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An Introduction to Common Golf Jargon

Sep. 22 2023 Lifestyle By I-5 Motorsports

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Just like any other sport, golf has a ton of unique slang and jargon that’s used by both professional and amateur players alike. If you’re still new to the sport, you may not be familiar with the majority of golf jargon used in the clubs or on the course, so to help you catch up on important golf slang, we’ve written up the helpful guide below. 

Common Scoring Terms

  • Par: The expected number of strokes required to complete a hole
  • Birdie: One swing under par
  • Eagle: Two swings under par
  • Albatross: Three swings under par 
  • Bogey: One swing over par
  • Double Bogey: Two swings over par
  • Handicap: A number given to a golfer based on how many swings under or over par they are expected to reach in a game of golf – the lower the score, the better the ability of the player 

Common Obstacles

  • Cat Box: Another term for a sand trap 
  • Jungle: An area off the green, typically used when a ball has been hit into a deeper and more difficult area of the course 
  • Casual Water: Puddles of water that aren’t meant to be on the course, typically due to heavy rain or inclement weather 

Playing Terms

  • Green: The area of grass near the cup that’s been cut extremely short to allow players to use their putters 
  • Dance Floor: Another term used to refer to the green
  • Can: Another term for the cup 
  • Lie: Current position of the golf ball 
  • Out of Bounds: Any area of the course where golfers aren’t admitted to play, typically marked with white stakes 
  • Duff: A bad shot or swing
  • Quick: A rushed swing
  • Yips: A hard swing caused by a player’s nervousness and an inability to hit short putts 
  • Playing Through: When one group of players moves ahead of the group in front of them due to their speed. 

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We proudly serve the nearby cities of Vancouver and Seattle, WA, as well as Portland, OR, and look forward to seeing you soon here at I-5 Motorsports.