FREE Information | Golf Glossary

Glossary is reprinted from On Course for Business, Suzanne's how-to-book on playing business golf.

ace A hole-in-one is a score of one on a par-3 hole.

address A player’s position prior to hitting a shot. According to the USGA Rules of Golf, a player has addressed the ball when she has taken her stance and grounded her club. In a hazard, a player has addressed the ball when she has taken her stance.

adjust score Reducing the score according to Equitable Stroke Control system for the maximum score a player can take depending on his or her handicap.

aerify Process of boring small holes into fairways and putting greens to improve growth and drainage. The process is usually done once or twice per year.

albatross A double eagleæa score of three under par on a hole. For example, on a par-5 hole, a score of two.

amateur Any golfer who plays the game and does not receive a prize greater than $750 in a golf tournament.

approach A shot from off the green toward the hole. Also the closely mowed area leading up to the putting green.

apron The closely mowed area surrounding a putting green. Also called the collar or the fringe.

army Golf A slang term describing a player who is having problems hitting it straight. One shot goes to the right, the next to the left, etc. Hence, the term army golf.

attend To hold the flagstick and remove it after a player has struck the ball.

away The player farthest from the hole whose turn it is to play.
back foot Assuming a right-handed golfer, the player’s right foot, farthest from the target.

back nine The final nine holes of an eighteen-hole round.
backswing The motion of moving the club away from the ball. Also known as the take away.

bag boys/bag girls Golf course staff who assist you in removing your golf clubs from your car and placing them on golf carts.

bag drop Location where bag boys or bag girls pick up your golf clubs.

bag tag Used to identify a player’s golf bag. Usually customized for each golf course.

balata Type of golf ball designed for feel and spin. Beginners should avoid these balls because they are not durable and are expensive.

ball mark Indentation made when a lofted shot lands on the green. Using a repair tool, ball marks should be repaired to maintain putting green.

ball markers Used to show the location of player’s golf ball on the putting green, usually made in dime- or quarter-size plastic styles with club logo on the top.

ball washer Found at the tees of holes. Used to clean the golf ball.

banana slice A shot that has a flight pattern shaped liked a banana.

bent grass Type of grass, characterized by thin blades, found on most courses with varying seasonal climates.

Bermuda grass Type of grass found on most courses located in warmer or tropical climates. Characterized by thick blades with a grainy surface.

best ball Usually a team competition in which the lowest score of the players on a team is the team score.

bingo, bango, bongo A betting game where points are awarded for the first ball on the green (bingo), closest shot to the hole (bango), and the first player to putt out (bongo).

birdie A score of one stroke less than par on a given hole. For example, on a par 4 hole, a score of 3.

bite Slang term expressed when a player wants the ball to stop on the putting green without a lot of roll.

blades Type of golf club that is the most difficult to hit because the sweet spot is the smallest. Also known as forged clubs.

bogey A score of one over par on a hole. For example, on a par 5 hole, a score of 6.

box lunch Usually includes sandwich, fruit, and chips for players during a tournament.

break The amount a putt will curve as it rolls on a putting green. The more slope the green has, the greater the break.

bump and run A type of shot where the golfer aims short of the intended target and allows for substantial roll of the ball after its initial landing.

bunker A type of hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground from which grass has been removed and replaced with sand.

buried (lie) In a sand bunker, where most of the ball is below the surface of the sand. See also fried egg.

business golf Golf played with clients, colleagues, or prospects with the goal of developing or deepening a business relationship. May be a practice session at the driving range, or playing nine or eighteen holes.

caddie (caddy) The person who carries a player’s clubs during a round of golf.

cart fee Similar to a green fee, the fee required to rent a golf cart for either nine or eighteen holes.

cart paths only Term to inform golfers that golf carts must stay on the cart paths at all times. Exceptions may be made for golfers with medical disability.

casual water Any temporary accumulation of water on the course. A marked water hazard is not casual water.

cavity back club Type of clubhead design where the back of the clubhead is hollowed out.

chili-dip A shot in which a player hits behind the ball, not moving it very far. Also called a fat shot or a chunk.

chip A shot to the green with a higher lofted club, such as a 9-iron, pitching wedge, or sand wedge. Ball tends to fly low and roll toward the hole.

chip-out A shot, generally going only a short distance, to get the ball back in play from treed area.

chunk A shot in which a player hits behind the ball removing more turf than desired —the shot is much shorter than intended. Also called a chili-dip or a fat shot.

