Hole
One complete scoring unit from teeing area to putting green and cup. A standard round usually has 18 holes.
FRONT 9 · The basics
Start here: the words
Read this first. These are the words the rest of the page assumes you know.
Anatomy of a hole
RULE 2.2 · THE FIVE AREAS OF THE COURSECore vocabulary22 words used everywhere below
Par
The score a skilled golfer is expected to need for a hole under normal conditions.
Teeing area
The starting area for each hole where the first stroke is played.
Fairway
The shorter-cut grass forming the preferred route from tee to green.
Rough
Longer grass beside the fairway that usually makes the next shot harder.
Green
The specially prepared short-grass area containing the hole and flagstick.
Bunker
A prepared sand hazard/area that requires special shot technique and has specific rules.
Penalty area
A marked area, often involving water or difficult ground, with specific relief options and penalty procedures.
Lie
How and where the ball is resting: fairway, rough, sand, slope, etc. The lie affects the shot you can reasonably play.
Clubface
The hitting surface of the golf club.
Swing path
The direction the clubhead is traveling through the hitting area.
Carry
How far the ball travels through the air before first touching the ground.
Roll
How far the ball travels along the ground after landing.
Approach shot
A shot intended to reach or finish near the green.
Chip
A short shot near the green that flies relatively low and rolls most of the remaining distance.
Pitch
A short shot that flies higher and farther through the air than a typical chip.
Putt
A stroke played on or around the green designed mainly to roll the ball.
Draw
For a right-handed golfer, a controlled shot that curves gently from right to left. Reverse the direction for a left-handed golfer.
Fade
For a right-handed golfer, a controlled shot that curves gently from left to right. Reverse the direction for a left-handed golfer.
Slice
An unintended, usually larger curve away from the golfer’s body side: right for most right-handed golfers.
Hook
An unintended, usually larger curve toward the golfer’s body side: left for most right-handed golfers.
Course management
Choosing targets, clubs, and risk levels to produce the best score rather than simply trying the hardest possible shot.
FRONT 9 · The basics
The game at a glance
Count every stroke (and every penalty stroke) from the first tee shot to the last putt.
Score names
PICK A PAR · COUNT THE STROKESHole
One unit of the course, beginning in teeing area and ending when ball is holed.
Round
18 or fewer holes played in order set by committee under Rules of Golf.
Stroke play
Total strokes (including penalties) determine score.
Match play
Players compete hole by hole; winning more holes wins match.
Par
Expected benchmark strokes for a skilled player on a hole/course.
Birdie
One under par on a hole.
Eagle
Two under par.
Bogey
One over par.
Double bogey
Two over par.
Handicap
System estimating player ability and enabling equitable competition under handicapping rules.
Gross score
Actual strokes taken.
Net score
Gross score adjusted by handicap strokes in applicable formats.
The spirit of itThree principles
- The simplest rule philosophy: play the course as you find it, play the ball as it lies, and apply the Rules honestly.
- Golf strategy is mostly about dispersion, target selection, lie, distance, hazards, and avoiding costly mistakes.
- Handicaps use the World Handicap System (since 2020). A Handicap Index can go up to 54.0, which lets players of any level compete fairly.
FRONT 9 · The basics
Parts of a golf hole
Every hole is a route from a teeing area to a green, with hazards placed to punish certain misses.
Teeing area
Starting area for hole.
Fairway
Closely mown central playing corridor.
Rough
Longer grass outside fairway.
Bunker
Prepared sand area treated specially by rules.
Penalty area
Water or other ground marked with red or yellow stakes or lines. You may play it as it lies, or take relief for one penalty stroke (Rule 17). Red areas also allow sideways (“lateral”) relief.
Green
Closely mown putting surface containing hole.
Fringe / collar
Short grass around green but not part of putting green.
Out of bounds (OB)
Outside course boundary; normally stroke-and-distance relief required unless applicable local rule offers alternative.
Dogleg
Hole bends left or right.
Carry
Distance ball must travel in air to clear hazard/feature.
Landing zone
Area targeted for tee shot/approach.
Runout
Distance ball rolls after landing.
