Golf dictionary and terminology Back to golf dictionary
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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. |