closest-to-the-line A contest for men and women during a golf tournament. The player with the drive that is the closest to the line painted on the fairway is the winner.

closest-to-the-pin Usually a contest on par 3 holes. The player who hit the ball closest to the hole wins.

club face The side of the clubhead with grooves that makes contact with the ball.

clubhead The portion of the golf club that makes contact with the ball.

clubhouse Main building at a golf course that typically houses the pro shop, locker rooms, and the restaurant and/or bar.

club pro See golf professional.

collar A closely mowed area surrounding the putting green. Also called the apron or the fringe.

commercial putt Term to describe a putt that is close to the hole.
compression

compression Measure of how much the ball distorts at impact and can affect the feel of a golf ball. Balls range from 80, 90, or 100 compression. Most golfers use an 80 or 90 compression ball.

country club An upscale (private or semiprivate) golf club, which usually offers other amenities in addition to golf, such as swimming or tennis.

course The entire area on which a round of golf is played.

course rating A numerical rating that identifies the difficulty of a golf course. For example, a course rated 72.7 is more challenging to play than one rated at 70.6. A scratch player should expect to shoot 70 or 71 on the course rated 70.6.

cut A shot, played intentionally, which curves from left to right for a right-handed golfer.

dimple Depression on a golf ball designed to help the ball become airborne and maintain its accurate flight.

distance marker An object that indicates the distance to the center of the putting green. Yardage markers are often found at 200-, 150-, 100- and 50-yard intervals from the green. Markers may be trees or bushes along the sides of the fairway or rough or may be plastic, cement, or similar objects sunk in the ground in the center of fairways or on cart paths.

divot Scottish term for turf removed as a result of contact by the club on the ground. Divots occur as a result of most shots from the fairway or rough. Golfers refer to both the turf removed and the depression left on the ground as a divot.

dogleg The design of a golf hole in which the fairway curves left or right substantially. If the hole curves to the right, it is referred to as a dogleg right. A hole that curves to the left is a dogleg left.

double bogey A score of two over par on a hole. For example, on a par 5 hole, a score of seven.

double eagle A score of three under par on a hole. For example, on a par 5 hole, a score of two. Also, called an albatross.

draw For a right-handed golfer, a shot that tends to curve slightly from right to left in the air.

dress code Clothing and spike requirements of a golf course for players. For example, many upscale public and private courses do not allow jeans or metal spikes.

drive The first shot on a hole made from the teeing ground.

driver Typically the 1-wood used to hit a player’s drive. Players that don’t use a 1-wood may refer to the 3-wood as the driver.

driving range A practice area, either at a golf course or on its own, where players practice their game. A range may be as simple as a large mowed field with hitting areas or may be as elaborate as a facility with target greens and practice putting greens.

drop area An area identified by either paint or chalk in which a player may drop her ball with a penalty of one stroke. Drop areas are found on holes with water hazards and allow the player relief, with penalty, from the water.

duck hook For a right-handed golfer, a shot that starts straight at the target and curves dramatically to the left of the target.

eagle A score of two under par on a hole. For example, on a par 5 hole, a score of three.

Equitable Stroke Control System whereby a very bad hole does not affect dramatically your handicap. Depending on your handicap, you take the maximum score allowed under Equitable Stroke Control.

etiquette Accepted code of behavior and dress on the golf course. Examples include being quiet while others play, not stepping on another’s line of play on the putting green, etc.

executive course A course designed with holes shorter in length and with fewer hazards than most courses— appropriate for beginners to play.

fade For right-handed golfers, a shot that generally tends to curve slightly to the right.

fairway Closely mowed area from the teeing ground to the putting green.
fairway woods The woods, usually 3-, 5-, or 7-wood, used to hit the ball.

fat A shot in which a player hits behind the ball removing more turf than desiredæthe shot is much shorter than intended. May also be called a chili-dip or a chunk.

