ByGolf slang is not just about serious terminology; it also brings a healthy dose of humor to the game. Imagine playing a round of golf and hearing someone exclaim, “I just hit a ‘Worm Burner’!” This term refers to a shot that barely lifts off the ground, skimming perilously close to the grass. It’s not exactly the majestic soaring shot you’d hope for, but it’s definitely good for a laugh. And let’s not forget about the infamous “Happy Gilmore Swing.” Inspired by the Adam Sandler movie, this term is used to describe a swing where the golfer takes a running start before belting the ball with a wild and unorthodox swing motion. It’s a playful nod to the unconventional and, let’s admit it, slightly ridiculous technique.
Mastering golf slang is like unlocking a hidden treasure chest of camaraderie and laughter on the fairways!
Also, who can resist the comical “Texas Wedge”? It refers to using a putter from off the green as if it were a wedge club, in a desperate attempt to save strokes. It’s a daring move that often leads to chuckles among spectators. It’s True that golf is a concerned sport, But the clever and lively golf lingo injects a pleasant dash of fun into the game, serving as a gentle reminder to not take ourselves too seriously and to enjoy the joy and fun that come with participating in this adored sport. Let’s learn the Clever Golf Slang and terms to change the game!
Ace To Zigzag: Clever Golf Slang and Terms To Rock In Green
Golf slang is used for a variety of purposes during play and adds a lighthearted and entertaining flavor to the sport, which enhances interactions and conversation on the course. Golfers frequently have a strong sense of camaraderie and utilize slang to have fun with one another and compete in a friendly manner.
Exploring golf slang is like peering into the secret code of golfers, revealing a world of shared understanding and inside jokes!
Golf lingo also fosters a sense of community and belonging among players. Golfers who use and comprehend these slang terms do so because they are associated with the sport and speak the same language. It enhances the social component of the game by encouraging a sense of connection and understanding among golfers. Let’s learn them to rock in the green to hit a fat shot!
| Ace: Scoring a hole-in-one, where the ball is directly hit into the cup from the tee. Air Mail: Hitting a shot that sails over the intended target or green. Army Golf: Describing a player whose shots go in different directions, resembling a marching army. (Left, right, left) Approach Shot: The shot played toward the green with the intention of landing the ball close to the pin. Augusta: Referring to Augusta National Golf Club, the iconic course that hosts the Master’s Tournament. Automatic: When a golfer consistently and effortlessly makes putts without any hesitation. Away: Indicating that a golfer is farthest from the hole and should play their shot first. Address: The position a golfer takes just before hitting the ball, with feet set and club grounded. Am-Am: An amateur tournament or event where players compete for prizes. Alignment: The positioning of a golfer’s body and club in relation to the target before a shot. All Square: When two golfers or teams have the same score in a match, resulting in a tie. Approach Wedge: A wedge club with a higher loft is used for shorter approach shots. Apron: The closely mown area surrounding the green, also known as the fringe. Awkward Lie: A challenging or uncomfortable position of the ball, such as on a slope or in deep rough. Afraid of The Dark: When the put ball teasingly stays on the edge of the hole, refusing to drop in. At The Turn: Referring to the halfway point of an 18-hole round, typically after the 9th hole. “A” Game: A golfer’s consistent and exceptional level of performance is displayed on a regular basis. |
Birdie in Golf: Scoring one stroke under par on a hole. It’s a cause for celebration. Bogey: Scoring one stroke over par on a hole. It’s a common term for a minor setback. Bunker: A hazard on the course filled with sand, often requiring strategic shots to escape. Barkie: A shot that hits a tree but ends up in a favorable position, much to the golfer’s delight. Break: The amount of curve or slope on a green that affects how a putt will roll. Ball Marker: A small object, usually a coin or disc, used to mark the position of a golfer’s ball on the green. Banana Ball: Refers to a shot where the ball curves sharply in a “banana-shaped” trajectory, commonly known as a slice. Buggy: Another term for a golf cart, providing a convenient way to navigate the course. Backswing: The initial part of the swing where the club is taken backward before moving forward to strike the ball. Better Ball: A type of golf game where two players on a team play their own balls, and the lower score of the two on each hole counts. Back Nine: The final nine holes of an 18-hole golf course, usually played after completing the front nine. Buzzard (aka Double Bogey): Scoring two strokes over par on a hole, humorously likened to a buzzard as it’s considered a less favorable outcome. Bite: Used to describe a ball with significant backspin that stays close to its landing spot or even spins back toward the player. Players may humorously shout “Grow teeth!” to encourage the ball to stop near the hole. |
