Golf Terms Every Golfer Should Know

By MyFoursome · Published July 1, 2026 · 6 min read

Golf has its own language, and it gets thrown around casually by people who've been playing for years. If you're new to the game, here's a plain-English guide to the terms you'll hear most often.

General guidance, not a guarantee of results. Course policies and competition rules vary. Joining or hosting a MyFoursome game does not itself reserve a tee time.

Scoring terms

These are the words used to describe how many shots you took on a hole relative to par:

• Par — the expected number of strokes for a hole (usually 3, 4, or 5).
• Birdie — one under par. A birdie on a par-4 means you holed out in 3 shots.
• Eagle — two under par. Rare and worth celebrating.
• Albatross (Double Eagle) — three under par. Exceptionally rare.
• Bogey — one over par.
• Double bogey — two over par.
• Triple bogey — three over par (often just called a 'triple').

Course terms

• Tee box — where you start each hole. There are typically multiple sets from easier (forward) to harder (back).
• Fairway — the mown grass between the tee and green.
• Rough — the longer grass flanking the fairway.
• Green — the closely-mown putting surface where the hole is.
• Hazard — penalty areas including water and designated zones.
• Bunker — a sand trap, on the fairway or around the green.
• Out of bounds (OB) — outside the course boundary, marked by white stakes. Two-stroke penalty.

Play and format terms

• Stroke play — count every shot across the entire round. Lowest total wins.
• Match play — compete hole by hole; most holes won wins the match.
• Handicap — a number representing how many strokes over par you typically shoot.
• Gimme — a short putt conceded by your opponent in match play ('pick it up').
• Mulligan — an informal do-over, not allowed in official play.
• Fore! — the warning shout when a ball is heading toward other players.
• Ready golf — playing when ready rather than strictly by honour, to speed up play.

Shot terms

• Draw — a shot that curves slightly right-to-left for a right-handed golfer.
• Fade — a shot that curves slightly left-to-right for a right-handed golfer.
• Hook — a severe, unintended right-to-left curve.
• Slice — a severe, unintended left-to-right curve. The most common beginner miss.
• Chunk / Fat — hitting the ground before the ball.
• Thin / Skull — catching the top of the ball, sending it low and running.
• Shank — hitting the ball off the hosel (socket) of the iron. Goes wildly sideways.