Five-Minute Rule The amount of time (five minutes) that the USGA allows a player to look for her ball. A ball not found after five minutes of searching is considered to be lost, although to keep up the pace, golfers should spend only two to three minutes searching.

flag Different colors mark the location of the hole on the putting green. For example, depending on the golf course, a blue flag may mean the hole is farther back on the putting green, while a red flag may mean the hole is forward on the green.

flagstick Marks the location of the hole on the putting green. Also known as the pin.

flex The flexibility of a club’s shaft. Depending on a player’s golf swing speed, a different flex is required. The faster the swing speed, the stiffer the shaft should be.

flights Used in golf tournaments to allow players of similar handicaps to compete.

follow through The portion of the golf swing that occurs after the player has hit the ball.

fore Warning yelled to a player who may be in danger of being hit by a ball.

forged clubs See blades.

foursome A group of four golfers playing together.

fried egg Lie in a bunker in which most of the ball is below the surface of the sand — the ball looks like a fried egg.

fringe The closely mowed area surrounding a putting green. Also called the apron or the collar.

front foot Assuming a right-handed golfer, it is the player’s left foot, closest to the target.

front nine The first nine holes of an eighteen-hole course.

gallery Those who attend a golf event to watch the players

GHIN Golf Handicap Information Network. The USGAsystem used to calculate handicaps.

GHIN Number A golfer’s identification number for handicap purposes.
gimme A short putt, typically the length of the putter grip, that players assume a golfer will be able to hit into the hole. Counts as a stroke.
golf club A piece of equipment used to hit a golf ball. Also a term to describe a golf course facility.

Golf Handicap Information Network See GHIN.

golf professional A person whose career in golf is dedicated to helping others enjoy the gameægiving lessons, managing operations, running tournaments, and so forth.

good lag Comment made about a putt that does not go into the hole, but is the correct length.

grain Direction of growth of the grass. Particularly noticeable on putting greens, the grain will have an influence on the direction and speed of the ball as it rolls.

green See putting green.

greenkeeper The person responsible for the condition, care, and maintenance of the golf course. He or she may also be referred to as the course superintendent.

green fee Cost to play nine or eighteen holes.

greens in regulation Statistic to determine how many holes a player had his or her ball on the green in the prescribed number of strokes.

grip How a player holds the golf club. Also, the part of the golf club that is held in the player’s hands.

gross score The score that a player has without considering his or her handicap.

ground club Placing the sole of the club on the ground. Not permitted when ball is in a hazard.

ground under repair (GUR) A marked area (usually by paint, chalk, or roping) on the course from which a player may move her ball one club length without penalty, prior to playing her next shot. Common reasons for GUR are areas under construction, damaged turf, and so forth.

group lesson Learning the golf swing with other individuals from a golf teaching professional. Typically, group lessons are given in a series of four or five lessons for forty-five minutes to an hour. See also private lesson.

H-System Refers to the system of driving the golf cart whereby players stay on the path and then turn 90 degrees onto the fairway to the ball.

hack(er) Slang, derogatory term given to a player of lesser playing ability.

ham and egg When two players are competing as a team and one player plays a hole poorly, and the other player plays the same hole well.

handicap The number assigned to a player’s ability levelæthe number of strokes over the course rating a player is expected to have. The lower the handicap, the better the player. A player’s handicap is deducted from her gross score to establish her net score. See gross score; net score.

handicap index The decimal number used to determine your handicap according to the slope of the course played. See slope.

hardpan Area of the golf course (not bunkers or hazards) on which no grass is growing.

heel The part of the clubhead closest to the shaft.

hit a club Term to describe the distance a player can hit a particular golf club.

hitting stations Each player’s area to hit balls at a driving range. See driving range.

home course The golf course most often played by a golfer.

honor The player who hits first on a hole is said to have honors. Honor is gained by having the lowest score on the last played hole.

hook For a right-handed golfer, a shot that starts to the right of the target and curves dramatically to the left.

hosel The portion of the golf clubhead that holds the shaft.

initiation Fee paid prior to joining a private club. An initiation fee may be a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousand dollars at some elite country clubs.

in jail Term used when faced with a difficult shot because trees interfere with your ball’s flight.

invitational Type of tournament in which contestants must be invited in order to play. The most recognizable professional invitational is the Masters Tournament held each spring in Augusta, Georgia.

keep the pace Description of a foursome playing in proper pace in comparison with the foursome ahead.

knock-down A shot intentionally played to keep a ball low in the wind.

knock-offs Golf clubs that look like clubs made by brand-name manufacturers, but are less expensive.

lateral water hazard Type of water hazard defined by red boundary stakes. Often runs parallel to the line of play on a hole. The penalty for hitting into a lateral hazard is one stroke.

lie The position of a ball on the course. A ball in the fairway will typically be considered to have a good lie, while a ball in a divot or high grass will be referred to as a bad lie. Also refers to the angle of the shaft as it goes into the clubhead. When asked as a question, “What do you lie?” it refers to the number of strokes, plus penalty shots, taken so far by a player.
links Description of a type of golf course design. Also a slang given to any eighteen-hole golf course.

lip The edge or rim of a hole or a bunker.

lip out A ball that hits the edge of the hole, rolls slightly into the hole, but does not go in the hole.

lob shot A high, soft shot, generally played near the green with a high-lofted club or a wedge.

loft The angle of a club face. The steeper the loft, the higher up a ball will fly, but the less far the ball will travel.

long game Term to describe shots from the tee and the fairway.