BACK 9 · Clubs & ball flight
Club families
Fourteen clubs, each a different combination of loft and length. More loft sends the ball higher and shorter.
The bag: distances and gaps
SET YOUR 7-IRON CARRYDriver
Longest club, lowest loft in standard bag; used primarily for distance from tee.
Fairway wood
Long-distance club playable from tee/fairway, higher loft than driver.
Hybrid
Wood/iron blend designed for easier launch and long approach utility.
Long iron
Lower-loft iron for long approaches/tee shots; harder to launch for many players.
Mid iron
Versatile approach clubs around 5–7 iron.
Short iron
Higher loft 8–9 iron for shorter approaches.
Pitching wedge
Bridge between irons and specialty wedges.
Gap wedge
Fills distance gap between pitching and sand wedges.
Sand wedge
Higher loft/bounce used in bunkers and short game.
Lob wedge
Very high loft for short high shots, specialized lies, and greenside play.
Putter
Used primarily on green to roll ball.
Bounce
Angle/sole geometry helping wedge resist digging into turf/sand.
Loft
Face angle affecting launch and distance.
Shaft flex
How shaft bends; fit depends on delivery/speed/preferences.
BACK 9 · Clubs & ball flight
Shot types
The same club can produce very different shots depending on setup, swing length and ball position.
Tee shot
First stroke on hole.
Approach
Shot intended to reach/position near green.
Layup
Intentionally stop short of hazard/difficult distance.
Chip
Low-running short-game shot with limited air time.
Pitch
Higher short-game shot with more carry and softer landing.
Flop
Very high soft shot requiring open face/loft and appropriate lie.
Bunker shot
Greenside or fairway shot from sand; technique differs by lie/distance.
Punch
Low-trajectory shot used under wind/trees or for control.
Knockdown
Controlled lower-flight shot, often with abbreviated finish.
Draw
For right-hander, ball curves gently right-to-left.
Fade
For right-hander, ball curves gently left-to-right.
Hook
Large right-to-left curve for right-hander.
Slice
Large left-to-right curve for right-hander.
Putt
Ball rolled on green toward hole.
Lag putt
Long putt prioritized for distance control / easy second putt.
Bump and run
Low chip using less loft and more rollout.
BACK 9 · Clubs & ball flight
Ball-flight basics
Two numbers explain most of where a shot goes: the clubface angle (mostly sets the start direction) and the face-to-path difference (sets the curve).
The nine ball flights
MOVE THE FACE AND THE PATHClubface
Major influence on initial direction.
Swing path
Direction club head travels through impact relative to target.
Face-to-path
Relationship largely influences curvature.
Angle of attack
Whether club is traveling up/down at impact.
Dynamic loft
Actual loft delivered at impact.
Spin loft
Relationship of dynamic loft and angle of attack; influences spin generation.
Launch angle
Initial vertical launch.
Spin rate
Revolutions per minute; interacts with speed/launch.
Smash factor
Ball speed divided by clubhead speed; proxy for energy transfer.
Strike location
Where ball hits face; heel/toe/high/low changes speed and gear effect.
Low point
Bottom of swing arc; crucial for iron/turf contact.
Golf ball-flight science is simplified here. Equipment, wind, lie, spin axis, and strike location all affect real outcomes.
BACK 9 · Clubs & ball flight
Common misses and what they mean
Diagnose the miss before trying to fix the swing.
Slice
Large curve away from player’s body side (right for right-hander), commonly from open face relative to path.
Hook
Large opposite curve, commonly from closed face relative to path.
Push
Starts right for right-hander and stays relatively straight; often path/face both right of target.
Pull
Starts left and stays relatively straight.
Push-slice
Starts right and curves farther right.
Pull-hook
Starts left and curves farther left.
Fat
Club contacts ground before ball; low point too far behind ball.
Thin
Impact too high on ball/low on face; insufficient ground interaction after ball.
Top
Very high contact on ball causing low rolling shot.
Shank
Ball contacts hosel/heel area and shoots sharply sideways.
Toe strike
Impact toward toe, often reducing speed/altering curve.
Heel strike
Impact toward heel.
