Golf Glossary: Everything You Need To Know About Golf
It can take years on the course to become an expert in the terminology of golf. The only thing golfers may enjoy more than a few drinks after their round is finding better ways to describe their golf shots. Here is my golf glossary G – H. These golf sayings are always tweaking and changing. So here is my easy guide in one place.
I’ve pulled together a total glossary of golfing terms and slang. I’m pretty sure it covers 99% of everything you need to know!
Comment below – did I miss any favorites?
G
Gear Effect
Gear effect occurs in clubs where the curvature of the club face is convex from heel to toe (known as bulge). As the club strikes the ball, it is constantly rotating around its center of gravity, with the toe of the club traveling faster than the heel. When a ball is hit on the toe of the club by a right-handed player, the ball spins to the left because of the club’s rotation about its center of gravity. To counteract this spin, the face is convex, which starts the ball on a trajectory further to the right while the spin stays the same. Therefore, the ball ends up straighter than it would have done with a straight-faced club. The same rules apply but in the opposite direction for an impact toward the heel of the club.
GIR, Green in Regulation
Green in Regulation (GIR) is a term used to describe hitting the ball onto the green within a specified number of shots. The GIR changes depending on the par of the hole. For a par 3, it is 1; for a par 4, it is 2; and for a par 5, it is 3. It is used as a statistic to show the accuracy of a golfer’s approach shots.
Greenkeeper
A greenkeeper is the person who is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the golf course. They are in charge of maintaining the greens, fairways, and roughs, as well as managing irrigation and drainage systems. They work closely with course designers and managers to ensure that the course is in top condition for play.
Green Fee
A green fee is the money that is paid to play on a golf course. The cost of a green fee varies depending on the course, the time of day, and the season. Some courses offer discounts for members or for players who book in advance.
Green Jacket
The Green Jacket is the prestigious jacket that is awarded yearly to the champion of the US Masters Golf tournament held in Augusta, Georgia. It is presented to the champion by the previous year’s champion. The jacket is made of green wool and features the Masters logo on the left breast. The winner of the tournament gets to keep the jacket for a year and then returns it to Augusta National Golf Club.
Ground Under Repair, GUR
Ground Under Repair (GUR) is an area of the course that the course committee has marked out as ground under repair. Although it has to be stated by the course committee to be so, it usually means that the ball is not meant to be played from this area due to poor condition. A player is allowed relief from GUR without penalty, either by dropping the ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief or by going back to where the previous shot was played.
Gross Score
The gross score is the score you get for the hole or round before you take away any handicap you may have. It is the total number of shots you took to complete the hole or round.
Grass Bunker
A grass bunker is an area on the course that resembles a bunker due to its appearance but is not considered a hazard. It is a natural area of rough grass that is designed to add interest and challenge to the course.
Grain
Grain is the direction that grass grows on the putting green. It can have a significant effect on the roll of the ball and the distance traveled, especially on longer putts. Reading the grain correctly can be key to sinking putts and lowering your score. The grain can vary from green to green and even within a green. Some grasses, like Bermuda grass, have a more noticeable effect on the ball.
Greenies
Greenies is a wager whereby the player who hits the ball closest to the hole in regulation (one stroke on a par-3, two strokes on a par-4, and three strokes on a par-5) wins the bet. The player who wins the bet receives a prize, which can be anything from money to drinks to bragging rights.
Gorse
Gorse is a shrub that is found across the UK and parts of Europe. It is particularly spiny and difficult to play golf shots from. It is often used as a hazard on golf courses because it can penalize players who hit wayward shots. If your ball lands in gorse, you are likely to have a difficult time finding it and getting it back in play.
Ground the Club
To ground the club means to let the club touch the ground. When you are in a hazard such as a bunker, you are not allowed to ground the club under penalty of losing two strokes in stroke play or the loss of the hole in match play. This rule is in place to prevent players from testing the condition of the sand or soil in the hazard before playing their shot.
