A–Z · Updated Weekly

Golf Glossary

Every golf term, explained in plain English.

Your complete A–Z guide to golf terminology. From ace to wedge, every term is written clearly — no jargon, no gatekeeping, no assumed knowledge.

29
Terms defined
2
Letters covered
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Growing weekly
Term of the Day
Birdie

Birdie A birdie is a score of one stroke under par on a single hole. On a par 4, that means finishing the hole in three strokes. What is a birdie in golf? In golf scoring, a birdie means finishing…

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The Glossary

A to Z, in plain English.

Click any term to read the full entry. New terms are added regularly — check back, or browse what’s been added recently.

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The Two Rulebooks

Rules vs. etiquette.

One can cost you strokes. The other can cost you an invitation back. Worth knowing which is which.

Rules

Codified by the USGA and R&A. Breaking one costs strokes or disqualification.

  • ⚖Out of bounds → stroke and distance penalty
  • ⚖Lost ball → three-minute search window
  • ⚖Hitting a wrong ball → two-stroke penalty
  • ⚖Grounding your club in a bunker → two-stroke penalty
  • ⚖Playing from the wrong tee → two-stroke penalty
  • ⚖Signing an incorrect scorecard → disqualification
vs.

Etiquette

Unwritten code. Breaking one earns you dirty looks and maybe no callback.

  • ★Repair your divots and ball marks
  • ★Rake the bunker after your shot
  • ★Stay silent during another player’s backswing
  • ★Keep pace — let faster groups play through
  • ★Never walk across someone’s putting line
  • ★Shake hands and remove your hat on 18
Common Questions

Things people actually ask.

What’s the best way to learn golf terminology?
Start with the terms you’ll actually hear in your first few rounds — scoring (par, birdie, bogey), course features (tee, fairway, green, rough, bunker), and basic shot types (drive, chip, putt). Learn the rest as you encounter it. Trying to memorise a full glossary upfront is inefficient; learning in context is how the language sticks.
What’s the difference between a rule and etiquette?
Rules are codified by the USGA and R&A and carry stroke or disqualification penalties when broken. Etiquette is the unwritten code — repairing divots, keeping pace, staying quiet on another player’s backswing — that keeps the game enjoyable for everyone. Breaking a rule costs you strokes. Breaking etiquette costs you future invitations.
Why does golf have so many bird-based terms?
It traces to 1899 at the Atlantic City Country Club, where a player called a good shot “a bird of a shot” — 19th-century American slang for anything excellent. The naming convention extended upward by rarity: eagle for two under par, albatross for three under, condor for four under. The bigger the bird, the rarer the score.
How often is this glossary updated?
New terms are added regularly. Every entry is written in plain English, reviewed for accuracy, and linked to related terms. Missing a term you’d like explained? Let us know via the contact page.