Chunked chip
Ground contact before ball in short game.
Bladed chip
Leading edge strikes ball high, producing low uncontrolled shot.
18TH · Strategy & rules
Course management
Good scores come from avoiding big numbers. Aim where your normal miss still leaves you playable.
Know carry distance
How far each club flies is more useful than total distance alone when hazards are involved.
Play to dispersion
Aim so normal miss pattern still leaves playable result.
Fat side
Aim toward larger/safe side of green instead of chasing tucked pin.
Center-green strategy
For many players, aiming center green lowers big numbers.
Avoid short-side
Missing green on side with little green between ball and hole creates hard recovery.
Lay up to favorite yardage
Choose next-shot distance you are comfortable with rather than blindly advancing maximum.
Hazard margin
Choose target that accounts for worst common miss, not just perfect strike.
Tee-box angle
Use position within teeing area to improve visual/shot angle.
Wind plan
Into wind usually requires more club and lower controlled flight; downwind changes carry/roll/spin.
Lie adjustment
Rough, slope, sand, hardpan, wet turf affect launch/contact/distance.
Slope effect
Uphill/downhill and sidehill lies alter stance, trajectory, and curvature tendencies.
Score strategy
When in trouble, accept bogey rather than turning it into triple by forcing hero shot.
18TH · Strategy & rules
Short game and putting
For most golfers, more than half of all strokes are played within 100 yards of the hole, and putts alone are close to 40%.
Read the break
SLOPE · SPEED · DISTANCELanding spot
Pick where ball should first land, then choose club/trajectory for rollout.
Use the ground
When possible, lower-risk chip/putt-style shots reduce required precision.
High-loft option
Use when obstacle, short-side, or firm landing requires steep soft shot.
Bunker splash
Greenside technique intentionally enters sand behind ball and uses sand to move ball.
Bunker fairway shot
Cleaner ball-first strike than greenside splash.
Up-and-down
Miss green but get ball into hole in two shots from around green.
Scrambling
Ability to save par after missing green in regulation.
Grain
Direction grass grows can influence speed/roll on some greens.
Green speed
Faster greens require smaller stroke and magnify slope.
Read
Estimate direction and speed based on slope, grain, and pace.
Start line
Initial path of putt.
Pace
Speed of putt, which changes how much break acts.
18TH · Strategy & rules
Rules situations beginners meet
Most rulings come down to one question: where do I play my next shot from, and what does it cost?
Relief options, drawn to scale
PENALTY AREA · UNPLAYABLE · OUT OF BOUNDSLost ball
If not found within rule search time, ball is lost; standard relief is stroke and distance unless another rule/local rule applies.
Out of bounds
If entire ball lies beyond boundary edge, standard stroke-and-distance relief applies.
Provisional ball
Played to save time when original may be lost outside penalty area or out of bounds.
Penalty area
Player may play ball as it lies or take specified relief options with penalty.
Unplayable ball
Player can declare ball unplayable (except certain restrictions, such as penalty-area context) and take relief options with penalty.
Cart path / immovable obstruction
Free relief may be available for interference under abnormal course condition rules.
Ground under repair
Marked abnormal condition that may allow free relief.
Embedded ball
Relief can apply under rule in general area, subject to conditions/local rules.
Ball moved accidentally on green
Rules provide special treatment in certain circumstances; replace as required.
Marking on green
Ball can be marked, lifted, cleaned, and replaced on putting green.
Loose impediment
Natural unattached objects can often be removed, but moving ball can cause consequences depending situation.
Wrong ball
Playing another ball can result in general penalty and must be corrected in stroke play.
Unplayable in bunker
Relief options include within bunker and, with additional penalty, back-on-line outside bunker under rules.
