Golf Course Glossary
Club House
Main building at a golf course usually hosting a Pro Shop to check-in for Tee-Time, pay greens fees and cart fees and purchase merchandise such as balls, gloves, hats, shirts etc. Some club houses will have a bar, restaurant, and locker rooms with a shower to change after your round.
Pro Shop
The Pro Shop is were you check-in for your Tee-Time, pay greens fees and cart fees and purchase merchandise such as balls, gloves, hats, shirts etc. It is important you check-in at least 15 minutes before you tee-time to help the golf course run on schedule. Folks showing up right at the tee time delay everyone else’s round.
Practice Putting Green
Golf Courses have a practice putting green outside the clubhouse for you to practice putting. Practice Putting Greens are designed to be the same speed as the greens on the golf course so it’s important to show up 30 minutes early and practice putting to get a feel for the greens if “score” is important to you. The speed of greens will vary between golf courses with some rolling faster and others roll slower than what you may be used to.
Driving Range
Golf Courses with driving ranges allow you to warm up your swing and ball striking before a round of golf. It’s important to start your warm up hitting wedges or 9 irons to loosen up first and then gradually hit mid irons, hybrids and then the driver last. Show up 45 minutes before your tee time and warm up.
Golf Course Design
Golf courses have either18 holes or 9 holes to play. Each golf course is a set of unique hole designs made up of Par 3, Par 4, and Par 5 length golf holes that provide a variety of distances & challenges throughout a round of golf. There are also Executive or Par 3 golf courses where all of the holes are shorter or Par 3 in length and perfect for practice or beginning golfers.
Score Card
The score card provides the yardage from each colored tee box for each hole and provides space to write the name of each golfer and their score for each hole. The score card lists the handicap rating, or difficulty, of each hole in order of difficulty.
Handicap Index
A Handicap Index is a calculation of your all of your 9 or 18 holes round scores and the difficulty rating of the golf courses you play. After you play 10 rounds & enter your scores into the handicap computer you will have a handicap index # that allows you to play club & area golf tournaments.. A zero handicap is a scratch golfer that shoots even par. A 40 handicap golfer is a beginner & shoots well into the 100’s. Two golfers with handicaps can play a fair match against each other. For example, a 10 handicap golfer will have to give a 20 handicap golfer 10 extra strokes to even out their abilities.
Par 4
A Par 4 is a hole designed for the golfer to reach the green in “Regulation” in 2 shots and then requiring 2 putts to make Par or a total of 4 stokes. This Hole Sign represents the Hole #1, Par 4 that plays 380 yards from the Blue tee markers, 365 yards from the white markers, and 340 yards from the Red tee markers.
Par 3
A Par 3 is a shorter length hole designed for the golfer to reach the green in “Regulation” in one shot and then assumes 2 putts to make Par or a total of 3 stokes. This Hole Sign represents the Par 3 Hole #2 that plays 165 yards from the Blue tee markers, 155 yards from the white markers, and 145 yards from the Red tee markers.
Par 5
A Par 5 is a longer length hole designed for the golfer to reach the green in “Regulation” in three shots and then assumes 2 putts to make Par or a total of 5 stokes. This Hole Sign represents the Hole #3, Par 5 that plays 485 yards from the Blue tee markers, 470 yards from the white markers, and 445 yards from the Red tee markers.
Par
A “Par” is a score that matches the Par for the hole. A score of par on a Par 3 would be 3 strokes. A score of par on a Par 4 would be 4 strokes. A score of par on a Par 5 would be 5.
Birdie
A “Birdie” is a score that is one stroke under the Par for the hole. A birdie on a Par 3 would be 2 strokes. A birdie on a Par 4 would be 3 strokes. A birdie on a Par 5 would be 4 strokes.
Eagle & Albatrosse
An “Eagle” is a score that is two strokes under the Par for the hole. An eagle on a Par 3 would be 1 stroke or a hole-in-on. An eagle on a Par 4 would be 2 strokes. An eagle on a Par 5 would be 3 strokes.
An “Albatross” is 3 under par for hole and can also be called a “double eagle”.
Bogey
A “Bogey” is a score that is one stroke over the Par for the hole. A score of bogey on a Par 3 would be 4 strokes. A score of bogey on a Par 4 would be 5 strokes. A score of bogey on a Par 5 would be 6.
Double Bogey
A “Double Bogey” is a score that is two strokes over the Par for the hole. A score of double bogey on a Par 3 would be 5 strokes. A score of double bogey on a Par 4 would be 6 strokes. A score of double bogey on a Par 5 would be 7.
Triple Bogey, Quadruple Body, Etc
A “Triple Bogey” is a score that is 3 strokes over the Par for the hole. A score of triple bogey on a Par 3 would be 6 strokes. A score of triple bogey on a Par 4 would be 7 strokes. A score of triple bogey on a Par 5 would be 8. A Quadruple bogey would be 4 stokes over Par for that hole. A quadruple bogey on a Pa 4 would be a score of 8 or affectionately called a “Snowman”.
