Glossary of golf names and terms relating to a golf course. Items are listed alphabetically.
To find a sought word:
– use any search function (e.g. Ctrl+F in Windows, Find in Page in Androd, Find on Page in iOS etc.),
– select desired letter range in the Index (below)
– or just scroll down.
Abnormal Course Condition
Poor physical conditions on a golf course: casual water, ground under repair or a hole or the cast from a hole made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird.
more about abnormal course condition …
Apron
An area of grass in front of the putting green where the fairway transitions into the green.
more about putting green …
Back Nine
The second 9 holes² (no 10-18) on an 18 hole course. Other names: Inward Nine, In.
Ball Mark
A depression (and/or a tear) in the green surface that a ball makes when it hit the ground on its approach shot. Other name: Pitch Mark.
see the picture …
Ballmark Repair Tool see Pitchfork
Birdie book
An hole-by-hole accurate map for a golf course. It contains all the necessary background information on all the holes, including locations and distances to key points (landing zones, penalty areas, greens etc).
more about birdie book …
Bunker
Depression in the ground filled in with sand or a similar material.
more about bunkers …
Casual Water see Temporary Water
Collar
A ring of grass around the putting green that is slightly higher than the grass on the green.
more about putting green …
Course
The collection of holes². A standard, “full-sized” golf course consists of 18 holes.
more about course …
Cup see Hole¹
Divot
A piece of turf and grass that a golf club cuts out of the ground, usually on fairway. Divot refers also to the “divot hole” left where the turf was gouged out.
see the picture …
Dogleg
A hole² in which the fairway bends to the left or to the right at some turning point along its length. Dogleg can be par-4 or par-5 hole. The bend can be in the range between 20 and 90 degrees. If a fairway bends twice the hole is called a double dogleg.
Dropping, Drop Zone (DZ)
Special areas established on the golf course to drop a ball when proceeding in accordance with other Rules is not feasible or practicable.
more about dropping zone …
Extreme Rough
Areas on the golf course covered with high grass (unmowed or cut to the length longer than 5 – 6 inches), weeds, underbrush or/and other foliage, which make it likely the ball will be lost.
more about rough …
Fairway
The closely mown area that is the main intended pathway of play from the tee to the green. It is the target for shots on all holes² other than par 3s.
more about fairway …
Fairway Markers
Poles that indicate the center of the fairway and assist in selecting the line of play, especially when visibility of the landing zone or green is limited.
more about distance markers …
see the picture …
First Cut
The rough directly bordering the fairway that is cut higher than the fairway but lower than the regular rough. Other name: Inna nazwa: Intermediate Rough.
Flagstick
A stick with a flag on it placed on putting green to mark the location of the hole¹.
see the picture…
Fringe
A collar or apron.
more about putting green …
Front Nine
The first 9 holes² (no 1 – 9) of an 18 hole golf course. Other names: Outward Nine, Out.
Grain
The direction in which the individual blades of grass is growing / laying on a green.
Green
An area on a golf course covered with very short grass containing the hole¹ into which the ball must be played.
more about putting green …
Ground Under Repair (GUR)
A part of the golf course so declared in local rules or marked by blue stakes and/or line on the ground.
more about ground under repair …
Hardpan
An area of the golf course (not bunker or penalty area) on which no grass is growing.
Hazard
(before 1st January 2019) Any bunker or water hazard.
Hole¹
A hole (cup) in the ground on each green, into which player is trying to place his golf ball.
more about holes …
Hole²
An unit of a golf course. It always begins at the teeing area and ends at the green.
more about holes …
Immovable obstruction
An artificial object on the course that cannot readily be moved.
Intermediate Rough see First Cut
Lateral Water Hazard
(before 1st January 2019) A water hazard that is alongside or perpendicular to the line of play. See also Penalty Area.
more about penalty area …
No Play Zone
An area protected for environmental, historical or players’ safety reasons, entry into and/or play from which is prohibited.
more about no play zone …
OB see Out of Bounds
Out of Bounds (OB)
The area outside of the golf course limits or designated by the committee, in which play is not allowed.
more about OB …
Penalty Area (PA)
(since 1st January 2019) Any body of water on the course, marked or not, (e.g. sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch, open watercourse) and any other part of the course defined by the Committee.
more about penalty areas …
Permanent Markers, Permanent Tee Markers
Indicating elements, permanently attached to the ground, reflecting an average placement of the movable tee markers. They indicate the start point of each hole² used during course rating procedure.
more about area markers …
Pin see Flagstick
Pitchfork
A small fork-like tool used for repairing the putting green surface. Other name: Ballmark Repair Tool.
Pitch Mark see Ball Mark
Putting Green see Green
Rough
Areas that frames the fairway or green and feature higher grass or naturally growing vegetation. It is designed to be punitive to players who miss the fairway or the green.
more about rough …
Sand Trap
The casual name of a bunker.
Slope
An inclined surface of the ground, especially on a green.
Stakes
Colored posts that define and mark the boundaries of designated areas of the golf course. The color of stake indicates the type of area.
more about area markers …
Tee¹
A little wooden or plastic peg on which a golf ball is placed prior to hitting the first shot (tee shot) on a hole.
see the picture…
Tee²
The casual name of the area at the start of each hole² from which golfers hit the first shot (tee shot) on the hole: teeing area or tee box.
more about teeing area …
Tee box
An area where one or several sets of tee markers are grouped together.
more about tee boxes …
Tee marker
The object that indicates the forward boundary of the teeing area.
more about teeing area …
Tee time
The particular time at which a group of golfers are scheduled to start their round of golf.
Teeing Area, Teeing Ground
The place from which golfer plays the first stroke on each hole². It is a rectangular area two club-lengths in depth, the front and the sides of which are defined by the outside limits of two tee markers.
more about teeing area …
Temporary Water
Any temporary, visible on the surface accumulation of water on the course, that is not designated as a penalty area.
Waste Bunker
An unmaintained, natural or sandy area on a golf course. Other name: Waste Area.
more about bunkers …
Water Hazard
(before 1st January 2019) Any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything of a similar nature on the course. See also Penalty Area.
more about penalty areas …
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update: January 2021