Category

Term	Abbreviation	Category	Description	Usage & Notes
Par	—	Scoring Terms	The expected number of strokes a skilled golfer should need to complete a hole or round.	Keeping pace with par is crucial in stroke-play championships.
Birdie	—	Scoring Terms	A score of one stroke under par on a hole.	She rolled in a ten-footer to secure birdie on the par four.
Eagle	—	Scoring Terms	A score of two strokes under par on a hole.	Reaching the par five in two set up an easy putt for eagle.
Albatross	—	Scoring Terms	A score of three strokes under par on a single hole, also called a double eagle.	He holed his second shot on the par five for an unforgettable albatross.
Condor	—	Scoring Terms	An extremely rare score of four strokes under par on a hole, such as an ace on a par five.	Stories of condors usually come from short, downhill par fives.
Ace	—	Scoring Terms	Holing the ball with a single swing from the tee, most common on par-three holes.	He bought drinks in the clubhouse to celebrate his first ace.
Bogey	—	Scoring Terms	A score of one stroke over par on a hole.	His tee shot found the bunker, leading to a bogey on the seventh.
Double Bogey	—	Scoring Terms	A score of two strokes over par on a hole.	Avoiding double bogeys is essential to keeping a round together.
Triple Bogey	—	Scoring Terms	A score of three strokes over par on a hole.	Minimizing triple bogeys starts with smart decisions after a tee shot penalty.
Gross Score	—	Scoring Terms	The total number of strokes actually taken on the course before any handicap adjustments.	Post your gross score to the handicap system after every acceptable round.
Net Score	—	Scoring Terms	A player's gross score minus their applied handicap strokes to level the competition.	Weekly leagues often crown winners based on the lowest net score.
Handicap Index	HI	Scoring Terms	A numerical measure of a golfer's potential ability used to calculate course handicaps.	Update your handicap index after every round posted to the governing association.
Course Handicap	CH	Scoring Terms	The number of handicap strokes a player receives on a specific course and set of tees.	Check the chart in the golf shop to convert your index to the day's course handicap.
Slope Rating	—	Scoring Terms	A number indicating the relative difficulty of a course for bogey golfers compared to scratch players.	Higher slope ratings add more handicap strokes for the same index.
Handicap Differential	—	Scoring Terms	Adjusted score relative to course rating and slope used as the building block of the handicap index.	Only your lowest handicap differentials are factored into the current index.
Fade	—	Shot Types	A gentle shot that curves slightly from left to right for a right-handed golfer.	He played a fade to hold the fairway against the crosswind.
Draw	—	Shot Types	A controlled shot that curves from right to left for a right-handed player.	The tee shot required a draw to follow the dogleg left.
Hook	—	Shot Types	A ball flight that starts right of the target line and curves sharply left for a right-hander.	His quick hands produced a hook that dove into the trees.
Slice	—	Shot Types	A shot that starts left of the target and curves sharply right for a right-handed golfer.	His slice missed the fairway and splashed into the pond.
Push	—	Shot Types	A shot that starts right of the target line and stays right without curving back for a right-hander.	A closed stance can cause a push that never threatens the flag.
Pull	—	Shot Types	A shot that starts left of the intended line and stays left without curving back for a right-hander.	An over-the-top move often produces a pull that misses the green long and left.
Punch Shot	—	Shot Types	A low-trajectory shot played to reduce spin and height, often used in the wind.	She hit a punch shot under the tree branches to reach the green.
Stinger	—	Shot Types	A piercing, low-flying tee or fairway shot that bores through the wind with minimal spin.	He pulled the stinger out on the narrow finishing hole to stay short of trouble.
Chip Shot	—	Shot Types	A short shot played around the green that spends more time rolling than in the air.	Practice crisp chip shots to control distance on tight pins.
Pitch Shot	—	Shot Types	A lofted short-game shot that flies higher than a chip and stops quickly on the green.	Use the bounce of your wedge to slide through the turf on pitch shots.
Flop Shot	—	Shot Types	A lofted shot played with an open-faced wedge to send the ball very high with little roll.	The tight pin over the bunker demanded a delicate flop shot.
