You cannot be a good golf player unless you understand the most common terms related to the game. In fact, I personally feel that learning the golf language nonetheless important than learning the rules and techniques. Here are some of the most common and important golf terms I can think of sharing:
Fairway: This mown grass area extends between the tee and the green. The green is the region of the hole and its location is indicated with a flag called pin or flagstaff.
Rough: It is the grassy area bordering the fairway and characterized by its long and untrimmed grasses. It is suitable for the shots made with wood or iron clubs.
Hazard: This area is virtually unplayable and consists of water, vegetation or sand bunkers. You will find these around the green and on the fairway.
Tee: This is the raised grass area from where you deliver the first shot on each hole. The wooden or plastic peg for holding the ball off the ground is also called a tee.
Par: This is the average number of shots that you have to play from the tee right up to the hole. If you take all the par shots for completing the 18 holes, then you have made par.
Birdie: This is when you complete a hole in one shot less than its allotted par.
Bogey: This is when you take one more shot than the par for a single hole. Making a double bogey is common among players.
Eagle: When you take two shots less than the par for one hole, you make an eagle.
Albatross: This happens when you take three shots less than the par designated for a single hole. It is a rare and difficult.
The shank: If you strike the ball with the junction of the club and the shaft, called the ‘hosel’ it makes for a defective swing and you are liable to end in embarrassment.
Fore: This is a warning shouted aloud to keep off other golfers from the way of a ball in motion. You must heed it immediately and duck for cover to escape injuries.
Angle of attack: This is the angle made by the club head when it lands towards the ball during a swing.
Backweight: This is the mechanism of making the wooden club heads heavier by using metal inserts towards its sole for aiding the flight of the ball better.
Blade: These are the iron club heads with flat backs and no cavity that help you to shape the ball better.
Fade: This is the left to right or vice versa curve of the ball made during flight.
Lie Angle: This is the angle made by the centre line of the shaft and the sole of the club.
Apart from these basics, there are a few other terms, which you can get familiar with after you start playing the game.