Relief at a glanceRules 16–19
| Situation | Penalty | Your options |
|---|---|---|
| Ball in a yellow penalty area | <span class="num">1 STROKE</span> | Play it as it lies (no penalty), stroke-and-distance, or back-on-the-line. |
| Ball in a red penalty area | <span class="num">1 STROKE</span> | All yellow options, plus lateral relief within two club-lengths, no nearer the hole. |
| Out of bounds / lost ball | <span class="num">1 STROKE</span> | Stroke-and-distance: replay from where you last hit. (A local rule may allow a two-stroke drop near where it went out.) |
| Unplayable ball | <span class="num">1 STROKE</span> | Stroke-and-distance, back-on-the-line, or two club-lengths sideways. In a bunker, staying in it; or back-on-the-line outside it for two strokes. |
| Cart path / ground under repair | <span class="num">FREE</span> | Drop within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief, no nearer the hole. |
19TH · Formats & stats
Scoring formats
The same round can be scored many ways, some for tournaments, some for fun with friends.
Stroke play
Lowest total strokes wins.
Match play
Win individual holes; match score is holes up/down.
Stableford
Points awarded based on score relative to fixed target.
Scramble
Team selects best shot then all play from there; casual/team-event format.
Best ball / four-ball
Each player plays own ball; best score for side counts.
Alternate shot / foursomes
Partners alternate strokes with one ball.
Skins
Each hole worth a unit/skin, often carries over if tied depending rules.
Nassau
Three matches: front nine, back nine, total 18, common informal betting format.
Handicap stroke allocation
Handicap strokes apply on designated holes based on index/format.
19TH · Formats & stats
Golf statistics that matter
Strokes gained compares every shot to a tour-average benchmark from the same spot, so it shows exactly where strokes are won and lost.
Fairways hit
Tee shots finishing fairway on par 4/5; not always equal quality.
GIR
Green in regulation: on green with at least two putts remaining to make par.
Putts per round
Simple putting count heavily influenced by GIR/proximity.
Scrambling %
Save par or better after missing GIR.
Sand save %
Save par or better after greenside bunker, depending stat definition.
Driving distance
Average tee-shot distance on measured holes.
Driving accuracy
Fairways hit percentage.
Proximity
Distance remaining to hole after approach.
Strokes gained: off-the-tee
Performance vs benchmark from tee on par 4/5.
Strokes gained: approach
Performance on approach shots vs benchmark.
Strokes gained: around-the-green
Short-game performance.
Strokes gained: putting
Putting performance relative to benchmark from given distances.
Strokes gained: total
Overall performance vs field/benchmark.
19TH · Formats & stats
Beginner and golf-game mode
Habits that lower scores on a real course, and in golf games.
Play smarterTransferable habits
- Club up when you are unsure. Most beginners miss short more often than long because they overestimate carry.
- Aim for center of green unless your dispersion and lie justify attacking the flag.
- Learn carry distances for wedges and mid-irons before chasing driver speed.
- When in trees, get back to safety. Hero shots create big numbers.
- Putt for speed first. A perfect read with terrible speed is still a bad putt.
- Choose shot shape you can repeat; do not force a draw/fade just because a hole “looks like” it asks for one.
- In golf games, same logic applies: manage wind, lie percentage, elevation, rollout, and safe miss rather than aiming every shot directly at flag.
Rulebook watch
New for 2026
Golf’s rules are written jointly by the USGA and The R&A. The current edition took effect in 2023, with clarifications and new Model Local Rules added since; the next full edition is expected in 2027.
New Model Local Rules
The R&A and USGA published new and updated Model Local Rules effective 1 January 2026, which committees can adopt for their competitions.
The golf-ball rollback
Balls will be tested at a 125 mph clubhead speed (up from 120), 2,200 rpm spin and an 11° launch. Elite competitions adopt it in 2028 and recreational golf in 2030. Most amateurs will lose only a few yards.
Friendlier rules
The 2023 edition simplified back-on-the-line relief, lets a player replace a club damaged during the round (unless it was damaged through abuse), and dropped the penalty for leaving a handicap off the scorecard.
Three-minute search, knee-height drops
Search time was cut from five minutes to three, drops are made from knee height, relief areas are measured in club-lengths, and there is no penalty for accidentally moving your ball while searching for it.
Reference
Golf glossary
Every term from this page in plain English. Dotted-underlined words anywhere above also explain themselves when you hover or tap them.
- Address
- Setup before swing.
- Alignment
- Body/club orientation to target.
- Apron
- Fringe around green.
