When you’re first starting out in golf, it’s easy to get confused hearing all of the different terms. You’ll more than likely hear things like birdie, bogey, and fore and wonder what they mean. If you’re a beginner, it’s important to know the basic terminology so you’re prepared for the course. Here are some of the most common golf terms explained.
Par
Par is the number of strokes it should take a golfer to finish a hole. Each hole has a par based on its length and difficulty. Holes can be par-3, par-4, or par-5.
Ace
An ace, which is also known as a hole in one, happens when a player puts the ball in the hole in one shot. This is the best score you can get, and when it happens, you write a “1” on the scorecard. These are very rare, but usually happen on par-3’s and par-4’s.
Albatross
An albatross is also very rare and tricky to achieve, but it has happened before by professional golfers. This term is used when players use three shots less than a hole’s par score, either by finishing the hole on the second shot on a par-5 hole, or making a hole-in-one on a par-4.
Eagle
An eagle is a score of two strokes below par. This is pretty rare for beginners, but usually happens on par-5 and par-4 holes. When you finish the hole in three shots on par-5, and two shots on par-4, it’s considered an eagle.
Birdie
A birdie is a score of one under par. Some examples of a birdie include scoring a two on a par-3 hole, a three on a par-4 hole, and a four on a par-5 hole.
Bogey
A bogey is when a player scores one over par. Two over par is a double bogey. Scoring a four on a par-3, five on a par-4, and six on a par-5 is a bogey. Most players get disappointed when they get a bogey, but it’s very common and isn’t always considered a bad score.
Sign Up For Golf School!
Now that you’ve learned some basic golfing terms, it’s time to get on the course! To learn more about golfing basics or to take a class, visit the Academy of Golf Dynamics at 1700 Kahala Sunset Drive in Spicewood, Texas. You can reach us at (512) 261-3300 or Send Us An Email for more information.
FAQs
Bogey: Scoring one stroke over par on a hole. Slice: A type of golf shot that curves sharply to the right. Eagle: Finishing a hole in two strokes under par. Divot: A piece of turf removed during a golf swing. Putt: A stroke used on the green to roll the ball into the hole.
What is a 3 on a par 5 called? ›
Eagle. A hole score of two strokes fewer than par (two under par, −2) is known as an eagle, e.g. 2 strokes to complete a par 4 hole or 3 strokes on a par 5 hole.
What is a hole in 2 called? ›
Double eagle: On a par-5, means you finished the hole in 2 strokes. Eagle: You finished the hole in 3 strokes. Birdie: You finished the hole in 4 strokes. Par: You finished the hole in 5 strokes.
What is a par 4 hole-in-one called? ›
An albatross is achieved when a player either aces a par 4, or scores a "2" on a par 5.
What do you call a beginner golfer? ›
Duffer - An unskilled golfer. Also called a hacker. Eagle - A score of two under par on any given hole. Fade - The opposite of draw, a shot moving slightly from left to right towards the target.
What is the slang golf clapping? ›
A sarcastic or humorous form of applause performed by lightly and rapidly clapping the fingers of one hand against the palm of the other, used to show indifference or disdain, or to show polite or quiet appreciation.
What is an ostrich in golf? ›
What is an ostrich in golf? An ostrich is, according to golf lore, the score assigned to scoring five below par on a hole. On most traditional golf courses, this is not possible, as the lowest score possible on a par five is four under the assigned par.
What is 2 strokes on a par 6 called? ›
On Dec. 10, Pon hit a “condor” on the 18th hole at Lake Chabot Golf Course. The 18th is a 649-yard par-6 hole and he made it in two shots. (
What is a poor golf shot called? ›
Duffed: A mish*t shot, often caused by hitting the ground before the ball or making poor contact. Skull: A mish*t shot where the club's leading edge strikes the ball's equator, causing it to fly low and fast. Fat: Another term for a chunk shot, where the clubhead hits the ground before the ball.
What do you call a really good golfer? ›
The Terminology of Excellence
Single-Digit Handicapper: Golfers with a handicap of 9 or lower are called single-digit handicappers. These players are highly skilled and consistently score well. Pro Golfer: Professional golfers make a living by playing golf.
The word 'golf' is not an acronym for anything. Rather, it derives linguistically from the Dutch word 'kolf' or 'kolve,' meaning quite simply 'club. ' In the Scottish dialect of the late 14th or early 15th century, the Dutch term became 'goff' or 'gouff,' and only later in the 16th century 'golf. '
What is the bird term in golf? ›
In the 19th century, the term “bird” was the equivalent of “cool” or “excellent” – golf scholars believe this is where the term came from. An Atlantic City, New Jersey course claims that the term originated there in 1903. Definition: A score of one under par.
How many hole-in-ones has Tiger Woods had? ›
Woods has hit a hole-in-one 20 times in the course of his lifetime, his first at the age of six. Three have come in PGA Tour competitions—at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open, 1997 Phoenix Open, and 1998 Sprint International. Woods is the only professional golfer to win four majors in a row.
How many mulligans are allowed in golf? ›
Limit mulligans to one or at most two per nine holes. Pace of play is affected when players try to hit Mulligan after mulligan. Don't attempt extra mulligan shot until all players have teed off, so as not to slow things down. No mulligans allowed once a player lands a tee shot in the fairway.
What is a clever golf slogan? ›
If humor is your preferred way to engage golf enthusiasts, these 20 funny slogan ideas are sure to make them chuckle: "Golfing: Where Miss Hits Are Just Practice Swings" "Fore-get About Work, It's Golf Time" "Swing, Smile, and Don't Keep Score" "Have a Tee-rific Time on the Greens"
What is a golfing language? ›
A golfing language is a programming language, usually esoteric, that is designed to make programs written in it as terse as possible. These languages are usually used in Code Golf.
What are 18 holes of golf called? ›
I simply call it “a round”. When I go out to play 18 holes of golf, I call it a round of golf. Almost all media outlets call a tournament by their “round” number. Thursday they play “Round 1”. Friday they play “Round 2”, Saturday they play “Round 3” and (usually) on Sunday they play “Round 4” or “The final round”.
What is a duck in golf? ›
Duck Hook: A "Duck hook" is considered a severe "hook" to the left (usually caused by a closed clubface) and "ducks," sharply to the ground, running off to the golfer's left.