Grooves
Grooves are the horizontal depressions on the face of a golf club. They provide grip when striking the ball, which is essential for creating backspin and lift. There are two main types of grooves in irons and wedges, called V and U (square) grooves. The size and shape of grooves are regulated by the USGA to prevent golfers from gaining an unfair advantage.
Grass Bunker
A grass bunker is an area on the golf course that resembles a bunker due to its appearance but is not considered a hazard. Unlike a traditional bunker, a grass bunker is filled with grass instead of sand, and the grass may be longer or thicker than the surrounding fairway or rough.
Grooves
Grooves are the horizontal depressions on the face of a golf club. They provide grip when striking the ball, which is essential for creating backspin and lift. There are two main types of grooves in irons and wedges: V and U (square) grooves.
Green Jacket
The Green Jacket is a prestigious jacket that is awarded yearly to the champion of the US Masters Golf tournament held in Augusta, Georgia. It is presented to the champion by the previous year’s champion and is a symbol of the golfer’s achievement. The Green Jacket is only worn by members of Augusta National Golf Club and the reigning Masters champion during the year following their win.
Greenkeeper
A greenkeeper is the person who is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the golf course. Greenkeepers are responsible for mowing the fairways and greens, trimming the rough, and maintaining the bunkers and water hazards. They also oversee the planting and care of trees and other vegetation on the course.
Green Fee
A green fee is the money that is paid so that you can play on a golf course. The amount of the green fee can vary depending on the course and the time of day or year. Some courses also require players to pay a cart fee if they want to use a golf cart to get around the course.
Green in Regulation (GIR)
Green in Regulation (GIR) refers to hitting the ball onto the green within a specified number of shots. The GIR changes depending on the par of the hole. For a par 3, it is 1; for a par 4, it is 2; and for a par 5, it is 3. It is used as a statistic to show the accuracy of a golfer’s approach shots.
Grain
Grain refers to the direction that grass grows on the putting green. It can have a significant effect on the roll of the ball and the distance traveled. The grain can vary from green to green and even within a green. It is often considered when trying to read putts on the green and can have a much more noticeable effect on the ball with some grasses, like Bermuda grass.
Greenies
Greenies is a wager whereby the player who hits the ball closest to the hole in regulation (see GIR) wins the bet. This is often a friendly wager between friends or playing partners.
H
Half Set
A half set is a set of golf clubs that has fewer than the normal number of 14 clubs. Often used by beginners, it is a cheap way to start playing golf. A typical half set might include a driver, a fairway wood, a hybrid or two, a few irons, a wedge, and a putter. While a half set may not have every club you need to play all types of shots, it is a good starting point for beginners who are learning the game.
Hanging Lie
A hanging lie is when the ball lies below the level of the golfer’s feet at address. This can make it difficult to hit the ball cleanly because the slope of the ground can cause the golfer to make compensations in their swing. To play a shot from a hanging lie, the golfer may need to adjust their stance and ball position to compensate for the slope.
Heel
The heel is the part of the club head that is closest to the hosel (the point where the club attaches to the shaft), as opposed to the toe. Shots that are hit off the heel of the club tend to go left for a right-handed golfer (and right for a left-handed golfer), while shots hit off the toe tend to go right (or left).
Heel-Toe Weighting
Heel-toe weighting is when weight is strategically placed at the heel and toe of the club head rather than the center. This increases the Moment of Inertia (MOI) of a golf club and reduces energy lost due to twisting, creating a more forgiving club. Clubs with heel-toe weighting are often used by beginners and high-handicap golfers who need extra help hitting the ball straighter and longer.
High Modulus Graphite
High modulus graphite is a type of graphite that is very stiff. It is used for the shafts of many golf clubs, including drivers, fairway woods, and some irons. High modulus graphite shafts are lighter and more flexible than steel shafts, which can help golfers generate more clubhead speed and distance. However, they can also be more expensive than steel shafts.