Tee Box
The Tee Box or Teeing Ground is where you hit your first shot for that hole. Different color tee markers are staggered on Tee Boxes providing distance options golfers can play the golf course. Typically, Red tee markers are the most forward markering the shortest length course you can play. Gold, White, Blue and Black provide incrementally longer yardage golf course experiences you can play. Golfers should select the Tee Box where they can reach most Par 4’s in 2 shots.
Tee Markers
Each Tee Box has colored Tee Markers placed in the ground for you to tee your ball between marking the starting point for that hole. Typically, Red tee markers are the most forward markers creating the shortest length golf course to play. Gold, White, Blue and Black (where the Pros play) each provide an incrementally longer yardage golf course for you to play. Golfers should select the Tee Box where they can reach most Par 4’s in 2 shots.
The Green
The Green is the putting surface of each hole and includes the Hole which houses the Cup, Flag, and Flagstick.
The Hole
Hitting the ball into the “Hole” in the fewest shots possible is the name of the game. Inside the hole sits the “Cup”. The edge of the hole is called the “Lip”.
Fringe
The fringe is fairway height grass that is closest and circles the entire green. Golfers will either putt or chip the ball from the fringe.
Apron
Part of the fairway approach that runs up into the green or putting surface. It often looks like an apron from a distance.
Greenside Rough
Green-side Rough is the tallest grass closes the the green and increases the degree of difficulty when chipping or pitching if you are not accurate with your approach shot into the green.
Fairway
Used to mark the spot where you balls lies on the putting green so the other golfer can putt their ball and not hits yours if your ball sits in their way. Can be any shape it just needs to be flat incase a ball does happen to roll over it. It may be a luck coin or charm of your choice.
Rough
Rough is longer length grass designed to increase the difficulty of your next shot when you are not accurate. How your ball sits in the rough will determine your shot. The more the ball sits down in longer the grass the greater the difficulty hitting the ball forward and in the air. Often times, it is best to use a higher lofted club to get the most out of your ball performance.
Bunker / Sand Trap
A sand trap or bunker is considered a hazard designed to penalize the golfer for lack of accuracy. A bunker shot requires a sand wedge & specific technique to execute the shot. Etiquette requires all golfers to rake the sand smooth after use to allow those playing behind you a smooth surface.
Fairway Bunker
A Fairway Bunker is a sand trap or hazard set back several yards from the green and may be located on the sides, or even the middle, of the fairway. Fairway Bunkers may be as far back as 200 yards from the green. Etiquette requires all golfers to rake the sand smooth after use to allow those playing behind you a smooth surface.
Out of Bounds
Out of Bounds is defined by white stakes alongside the edge of the entire golf hole and usually defines the boundary of the golf course. Hitting the balls out of bounds is a 2 stroke penalty where you have the choice to A) Hit another ball from the original spot (called Stroke & Distance) Or B) Drop the Ball equal distance to where the ball went out bounds on the edge of the fairway.
Lateral Hazard – Red Stake
A “lateral water hazard” is a water hazar or part of a water hazard that runs alongside to or parallel to the golf hole. These hazards are positioned where you can not find a direct line from behind the hazard to the pin so you drop the ball 2 club lengths from the point the ball entered the hazard no closer to the hole.
Water Hazard – Yellow Stake
When a golfer hits their ball in a yellow-stake water hazard, the golfer has two options to drop the ball, take relief and incur a one-stroke penalty: Drop the ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point where the original shot went in the water hazard between where the golfer drops and the hole.
100 Yard Marker
The 100 yard marker designate a spot that is 100 yards to the center of the green. The marker may be a red stake or red plate in the center of fairway or yardage numbers printed on sprinkler head. This marker is used this to figure out how far your ball is from the center of the green by adding or subtracting yards based on the number of large walking steps you make. For example, your ball is ahead of the marker and it takes you 10 large steps from the marker to get to your ball you would be 90 yards to the center of the green. Select your 90 yard club and hit it.
150 Yard Marker
The 200 yard marker designate a spot that is 200 yards to the center of the green. The marker may be a white stake or white plate in the center of fairway or yardage numbers printed on sprinkler head. This marker is used this to figure out how far your ball is from the center of the green by adding or subtracting yards based on the number of large walking steps you make. For example, your ball is behind the marker and it takes you 12 large steps from the marker to get to your ball you would be 162 yards to the center of the green. Select your 162 club and go for it.
200 Yard Marker
The 200 yard marker designate a spot that is 200 yards to the center of the green. The marker may be a blue stake or blue plate in the center of fairway or yardage numbers printed on sprinkler head. This marker is used this to figure out how far your ball is from the center of the green by adding or subtracting yards based on the number of large walking steps you make. For example, your ball is ahead the marker and it takes you 15 large steps from the marker to get to your ball you would be 185 yards to the center of the green.