Longest Drive A contest for men and women during a golf tournament. The player with the longest drive is the winner.

loose impediments Natural objects, such as branches, twigs, sand, or pebbles.

lost ball A ball is considered lost if it cannot be located or identified after up to five minutes of searching for it.

LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) Promotes the game of golf to everyone. Provides education and certification to its women golf professional members.

LPGA Tour Organization for female professional golfers that manages tournaments throughout the world in which members play for monetary remuneration.

Major (Championship) One of four of the most prestigious professional golf tournaments in the world played every year. For male golfers, the Majors include the Masters, the U.S. Men’s Open, the Men’s British Open, and the PGA Championship. For female players, the Majors include the Kraft Nabisco Championship, U.S. Women’s Open, the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, and the Weetabix Women’s British Open.

marker See ball marker.

marshal A golf course employee whose duty is to keep appropriate pace of play. A marshal typically drives the course in a motorized cart, identified in some way (flag, sign, etc.), encouraging slow groups to speed up or to allow other groups to play through. Also known as a ranger.

match play Type of competition in which the number of holes won and lost is kept. The winner of a match play competition is the side who wins the most holes. An example of a match play score is "3 and 2.” The winning team was three holes up (ahead) with only two holes to play. Thus, the match ended after playing the sixteenth hole.

medal play Type of competition in which the lowest total score wins. Also known as stroke play.

mulligan A player’s shot after a particularly bad shot. Mulligans are common on the first tee during friendly matches and are sold at fund-raising tournaments, but are not allowed under the USGA Official Rules of Golf.

municipal course Type of golf course, usually city or county managed, allowing play by the public, subject to tee time availability. Also referred to as muni.

Nassau A common betting game that consists of a given bet for the front nine, the back nine, and the overall game. A $5 Nassau is a wager of $15 total.

net The player’s score less his or her handicap.
nineteenth hole The bar or restaurant at the golf course where players gather after playing a round of golf to talk about their round and possibly business.

Ninety-Degree Rule Refers to the system of driving the golf cart whereby players stay on the path and then turn 90 degrees onto the fairway to the ball.

OB See out of bounds.

out of bounds Any area from which play is prohibited and marked with white stakes or lines. The penalty for OB is stroke and distanceæplayer must return to the spot where the original ball was played, hit another ball from that location, and add a penalty stroke to her score.

over par Number of strokes a player’s score is over the par for the holes played. For example, if a player shoots a score of 40 on nine holes whose par is 36, she is said to be four over.

oversized club Golf clubs designed with a larger sweet spot.

par Expected score on a given hole based on its length, difficulty, and gender of the player.

par-3 course A short golf course comprised of all par 3 holes. Par 3 courses are good learning courses for beginners and help better players to improve their short games.

par-3, -4 or -5 See par.

penalty Extra stroke or strokes assessed for specific violations of USGA Official Rules of Golf during stroke play. In match play, the penalty may be loss of the hole.

PGA (Professional Golfer’s Association) Organization to promote the game of golf to everyone. It provides education and certification to its male and female members.

PGA Tour Organization for male professional golfers that manages tournaments throughout the world in which members play for monetary remuneration.

pick up Term to describe when a golfer has hit his or her maximum number of strokes under Equitable Stroke Control and does not complete the hole.

pin See flagstick.

pitch A shot to the green with a higher-lofted club, such as a pitching wedge or sand wedge. Ball flies high and bounces toward the hole.
play through A situation in which the group behind is permitted to play a hole on which the group ahead is playing. The group behind is said to have played through
.
pop Slang for the handicap stroke that a player receives from a competitor.

post Process of entering your golf score into a computer used for handicaps.

pot bunker A small but very deep bunker.

press A new bet in a game. Usually asked for by the player losing at the time.