Bump and Run	—	Shot Types	A low chip that lands just onto the green and rolls like a putt toward the hole.	Choose bump and run when you have plenty of green to work with.
Greenside Bunker Shot	—	Shot Types	A shot played from sand near the green, using the bounce of the wedge to splash the ball out.	Open the clubface and accelerate through the sand on greenside bunker shots.
Lag Putt	—	Shot Types	A long-distance putt played primarily to finish close to the hole rather than to make it.	Great lag putting saved him countless three-putts on fast greens.
Driver	—	Club Types	The longest club with the largest head, designed for maximum distance off the tee.	Choose driver when you need to carry the fairway bunkers.
Fairway Wood	—	Club Types	A fairway club with a shallow face, used for distance from the tee or fairway.	The narrow hole called for a controlled fairway wood from the tee.
Hybrid	—	Club Types	A club that blends features of woods and irons to launch the ball easily from varied lies.	Swap in a hybrid when the long iron is difficult to launch.
Driving Iron	—	Club Types	A hollow-bodied, low-lofted iron designed to produce penetrating tee or approach shots.	He relies on a driving iron for accuracy on firm, windy courses.
Iron Set	—	Club Types	A progression of numbered irons used for approach shots with varying lofts and distances.	Dial in your iron set gapping to cover every approach yardage.
Long Iron	—	Club Types	Lower-lofted irons such as the 2, 3, or 4 iron that produce flatter, longer shots.	Long irons require solid contact to launch from tight fairways.
Short Iron	—	Club Types	Higher-lofted irons like the 8, 9, and pitching wedge used for precise approach shots.	Short irons help control trajectory when attacking tight pins.
Pitching Wedge	PW	Club Types	A wedge with moderate loft used for full swings and controlled approach shots.	Pitching wedge gapping often bridges the irons and specialty wedges.
Gap Wedge	GW	Club Types	A wedge filling the loft gap between pitching and sand wedges, ideal for approach yardages.	Dial in your gap wedge to cover those 100-yard shots.
Sand Wedge	SW	Club Types	A high-bounce wedge tailored for bunker play and soft turf shots.	Match your sand wedge bounce to the bunkers you face most often.
Lob Wedge	LW	Club Types	An ultra-lofted wedge for high, soft shots around the green.	Practice open-face swings with the lob wedge to stop the ball quickly.
Putter	—	Club Types	A club with minimal loft used on the green to roll the ball into the hole.	Experiment with different putter grips to improve feel and aim.
Blade Putter	—	Club Types	A traditional narrow-headed putter that emphasizes feel and arc-style strokes.	Players with more face rotation often prefer a blade putter.
Mallet Putter	—	Club Types	A larger, more forgiving putter head that stabilizes straight-back strokes.	The high-MOI mallet putter kept his start line steady on slick greens.
Golf Ball	—	Training & Equipment	A dimpled sphere designed to travel efficiently through the air and react to spin.	Match your golf ball model to your spin and feel preferences.
Golf Tee	—	Training & Equipment	A small peg that elevates the ball for tee shots to promote clean contact.	Adjust tee height to control launch angle with your driver.
Golf Bag	—	Training & Equipment	A carrying case that organizes clubs, balls, and accessories during a round.	Carry bags keep weight down for players who prefer to walk.
Golf Glove	—	Training & Equipment	A fitted glove worn on the lead hand to improve grip and prevent blisters.	Replace your golf glove when it feels slick or stretched out.
Golf Shoes	—	Training & Equipment	Footwear with spikes or traction patterns to provide stability during the swing.	Modern spikeless golf shoes blend comfort with plenty of grip.
Ball Marker	—	Training & Equipment	A small, flat object placed behind the ball on the green to mark its position.	Always use a ball marker before lifting your ball to clean it.
Divot Repair Tool	—	Training & Equipment	A forked tool used to repair ball marks and divots on the green.	Use a divot repair tool properly to keep the putting surface smooth.
Rangefinder	—	Training & Equipment	A handheld laser device that measures precise distances to flags, hazards, or landmarks.	Confirm the front edge yardage with your rangefinder before selecting a club.
