Naples Florida House For Rent

Every sport including golf, has its own vocabulary. What may appear to the uniformed as merely everyday conversation, may have special and distinctly different meanings for golfers.  For example, words like address, drive, and eagle to mention just a few of the more common ones used in golf, have very specific and important meanings.

Here’s short list of words and expressions that you need to know if you play golf or want to sound like you know the game well when talking to your next door neighbour who of course, is an avid golfer.

Address: The stance taken before a swing. Not to be confused with the Goofy cartoon clip where he takes off his hat and says… “Hello ball”.

Airshot: A swing and a miss. This is my favourite shot. The word however, has a nice professional sound to it don’t you think. This is likely the shot I use most of the time. Problem is, each one counts as one stroke.

Back Nine: The final nine holes of an 18 hole golf course.

Bunker (also known as a “trap”): Prepared area of ground, from which turf or earth has been removed and replaced with sand, water, or tall grass. It is rumoured to have a strong magnetic force buried deep within it that sucks wayward golf balls into its gaping maw.

Birdie: One stroke under the par for the hole. Tiger’s favourite shot I’ll bet.

Bogey: One stroke over the par for the hole. Don’t want to do this every hole, but once in a while is ok.

Clubhead: The base of the club, where the ball is intended to be struck. It has nothing to do with the Chairman of the board of the local golf club.

Divot: Turf removed from the ground when a player’s swing hits the grass. If you take out too many of these, you may be charged the going rate for sod.

Dog-leg: A hole that follows a broken, sharply angled line from the tee to the green. Most balls that are lost into the rough are usually last seen on one of these fairways.

Drive: The longest type of stroke made during play, usually with a wood or low numbered iron. Or at least, its supposed to be the longest stroke. Sometimes the ball goes only a few yards at a tremendous rate of speed. See “Worm Burner”.

Eagle: Two strokes under par for a hole. Wow, that’s worth bragging about.

Fairway: Closely mown grass area (usually one-half to three-quarters of an inch) between the tee and the green.

Flagstick: A movable pole centered in the hole to show its position, usually with a small flag at the top.

Fore: A shout to warn other players that a ball is headed in their direction. It is not to be confused with “sorry about that” which you would say after the ball has arrived at their location and caused substantial injury.

Handicap: A numerical measure of playing ability. The lower the handicap, the better the golfer. Less skilled players are allowed to deduct strokes when playing against better players. (Hence, the latter are ‘handicapped’.) No jokes here. It’s not politically correct.

Hazards: Natural and man-made obstructions that make a golf game more challenging and difficult. Examples: water, sand traps, trees, small game, excessive alcohol consumption etc.

Hook: A stroke which curves the ball to the left of the target, if made by a right handed player, and to the right if made by a left handed player. Also refers to a prosthetic device worn by a one handed player.

Iron: A metal golf club numbered 1-9, with a flat, thin, angled face. The lower the number, the less steep the loft. Lower numbered irons are intended to be used for longer shots.

Loft: The angle of the club head, measured with respect to the shaft. It’s also the accommodations you scored at the local lodge if you remembered to make a reservation.

Match Play: A type of competition in which each hole is a separate contest. (See “Stroke play”) The lowest number of strokes on a given hole, wins that hole. Remember, children should never play with matches.

Net Score: Gross score minus your handicap.

Par: The number of strokes a hole is designed to be completed in, based on its length. Also describes the number of strokes in which the course should be played.

Pitching Wedge: A club with a steeper face, used when close to the hole. (See “Sand Wedge”.) Another reason for calling it a “Pitching” wedge, is that it is generally used to make rather difficult shots. When repeated attempts are made to make the shot good, the frustrated golfer may often “pitch” his wedge into the trees after bending it over his knee.

Putter: A club with a vertical face designed for use on or near the green.

Sand Wedge: A club with a steeper face, used to hit the ball out of a sand trap or high grass. (See “Pitching Wedge”.) Not to be confused with “Sandwich” which may be brought along when the munchies hit somewhere about half way through the game.

Slice: A ball flight which curves to the right of the target. (If made by a right handed player; to the left if made by a left handed player.) Also refers to a small piece of pizza that you can pick up at the snack bar.

Stroke Play: Competition based on the total number of strokes taken. (See “Match play”.) The lowest number of strokes over the entire course wins that game.

Tee: A small, usually wooden (sometimes plastic), device designed to raise the ball off the ground. Must not be longer than 4 inches nor influence the movement of the ball. Tea, on the other hand is a cold drink often served with a slice of lemon or lime.

Wood: A club with a large, rounded head (usually made of wood or composite), used to hit the ball over great distances. At least that’s its intended purpose. It is also used as a defensive weapon during a break in at one’s home in the middle of the night when nothing more sinister can be found.

Worm Burner: Generally from the tee-off, the ball is struck with an unusually high level of energy and leaves the tee about 1” above the grass. Within a few feet, it plows a trail through the grass, killing any and all small game, insects etc., in its path, finally ending up about 30 yards down the fairway. Often accompanied by muttered foul language on the part of the golfer, and muted laughter from his or her golf mates.