Chili Dip/ Fat/Chunk shot: Describing the act of hitting the ground behind the ball before making contact, resulting in a less-than-desired shot. Chipping: This term refers to a short shot typically taken from just off the green, often requiring precision and finesse. Cuban: A putting action where the ball stops short of dropping into the cup, reminiscent of the delicate touch needed for a perfect putt. Cup: The hole on the green, typically measuring 4.5 inches in diameter and 4 inches deep, where the ball needs to be successfully sunk. Cabbage /Spinach: It refers to hitting the ball into thick rough that seems nearly impossible to escape. Can: A slang term used to refer to the “Cup” on the green, where the ball needs to be sunk. Carpet: A term used to describe the smooth, well-manicured surface of the “Green.” Casual water: Standing water on the golf course after heavy rain is not considered a water hazard. Players are allowed to move the ball without penalty. Cat Box: A playful term for a sand bunker, resembling a box that cats might enjoy. Chicken Stick: When faced with a challenging shot, a golfer opts for a play-it-safe club that matches their abilities to execute the shot properly. |
Deep: Describing a hole or flagstick that is positioned towards the back of the green, requiring players to hit their shots with accuracy and precision. Dew Sweepers: Referring to players in a professional tournament with the earliest tee times, typically during the third or fourth round when the dew is still on the course. Dog Track /Goat Track: Describing a golf course that is in poor condition, and lacking maintenance and quality. Dribbler/ Fat Shot: A shot that only travels a short distance forward, barely moving beyond a few feet from the starting point. Duck Hook/ Snap Hook: A shot that curves sharply from right to left for a right-handed golfer, typically flying off target on a low trajectory. Duffer /Hacker: A term used to describe an “inexperienced” or mediocre golfer who may struggle with their game. Dance floor: A term used to refer to the “Green,” where the ball needs to be rolled into the cup. Dawn patrol: Golfers who eagerly play at the break of sunrise, venturing out onto the course early in the morning. Divot: The small chunk of turf that is dislodged when a player’s club head strikes the ground while hitting the ball. Drained: A slang term used to express sinking a putt successfully, implying a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. |
| Eagle: Scoring two strokes under par on a hole, is considered a significant achievement. Easy peasy: A playful term used to describe a shot or hole that is relatively simple and requires minimal effort. Etiquette: The code of conduct and manners that golfers follow on the course, promoting respect and fair play. Explorers: Golfers who tend to hit their shots off-target and spend a significant amount of time searching for their balls in the rough or hazards. |
| Fade: A shot that curves gently from left to right for a right-handed golfer (opposite for a left-handed golfer). Fairway: The closely mown area between the tee and the green where golfers aim to land their drives. Fat Shot: When a golfer strikes the ground behind the ball before making contact, resulting in a shot that doesn’t travel far. Flop Shot: A high, soft shot played with an open clubface, designed to get the ball to stop quickly upon landing. Foot Wedge: Playfully refers to the act of surreptitiously using one’s foot to nudge the ball into a more favorable position. Fore!: A warning is shouted to alert others on the course when a shot is headed in their direction. Four-Ball: A type of golf match where teams of two golfers compete, with each player playing their own ball. Foursomes: A format of play where two-player teams alternate hitting the same ball. Fried Egg: When a ball buried in a bunker or soft ground leaves a deep depression resembling a fried egg. Front Nine: The first nine holes of an 18-hole golf course. |
| Gallery: The crowd or spectators who follow and watch a professional golfer during a tournament. Gimme: A putt that is so short and considered easy that it is conceded by other players without requiring it to be holed. Goosebumps: The feeling of excitement or nervousness that golfers experience during important shots or critical moments on the course. Greenie: A side bet in which the player who lands their ball closest to the pin on a par-3 hole wins the wager. Grip it and rip it: A phrase used to encourage hitting the ball with power and without hesitation. Grounding: Touching the clubhead to the ground before making a stroke, typically done in a bunker or on the fairway. Gun it: To hit the ball with maximum power and distance, usually with the driver or a long iron. GUR (Ground Under Repair): An area on the course that is temporarily designated as being under repair, allowing the player to take relief without penalty. Golf clap: A soft and polite applause from spectators after a good shot or successful putt. Golden Ferret: A rare occurrence where a ball is holed directly from a bunker shot without bouncing or rolling on the green. |