GPS Watch	—	Training & Equipment	A wearable device that provides front, middle, and back green distances using satellite data.	A GPS watch speeds up play when yardage books are not available.
Launch Monitor	—	Training & Equipment	A radar or camera-based device that captures ball speed, spin, and flight metrics.	A launch monitor session reveals gapping issues in your wedges.
Alignment Stick	—	Training & Equipment	A rod or stick placed on the ground to help practice aim, swing path, and setup alignment.	Use alignment sticks to rehearse ball position and foot stance on the range.
Yardage Book	—	Training & Equipment	A booklet containing detailed hole layouts, yardages, and green contours for strategy.	Caddies annotate the yardage book with wind notes during practice rounds.
Fairway	—	Course Areas	The closely mown area between the tee and green designed for approach shots.	Aim for the wide fairway to leave a clear angle into the green.
Rough	—	Course Areas	Taller, thicker grass bordering the fairway that penalizes inaccurate shots.	Heavy rough around the green demands steeper contact.
Putting Green	—	Course Areas	The finely cut surface surrounding the hole where putting takes place.	Read the grain and slope of the green before stroking your putt.
Bunker	—	Course Areas	A prepared area of sand that serves as a hazard requiring specialized technique.	Open the clubface for more bounce when escaping a greenside bunker.
Teeing Area	—	Course Areas	The starting area of a hole defined by tee markers where the first shot is played.	Stay behind the markers when teeing off to avoid a penalty.
Collar	—	Course Areas	The slightly longer grass surrounding the green that transitions into the fairway or rough.	A tight collar may encourage putting instead of chipping.
Penalty Area	—	Course Areas	A body of water or other marked area where relief is allowed with penalty strokes.	Study drop options when a penalty area guards the front of the green.
Fairway Bunker	—	Course Areas	A sand bunker positioned within or alongside the fairway to challenge tee shots.	Plan your carry distance to stay short of the fairway bunker.
Dogleg	—	Course Areas	A hole where the fairway bends to the left or right, requiring shaped shots or positioning.	Plot the dogleg angle from the tee to choose the ideal line.
Course Management	—	Strategy & Planning	Planning each hole by considering hazards, strengths, and optimal landing areas.	Solid course management keeps big numbers off the scorecard.
Risk-Reward Decision	—	Strategy & Planning	Weighing potential payoff against the danger of hazards before choosing a shot.	On the reachable par five, he analyzed the risk-reward before going for the green.
Lay Up	—	Strategy & Planning	Choosing a shorter, safer shot to stay short of hazards and set up the next stroke.	He decided to lay up with a seven-iron instead of risking the water.
Target Line	—	Strategy & Planning	The intended line from the ball to the chosen target that guides setup and swing path.	Align your clubface first, then set your feet parallel to the target line.
Pre-shot Routine	—	Strategy & Planning	A consistent sequence of actions and thoughts before a shot to enhance focus and execution.	Stick to your pre-shot routine even under pressure to calm nerves.
Shot Shaping Plan	—	Strategy & Planning	Selecting a preferred curvature to fit the hole layout or wind conditions.	Commit to your shot shaping plan before stepping into the ball.
Play the Wind	—	Strategy & Planning	Adjusting aim, club selection, and trajectory to account for wind direction and strength.	Into the crosswind he aimed right to play the wind back to the flag.
Leave Below the Hole	—	Strategy & Planning	Positioning the approach so the next putt is uphill for better speed control.	On fast greens always try to leave below the hole to stay aggressive.
Percentage Play	—	Strategy & Planning	Choosing the shot with the greatest likelihood of success even if it is less spectacular.	Tournament leaders often rely on percentage play instead of chasing flagsticks.
Out of Bounds	OB	Rules & Relief	An area marked by white stakes or lines where play is prohibited, resulting in stroke and distance.	Check the course map to know where out-of-bounds lines pinch the fairway.
Penalty Stroke	—	Rules & Relief	An additional stroke added to a player's score for rule infractions or relief options.	Taking relief from the cart path costs one penalty stroke.