- Back nine
- Holes 10–18.
- Back-on-the-line relief
- Drop on a line from the hole through a reference point (like where the ball crossed into a penalty area), as far back as you like.
- Ball marker
- Object marking ball location on green.
- Birdie
- One under par.
- Bogey
- One over par.
- Bounce
- Wedge sole angle.
- Break
- Putt curve from slope.
- Bunker
- Sand hazard-like special area.
- Carry
- Air distance.
- Casual water / temporary water
- Temporary accumulation may qualify as abnormal course condition.
- Chunk
- Fat shot.
- Club-length
- The length of your longest club except the putter, used to measure relief areas.
- Clubface
- Hitting surface.
- Compression
- Quality/physics of ball-club interaction; also ball construction term.
- Course rating
- Difficulty rating for scratch golfer under handicapping.
- Divot
- Turf displaced by stroke.
- Dogleg
- Hole bends.
- Dormie
- Match-play term historically meaning player is as many holes up as remain; usage depends competition.
- Draw
- Controlled curve.
- Drop
- Procedure for putting ball back in play under relief.
- Eagle
- Two under par.
- Face-to-path
- The difference between where the clubface points and where the club is traveling at impact. It sets the curve.
- Fade
- Controlled opposite curve.
- Fairway
- Short grass corridor.
- Five areas of the course
- Rule 2.2: general area, teeing area, bunkers, penalty areas and the putting green.
- Flier
- Shot from certain rough lies that carries farther/flies lower-spin than expected.
- Fore
- Warning shout.
- Front nine
- Holes 1–9.
- Gimme
- Conceded short putt in match/casual play; not allowed as “automatic” in stroke play unless rules/format permit concession differently.
- Green
- Putting surface.
- Green fee
- Price to play course.
- Grip
- How hands hold club; also rubber handle.
- Grounding club
- Resting club on ground; restrictions vary by area/situation.
- Handicap index
- Standardized measure of demonstrated ability.
- Hazard
- Legacy casual term; current rules use penalty area/bunker categories.
- Hosel
- Part connecting shaft and clubhead.
- Lateral relief
- For red penalty areas and unplayable balls: drop within two club-lengths of the reference point, no nearer the hole.
- Lie
- How/where ball sits; also club lie angle.
- Links
- Traditional coastal style golf course.
- Mulligan
- Unofficial replay shot not part of Rules.
- OB
- Out of bounds.
- Par
- Benchmark strokes.
- Penalty stroke
- Stroke added to score under rules.
- Pin
- Flagstick colloquial.
- Provisional
- Second ball played conditionally when original may be lost/OB.
- Rough
- Longer grass.
- Sand save
- Par save from greenside bunker.
- Scratch golfer
- Golfer around 0 handicap index.
- Shank
- Hosel/heel mis-hit.
- Slope rating
- Relative course difficulty for bogey vs scratch golfer.
- Stimpmeter
- A ramp that measures green speed in feet rolled; tour greens often run 12–14.
- Stroke and distance
- Relief that costs one stroke and sends you back to where you last played.
- Tee
- Peg and starting area.
- Thin
- High-on-ball/low-face strike.
- Up and down
- Two shots from off green to hole.
- Yips
- Involuntary movement/anxiety issue affecting short strokes.
No glossary term matches. Try the ⌘K search for concepts.
Reference
Official sources
Rules and dimensions on this page follow these documents. Video-game notes teach transferable logic rather than edition-specific tricks. Page stats: 13 sections · 160 explained concepts · 6 interactive visuals · 59 glossary terms.
USGA: Rules of Golfwww.usga.org/rules-hub.htmlThe R&A: Rules of Golfwww.randa.org/en/rules/rules-hubThe R&A: New and updated Model Local Rules for 2026www.randa.org/en/articles/new-and-updated-model-local-rules-for-2026USGA: Additional clarifications of the 2023 Ruleswww.usga.org/rules-hub/clarifications-of-the-rules-of-golf.htmlUSGA / R&A: Golf-ball testing changes (ODS)www.usga.org/TrackMan: PGA Tour averageswww.trackman.com/blog/golf/introducing-updated-tour-averages
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