Hacker: A term used to describe an inexperienced or less-skilled golfer who struggles with their game. Handicap: A numerical measure of a golfer’s ability that indicates the number of strokes they need to play to par. Hole-in-One: Hitting the ball into the hole with a single stroke from the tee, an extraordinary achievement. Honors: The privilege of hitting first on the next hole, usually awarded to the player with the lowest score on the previous hole. Hook: A shot that curves sharply from right to left for a right-handed golfer (opposite for a left-handed golfer). Hybrid: A type of golf club that combines the characteristics of both irons and woods, designed for versatility and distance. HAZMAT: A lighthearted term referring to a golfer’s errant shot that ends up in a hazardous area such as water or deep rough. High Side: Refers to a missed putt that just barely misses on the high side of the hole. Hippo: Slang for a golf shot that is hit fat or heavy, resulting in the ball traveling a shorter distance than intended. Hot Streak: When a golfer experiences a series of exceptional shots or holes, playing well above their usual level. |
Iffy lie: A ball that is in an unfavorable lie and may not be hit accurately for a successful golf shot. Inside the Leather: this term refers to a putt that is conceded because it is within the length of the putter grip. Irons: Golf clubs with metal heads and shorter shafts, typically used for shots from the fairway or rough. |
Jigger: An old-fashioned term for a short iron club used for low-trajectory shots. Juicy lie: provides a good, clean hit. The ball should be sitting on top of the grass as if it were mounted on a short Tee when it has a juicy lie. Jaws: The edges or rims of the golf hole. Jungle: a golf ball that was struck into the roughest, deepest part of the course. |
| Kick: When a golfer seeks a good kick, they want the ball to land in a favorable spot. Knuckleball: A shot that spins inconsistently in the air, similar to the unpredictable movement of a knuckleball in baseball. Knee-knocker: When a golfer has a short putt (between three and four feet) left on the next Putt, they experience a knee-knocker. |
Links: Golf courses are located along coastal areas characterized by sandy soil, dunes, and natural hazards. Lob Shot: A high, short shot typically played around the green to clear an obstacle and land softly. Lumberjack: When a golfer repeatedly hits a ball into a forested area during a round while attempting to escape the woods. Lie: The position or location of the golf ball when it is in play is the Lie. Loop: Referring to a caddie’s work of carrying a golfer’s bag and providing assistance during a round. Long Iron: A type of golf club with a lower loft and longer shaft, typically used for long shots from the fairway. Lip Out: When a putt narrowly misses the edge of the hole and fails to drop. Little White Ball: A playful term often used to refer to a golf ball. Lucky Bounce: When a ball takes an unexpected favorable bounce or deflection, resulting in a better position on the course. Loft: in golf refers to the degree or angle of the clubface. It specifically refers to the angle between the clubface and the vertical plane. |
| Mallet Putter: A type of putter with a larger, more forgiving clubhead shape, resembling a mallet. Mashie: An old-fashioned term for a 5-iron club. Modified scramble: Golfers choose their best shot off the tee, transfer all of their balls to that location, and then play individual stroke play for the remainder of the hole in a modified scramble tournament format. Medal Play: A scoring format in golf where the player’s total number of strokes is counted to determine the winner. Mulligan: A do-over or a second chance to hit a shot, often used in casual rounds without penalty. Mickey Mouse course: The term “Mickey Mouse course” describes a course with a lot of short holes and poor upkeep. Match play: A golf format in which winning holes is the objective rather than counting strokes. |
| Nail it: To hit a shot perfectly and exactly as intended, often used to describe a long and straight drive. Niblick: An old-fashioned term for a 9-iron club. Nineteenth (19th) hole: in golf slang refers to the clubhouse bar or the social gathering spot after a round of golf. Nuke it: To hit the ball with maximum power and force, typically with the intention of achieving maximum distance. |
| O.B. (Out of Bounds): Refers to areas on the golf course where if a ball comes to rest, it is considered out of play and incurs a penalty stroke. Onion: Slang for a ball that is hit way over the green, often used humorously to describe an overly aggressive shot. |
| Par: The standard number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to take to complete a hole. Pin High: When a shot lands at the same distance as the hole, making it aligned with the pin horizontally. Putting: When rolling the ball on the green, golfers employ the putting stroke. Pro V1: Refers to Titleist’s popular golf ball model, known for its performance and quality. Punch Shot: A low-trajectory shot played with less loft, often used to navigate under trees or in windy conditions. |
Quacker: A golf shot that results in the ball flying erratically and unpredictably, similar to the way a duck might move. |
| Rainmaker: A shot hit very high in the air that descends steeply, often generating a lot of backspin. Rough: The longer grass areas on the golf course surrounding the fairways, which can make shots more challenging. |
