand wedge.
WHIFF... To swing and miss the ball completely.
WINTER RULES... Local golf rules that
allow the player to improve the lie of the ball on the fairway.
WOOD... A club, made of either wood or metal, that has a large head and is used for shots requiring greater distance.
WORMBURNER... A ball hit that hugs the ground.
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[ X ]
X-OUT... used by golf ball companies to cross out a logo on a ball, which denotes a second or ball not up to standards.
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[ Y ]
YARDAGE RATING... The rating of the
difficulty in playing a hole based on yardage only.
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[ Z ]
ZONE... a golfer who is playing great
is sometimes said to be in the zone
