Golfing Dictionary

Terms in Golf

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sandbagger A golfer who lies about his ability to gain an edge in the game.

sand iron Also called a sand wedge. A heavy, lofted club that was used for playing from bunkers. No longer in use.

sand trap The common name for a bunker

sand wedge An iron with a heavy flange on the bottom that is used primarily to get out of sand traps.

sandy Making par after being in a bunker.

scoop An improper swing in which the club has a digging or scooping action

scotch foursome A match that has partners alternating hitting the same ball. They also alternate driving regardless of who holed out on the previous hole.

scramble A team competition where players play the best ball of a team member after every stroke or drive.

scratch Par play. A zero handicap.

scratch player A player who has no handicap

scruff To misplay the ball by hitting or grazing the ground with the clubhead prior to hitting the ball.

semi-private course A course that has members but is still open to the public.

set A full set of golf clubs.

set up To position yourself for the address.

seven iron An iron club used for a distance of 125-160 yards for men's clubs. Also known as a mashie-niblick.

shaft The part of the club joined to the head

shag bag A bag for carrying practice balls.

shagging Picking up golf balls from practice ranges

shank A shot struck by the club's hosel. Travels to the right of the intended target.

Shiperio Similar to a mulligan where a player is allowed a second shot without penalty but is allowed to choose which ball to play, the first one or the second one.

short game The part of the game that is made up of chip shots, pitching and putting

short irons The highly lofted irons.

shotgun Start In tournaments when players are to start at different holes; a firing of a shotgun may be used as a signal to start play.

shot hole A par three hole.

shotmaker A player who has the ability to play a great many different shots.

shotmaking The ability to play a great many different shots.

side Can mean the first 9 holes (front side) or the last 9 (back side) of an 18 hole course. Also two or more players who are partners.

sidehill lie A lie with the ball either above or below your feet.

sink a putt Make a putt.

six iron An iron club that gives a distance of 135-170 yards for men's clubs. Also known as a spade or spade-mashie.

skins A golf game that awards the money to the player with the lowest score on a hole. In case of a tie, the game continues until someone wins.

skulling Hitting the ball at or above its center causing the ball to be hit too hard and travel too great a distance.

sky To hit underneath the ball sending it much higher than intended. Like a pop fly in baseball

slice A shot that curves strongly from left to right as a result of sidespin. The converse applies to a left-handed player.

slope Adjusts your handicap to the difficulty of the course you play. The more difficult the course, the more strokes you'll need. Under slope, golfers will no longer have a handicap. You will have an index. An average course will have a slope rating of 113. Your index is a mathematical calculation of your playing ability on an average course. Maximum index allowed is 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women. Conversion charts will be located at the first tee.

slump A prolonged period of bad play.

smother To hit down on the ball so that it travels a short distance on the ground.

snake A very long putt that travels over several breaks in the green.

snake A three-putt off any green. A game played where the last three-putts of round, occuring on any hole owes the other members of the group the pre-agreed total of all three-putts. Gets pretty exciting the last few holes with some competitors playing snake-avoidance.

snap-hook To hit a hot with an acute hook.

snipe A ball that is hooked and drops quickly

sole The bottom of the club head

sole plate The metal plate on the bottom of woods

SPGA Senior Professional Golf Association.

spade-mashie Old term for a 6 iron.

spike mark Mark made on the green by the cleats of a golf shoe.

spoon Old term for a 3 wood.

spot putting A player aims at a spot on the green that will allow the ball to roll into the cup, rather than directly at the hole.

spray To hit the ball erratically off line.

spring The flexibility of the club shaft.

square stance Placing your feet in a line parallel to the direction you which the ball to travel

stableford A method of scoring that uses points instead of strokes.

stance The position of your feet when addressing the ball

starter Person who determines the order of play from the first tee.

stick The pin in the hole.

stimpmetre Superintendents measure green speed with a stimpmetre. Its readings give a snapshot of the green speed at that time of day. Stimpmetre readings in the five to six range mean slow greens, seven to eight mean medium, nine to 10 fast and above 11 extremely fast - PGA Tournament speeds.

stipulated round The playing of all holes of a course in the correct order

stony To hit a ball close to the flagstick

straightaway A hole having a straight fairway.

straight-faced Refers to a club with little or no loft on the face.

strike off To drive from the tee.

stroke The forward motion of the club head made with the intent to hit the ball whether contact is made or not

stroke play A competition in which the total number of strokes for one round, or a pre-determined number of rounds, determines the winner

stymie When an opponent's ball is in the line of the other player's putt. Since the ball may now be lifted, the term is used these days to refer to a tree or object in the way of a shot

sudden death When in a match or stroke competition the score is tied after completing the round, play continues until one player wins a hole

summer rules Ordinary play according the Rules of Golf

supination The rotation of the wrist so that the palm of the hand faces upward.

Surlyn Material from which most golf balls are made of.

swale A moderately contoured depression or dip in terrain.

sweet spot The dead center of the face of the club

swing The action of stroking the ball.

swing weight The measure of a club's weight.