Sandbagger: A golfer who intentionally misrepresents their true skill level, usually to gain an advantage in handicapped competitions. Scratch: This term refers to a golfer with a handicap of zero, indicating their exceptional skill level. Shank: A dreaded shot where the ball is struck on the hosel of the club, causing it to veer sharply to the right (for right-handed golfers). Snowman: It’s a score of 8 on a single hole. The term is derived from the shape of the number 8, which resembles a snowman. Slice: A shot that curves dramatically from left to right (for right-handed golfers) due to the sidespin imparted on the ball. Snakes: Slang for winding or curving putts that require careful navigation. Stymie: A situation in match play where one player’s ball blocks the path of the other player’s ball on the putting green. Stroke Play: A golf format where the objective is to complete the game using the fewest total shots, counting each stroke played. Sweet Spot: The center of the clubface, which when struck properly, results in the best contact and optimal ball flight. |
Tee Box: The designated area on each hole where the round begins, and players tee up their ball. Texas Wedge: The act of using a putter from off the green instead of a lofted club. Trap: Another term for a bunker or sand trap on the golf course. Tricky Lie: Refers to a challenging position where the ball is on uneven or difficult terrain, making the shot more difficult. Two-Putt: When a golfer takes two strokes to hole the ball on the putting green. Topped Shot: A mishit shot where the clubhead strikes the top of the ball, causing it to roll along the ground rather than gaining height. Trap Draw: A golf shot that starts to the right (for right-handed golfers) and curves gently back to the left. Tap in: A quick, simple putt. Tester: like to put a golfer to the test. It is a situation where a putt is too close for a Gimmie but close enough for a skilled putter to make the putt. Turn: Refers to the halfway point of a round of golf, usually after completing the ninth hole and moving to the back nine. Twilight Rate: The discounted green fee rate is offered for playing during the later hours of the day. |
| Up and Down: Successfully hitting a chip or pitch shot from around the green and then sinking the subsequent putt in two strokes. Upright Lie: Refers to the lie angle of a club, specifically when it is more vertical or upright than the standard lie angle. Unplayable Lie: When a golfer’s ball is in a position on the course where it cannot be played due to obstruction or difficult circumstances, such as being stuck in a tree or deep rough. Utility Club: A versatile club, often a hybrid, that combines features of both irons and fairway woods, offering versatility and ease of use in various situations. |
| Van de Velde: Refers to a spectacular or memorable collapse or failure, named after Jean van de Velde’s infamous collapse on the 18th hole at the 1999 Open Championship. Vardon Grip: A popular grip technique in golf, also known as the overlapping grip, where the little finger of the trailing hand rests on top of the index finger of the lead hand. Velcro Hands: Describes a golfer’s ability to consistently and securely catch or hold onto the ball during a full swing or while making contact. Ventilation: The act of intentionally creating holes in a golf course’s green or fairway using a tool like a pitchfork to repair ball marks or divots made by shots. |
| Waggle: The rhythmic movement or practice swings a golfer makes before addressing the ball to get comfortable and find their tempo. Water Ball: Refers to a shot that ends up in a water hazard, such as a lake or pond. Windcheater: A shot that is intentionally played low to the ground to minimize the impact of strong winds. Wunderkind: A term used to describe a young golfer who displays exceptional talent and skill at a young age. Whiff: is a golf slang that refers to a poor golf swing where the player completely misses the ball. |
| X-Out: In golf, an “X-Out” refers to a golf ball that has a minor cosmetic flaw or imperfection, typically on the logo or name of the ball. |
| Yank: is a golf slang used to describe a putting shot that is pulled sharply to the left (for right-handed golfers). It refers to a putt where the golfer’s stroke path deviates from the intended line, causing the ball to veer left of the target. Yips: A phenomenon where a golfer experiences involuntary muscle spasms or nervousness, leading to a loss of control during putting strokes. The yips can cause the golfer to miss short putts or have difficulty with smooth, fluid motions. |
| Zone: Refers to a state of intense focus and concentration that some golfers enter, where they feel completely in sync with their game and perform at their best. Zigzag: refers to the irregular or unpredictable flight path of a golf ball. When a shot goes off-target and travels in a zigzag pattern rather than a straight line, it is said to be zigzagging. |
Golf slang is the magic dust that brings the game to life, turning swings and putts into vivid stories told by players around the world!
WrapUp: The Fun Golf Slang
Behind every golf slang term lies a story, a connection, and a shared experience that brings golfers closer together. In essence, golf lingo adds fun, effectiveness, and a sense of community to the game. They enhance the entire golfing experience for players of all skill levels and are a fun and important element of golf culture.