private course Type of course requiring a membership to play. Guests may play private courses for a fee at specific times when accompanied by a member of the club

private lesson A session with a golf teaching professional to learn or improve upon your golf swing.

professional golfer An individual who earns a living based upon his or her skill at playing the game.

provisional ball A ball that is played, usually in an effort to speed up play, as a potential replacement for a ball that may be lost or out of bounds. For example, if a player hits her ball toward an out-of-bounds area, but is not certain the ball is out of bounds, she declares she is going to hit a provisional ball in case the original ball is out of bounds. If the original is out of bounds, the provisional becomes the ball in play and she needs to add one penalty stroke to her score. This prevents her from having to return to the position from where she hit her original shot and saves time.

public course A course open to play for all golfers.

pull Assuming a right-handed player, a shot that tends to go to the left of the intended target in a straight path.

punch A shot, played intentionally low, to avoid wind, trees, or other obstacles.

punch-out A shot played from treed area designed to get the ball back into play.

push Assuming a right-handed player, a shot that tends to go to the right of the intended target in a straight path.

putter Club designed to roll the ball when on or very near the green.

putting green The area of the hole being played that is specifically mowed for putting. May also refer to a practice putting area at a golf course.

putting line The area that a player wants the ball to travel toward the hole.
putt out Said by one player to another to finish putting even though she is not farthest away.

range See driving range.

range ball Type of ball used at a driving range. Marked in a particular way, such as a stripe.

ranger A golf course employee whose duty it is to keep appropriate pace of play. A ranger typically drives the course in a motorized cart, identified in some way (flag, sign, etc.), encouraging slow groups to speed up or to allow other groups to play through.

read the green Process a player takes to visualize how the ball will travel on the putting green to the hole.

ready golf Method of playing golf whereby players attempt to keep up with the group in front of them. For example, deciding which club to use while walking to your ball is playing ready golf.

relief Under the rules of golf, a player may drop or place a ball with or without penalty, depending on the situation, such as relief from trees, water, or obstructions.

repair tool Used to repair ball marks on the green.

resort Type of golf course catering to the guests of the resort with which the course is associated. Resort courses may sell limited memberships and may allow public play at specific times
.
re-span Replacing the marker to its original location. See span.
rough Type of grass, bordering fairways, that is higher and generally more coarse than the grass in the fairway. Rough may also be present near greens, tees, and bunkers, depending on the particular course.
round A typical round of golf, generally eighteen holes, but sometimes nine holes.

Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Saint Andrews One of the two governing bodies of golf, along with the USGA. Often called the R & A, it is headquartered in St. Andrews, Scotland.

sand trap See bunker.

sandbagger A golfer who consistently plays to a score better than her handicap indicates that she should.

Scramble A type of game, played as a team in which all players play from one position. For example, a team of four players each hits a drive. The team decides on the best drive and each player hits a shot from that position. Play continues in this manner until the ball is holed.

scratch golfer A person with a zero handicap.

second up The foursome waiting for the group to hit off the first tee.

semiprivate Type of golf club in which memberships are sold, but that allows public play during specific time periods.

set up See stance.

shaft The portion of the golf club between the grip and the clubhead. Can be made of steel or graphite.

shag bag Carrier of many golf balls used for practicing a player’s short game.

shank A shot that is struck in the hosel area of the golf club. The resulting ball flight is generally straight to the right.

short game Describes shots made from the fairway to the green. See chip and pitch.

shotgun start When players begin play simultaneously from different tees around the course. Often used in charity and corporate golf tournaments.

skins Type of match play game in which each hole is worth a given amount of points or money. Points or money is often carried over in the event of ties, making all subsequent holes potentially worth considerably more.

sleeve Package of three to four golf balls. Buy a sleeve of balls when looking for a ball that you prefer, rather than buying a box of twelve balls.

slice Assuming a right-handed player, a shot that tends to start to the left of the target and curves to the right of the target.

slope A number used to compare the difficulty of golf coursesæconsiders length, hazards, terrain, and so forth. A course with a slope rating of 150 will be far more difficult than one sloped at 100. The average slope rating is 113.

snake putt A putt holed from a long distance.

snap hook Assuming a right-handed player, a shot that starts quickly to the left and angles sharply and further to the left, producing a very short and undesirable result.

snowman Euphemism to describe a score of eight.

soft spikes Generic term given to the plastic spikes required on many courses. These softer spikes are believed to do less damage to the course, especially to the greens. See spikes.