Relief Area	—	Rules & Relief	The defined zone where a player must drop when taking relief under the Rules of Golf.	Mark the relief area before dropping to ensure the ball stays within bounds.
Grounding the Club	—	Rules & Relief	Placing the clubhead on the ground behind the ball; restricted in bunkers and penalty areas.	Remember not to ground the club in a hazard before making your swing.
Embedded Ball Relief	—	Rules & Relief	Relief procedure that allows a free drop when the ball is embedded in its own pitch mark.	Verify local rules to confirm embedded ball relief is allowed in the rough.
Provisional Ball	—	Rules & Relief	A second ball played when the original may be lost or out of bounds to save time.	Announce and play a provisional ball before you advance from the tee.
Lost Ball	—	Rules & Relief	A ball not found or identified within three minutes, requiring stroke-and-distance relief.	Call time when the search starts to track the lost ball limit.
Unplayable Lie	—	Rules & Relief	A situation where the player declares the ball unplayable and takes relief with penalty under Rule 19.	Taking an unplayable lie sometimes saves more strokes than hacking out sideways.
Stroke and Distance	—	Rules & Relief	Relief option where the player adds one stroke and plays again from the spot of the previous shot.	Stroke and distance is mandatory for balls out of bounds or not found.
Major Championship	—	Tournaments & Events	One of the four most prestigious annual tournaments—Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open.	Completing the career grand slam requires winning every major championship.
Masters Tournament	—	Tournaments & Events	The first major of the year, played every April at Augusta National Golf Club.	Winning the Masters earns the iconic green jacket.
PGA Championship	—	Tournaments & Events	Season's second major, organized by the PGA of America and awarding the Wanamaker Trophy.	Major champions earn a five-year PGA Championship exemption.
U.S. Open	—	Tournaments & Events	The USGA's annual major known for demanding course setups and open qualifying.	Players often adjust equipment for the U.S. Open's penal rough.
The Open Championship	—	Tournaments & Events	Golf's oldest major, staged on seaside links courses across the United Kingdom.	Controlling trajectory is vital at The Open Championship.
The Players Championship	—	Tournaments & Events	Flagship PGA Tour event often called the fifth major, played at TPC Sawgrass.	The Players Championship tests every facet of a player's game.
Ryder Cup	—	Tournaments & Events	Biennial team event pitting the United States against Europe in match play formats.	Pairings strategy is vital during Ryder Cup foursomes.
Presidents Cup	—	Tournaments & Events	Biennial team competition between the United States and an International squad outside Europe.	The Presidents Cup uses similar formats to the Ryder Cup but features different opponents.
Solheim Cup	—	Tournaments & Events	Premier women's team event featuring the United States versus Europe in match play formats.	The Solheim Cup delivers passionate crowds and dramatic finishes.
FedExCup Playoffs	—	Tournaments & Events	Series of PGA Tour events that determine the season champion through a points reset and finale.	Advancing deep into the FedExCup Playoffs requires consistent top finishes.
Tour Championship	—	Tournaments & Events	Season-ending PGA Tour event at East Lake Golf Club that crowns the FedExCup champion.	The Tour Championship uses staggered starting scores based on FedExCup points.
Olympic Golf Tournament	—	Tournaments & Events	Men's and women's 72-hole stroke-play events contested as part of the Summer Olympic Games.	Qualifying for the Olympic golf tournament depends on world ranking points.
Qualifying School	—	Tournaments & Events	Multi-stage qualifying tournaments that award professional tour cards to top finishers.	Many aspiring pros spend years chasing status through qualifying school.
Strokes Gained	SG	Performance Stats	A metric comparing a player's performance on each shot to the field average using shot-level data.	Analysts break down strokes gained off the tee versus on the greens.
Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green	SG TTG	Performance Stats	Aggregate strokes gained from tee shots, approach play, and short game before putting.	Her strokes gained tee-to-green ranked top five on tour this season.
Strokes Gained Putting	SG P	Performance Stats	The number of strokes a player gains or loses on the greens compared to the field.	Improved pace control boosted his strokes gained putting dramatically.