sole Bottom part of the golf clubhead that sits on the ground when a player is addressing the ball.

span Moving a player’s marker by the length of the putter head to allow another player to putt without interference of the marker.

spikes Metal protrusions on the bottom of golf shoes designed to aid in traction.

stance Position of the feet prior to making a shot. A player placing her feet in position to make a stroke is said to have taken her stance.

starters A member of the pro shop staff who organizes and manages the flow of players starting the first hole on the golf course. A starter may also be found on the first tee at some courses.

stimp Speed of a green after measurement with a specialized piece of equipment (stimpmeter). The higher the stimp reading, the faster the green.

stimpmeter Apparatus used to measure the speed of a green.

stroke The forward movement of the club made with the intent of hitting the ball.

stroke and distance Penalty assessed for a ball hit out of bounds or for a lost ball. It involves going back to the spot of the original ball, hitting another ball from that location, and adding a penalty shot to the score.
stroke play Type of competition, also known as medal play, in which the lowest score wins.

Summer Rules Slang term given when playing the ball down or as it lies.

Surlyn Durable plastic used for the cover of golf balls.

sweet spot The portion of the clubhead where you want to hit the golf ball.

swing speed The speed a player swings a golf club. Faster the speed, the more stiff the shaft should be.

take away The motion of moving the golf club away from the ball. Also known as the backswing.

tap in A short putt to hit the ball into the hole.

tee The wooden or plastic implement on which a ball is placed prior to the play of the first shot on a hole. The term may also be used to describe the teeing ground.

tee marker Wooden, metal or other objects between which the ball is teed prior to playing a hole. There may be several sets of tee markers on each hole for players with different playing abilities.

tee time Specific time allotted for play on a given day. Assigned by the golf course in eight- to ten-minute intervals usually, tee times are acquired by calling in advance of when play is desired.

teeing ground The area where the play of a hole starts. It is defined by a pair of markers between which play begins.

tempo The rhythm of a golf round or a player’s golf swing. Also known as timing.

temporary green When a green is closed for repair or is too wet, the greenkeeper may make a temporary green in the fairway. Yardage must be adjusted when playing a temporary green. For scoring purposes, you can only take a maximum of two strokes.

tend See attended.

through the green All areas of the course, except for the teeing ground, putting green, and hazards.

timing The rhythm of a player’s golf swing. Also known as tempo.

toe The end of the clubhead farthest away from the shaft. Also used to describe the shot when a player hits the ball on that area of the club.
top Shot that does not get airborne as a result of a player hitting the top of the ball.

trap Generic term given to a bunker that contains sand. Also called a bunker or sand trap.

triple bogey A score of three over par on a hole. For example, on a par 5 hole, a score of eight.

turn The halfway point of an eighteen-hole round. A player makes the turn after playing nine holes and heading to the tenth tee.

twilight rate Reduced green fees at a golf course, typically after 2 P.M. at many courses.

under par The number of stokes a player has taken relative to par for the hole she is playing. If a player has played the front nine in thirty-four strokes and par is thirty-six, she is said to be two under.

unplayable lie A ball in a location that is impossible for the player to hit. Examples are balls hit under trees or in shrubs.

up and down Also referred to as up and in, the situation in which a player misses the green on her approach shot and then makes one chip and one putt to achieve her score.

waggle Preshot movement in which a golfer moves the club back away from the ball a time or two, usually to relieve tension.

waiting list The number and ranking of individuals waiting to join a private club that has a full membership at the time. Waiting lists at some private clubs may be many years.

water hazard Any relatively permanent and open area of water (sea, lake, pond, etc.) on the course marked with yellow stakes or lines. The penalty for hitting your ball into a water hazard is one stroke.

whiff Occurs when a player swings at the ball and misses it completely.

wind shirt A thin jacket, often made of waterproof material.

Winter Rules Invoked by a golf course as a local rule when the course is very wet and muddy. Not sanctioned by the U.S.G.A.

worm burner A poor shot characterized by the ball not getting airborne and simply rolling fast along the ground.

X factor Applies to the differential between hip angle and shoulder angle during a golfer's backswing.

X-Out Balls Imperfect golf balls marked with “X” to the cover manufacturer’s name. Should not be used during a round of business golf.

yardage book Provides distances of each hole of a golf course.
yardage marker See distance marker.

yips The condition, either mental or physical, in which a golfer misses short putts.