Greens in Regulation	GIR	Performance Stats	Percentage of holes where the player reaches the green in two strokes less than par.	Improving GIR often lowers scoring by creating more birdie chances.
Fairways Hit	FH	Performance Stats	Percentage of tee shots on par 4s and par 5s that come to rest in the fairway.	Narrow layouts reward players with high fairways hit percentages.
Scrambling	SCR	Performance Stats	Percentage of holes where a player makes par or better after missing the green in regulation.	Elite scrambling keeps rounds together when irons are off.
Sand Save Percentage	SS%	Performance Stats	Rate of escaping greenside bunkers and still making par or better.	Improving sand save percentage requires reliable bunker technique.
Putting Average	PA	Performance Stats	Average number of putts taken per hole or per round, indicating putting efficiency.	Tracking putting average helps identify progress from practice sessions.
Scoring Average	SA	Performance Stats	Average number of strokes per round, often adjusted for course difficulty.	Lowering scoring average requires balanced gains across the bag.
Bogey Avoidance	BA	Performance Stats	Percentage of holes completed at par or better, highlighting consistency and damage control.	Strong bogey avoidance kept him in contention despite few birdies.
Ready Golf	—	Etiquette & Conduct	A pace-of-play guideline encouraging the first player ready to hit when safe to proceed.	Adopt ready golf in casual rounds to avoid long waits between shots.
Repair Ball Marks	—	Etiquette & Conduct	Fixing the indentation caused by an approach shot on the green to preserve smooth surfaces.	Always repair your ball mark and one other before leaving the green.
Replace Divots	—	Etiquette & Conduct	Putting displaced turf back in place or filling with mix to heal fairway scars.	Use the sand bottles on the cart to replace divots as you go.
Rake the Bunker	—	Etiquette & Conduct	Smoothing footprints and club marks in the sand after exiting a bunker for the next player.	Enter the bunker at the low side and rake the bunker on your way out.
Pace of Play	—	Etiquette & Conduct	Maintaining the recommended time to complete holes so groups stay in position.	Walk briskly between shots to uphold proper pace of play.
Quiet Please	—	Etiquette & Conduct	Reminder to stay silent during another player's swing to avoid distractions.	Hold the sign high and say "Quiet please" before the leader hits.
Yell "Fore"	—	Etiquette & Conduct	Warning shout used to alert others of a stray shot so they can take cover.	If your shot heads toward another group, immediately yell "Fore".
Mind the Line	—	Etiquette & Conduct	Avoiding stepping on or dragging equipment across another player's putting line.	Walk around the hole to mind the line of your partners.
Tend the Flag	—	Etiquette & Conduct	Holding or removing the flagstick for another player so they can see the hole clearly.	Ask if your partner wants you to tend the flag before they putt.
Stroke Play	—	Formats & Games	Competition where the total number of strokes taken over the round determines the winner.	Most professional events use stroke play over four rounds.
Match Play	—	Formats & Games	Format where competitors win, lose, or halve individual holes rather than counting total strokes.	Concede short putts strategically in match play to build goodwill.
Stableford	—	Formats & Games	Points-based scoring system awarding positive or negative points relative to par on each hole.	Stableford encourages aggressive play because big numbers don't ruin the entire round.
Scramble	—	Formats & Games	Team format where all players hit, then select the best shot and play subsequent shots from that spot.	Charity outings often use a scramble to keep pace fast and scores low.
Four-ball	—	Formats & Games	Team format where partners each play their own ball and the lower score counts for the side.	Many international matches alternate four-ball and foursomes sessions.
Foursomes	—	Formats & Games	Team format where partners play one ball alternately from tee to hole.	Communication is essential in foursomes to manage shot order.
Skins Game	—	Formats & Games	Each hole is a separate contest worth a set value; ties carry the skin to the next hole.	Skins games add excitement to friendly rounds by rewarding individual holes.
Shamble	—	Formats & Games	Team format where all players tee off, choose the best drive, then play their own ball into the hole.	Corporate outings like the shamble because it blends teamwork and individual play.