High Side
High side refers to hitting the ball the exact distance required but not necessarily with the accuracy needed. A shot that is on the high side of the hole will end up farther away from the hole than a shot that is on the low side. This term is often used when discussing putting, as golfers try to read the break and speed of the green to ensure they hit the ball on the low side of the hole.
Hold the Green
To hold the green means to hit a shot that lands on the green and also remains on the green. This is important for golfers who want to avoid hitting their ball into a bunker or water hazard that may be guarding the green. By hitting a shot that holds the green, the golfer gives themselves a chance to make a putt for par or better.
Hood/Hooding
Hooding usually means intentionally closing the club face to reduce the loft of the club. This can be useful when playing a shot that requires a lower ball flight or when trying to hit a shot that will run along the ground. However, hooding the club too much can result in a hook, where the ball spins sharply to the left (for a right-handed golfer).
Hook
A hook is a shot that spins sharply to the left (for a right-handed golfer). This is usually the result of the clubface being closed at impact, causing the ball to spin in that direction. A hook can be a difficult shot to play because it can result in the ball going out of bounds or landing in a hazard.
Honour
Honour refers to having the privilege of teeing off first. This is usually decided by a coin toss for the first hole. Whichever player (or team) gets the lowest score for a hole has the honour for the next hole. Where a hole is halved, the team with the lowest score on the previous hole retains the honour.
Hybrid
A hybrid, also known as a rescue, utility, safety, or trouble club, is a type of golf club that is versatile and suited to play from many situations. Hybrids can be played from the rough, fairway, and tee, and are also used for chipping by some golfers. They are now replacing the long irons in many players’ sets of clubs as they are more forgiving and give a higher ball flight.
Half Set
A half set is a set of golf clubs that has fewer than the normal number of 14 clubs. Often used by beginners, it is a cheap way to start playing golf.
Heel
The heel is the part of the clubhead that is closest to the hosel (the point where the club attaches to the shaft), as opposed to the toe.
Hanging Lie
A hanging lie occurs when the ball lies below the level of the golfer’s feet at address. This can make it difficult to make solid contact with the ball and can cause the shot to go off line.
Heel-Toe Weighting
Heel-toe weighting refers to when weight is strategically placed at the heel and toe rather than the center of the clubhead. It increases the MOI (Moment of Inertia) of a golf club, reducing energy lost due to twisting and creating a more forgiving club.
High Modulus Graphite
High modulus graphite is a type of graphite that is very stiff. It is often used for the shafts of drivers and fairway woods to provide a more stable and consistent feel.
Hole
Hole refers to either the hole in the ground on the green that you aim to place the ball in or the name for each of the 18 playing areas that make up a standard golf course. The former is usually 4 ¼ inches in diameter and at least 4 inches deep. The latter is marked by boundaries to determine the playing area of that hole.
Hole Out
To hole out means to continue playing the hole until the ball enters the hole. This is usually done with a putt, but it can also be done with a chip or pitch shot if the ball is close enough to the hole.
Hazard
A hazard is a bunker or water hazard on the golf course. They are used to increase the difficulty of the golf course and change how golfers manage their way around it.
Hole in One
A hole in one occurs when a golfer hits the ball into the hole with their first stroke of the ball of any given hole. It is one of the most difficult and rarest accomplishments in golf.
Hold the Green
To hold the green means to hit a shot that lands on the green and which also remains on the green. This can be challenging on faster greens, where the ball is more likely to roll off the green if it does not come to a stop quickly.
Honour
Honour refers to the privilege of teeing off first. This is usually decided by a coin toss for the first hole. Whichever player (or team) gets the lowest score for a hole has the honour for the next hole. Where a hole is halved, the team with the lowest score on the previous hole retains the honour.
High Side
High side refers to hitting the ball the exact distance required, but not necessarily with the accuracy needed. It is also referred to as being above the hole, as the ball typically ends up on the high side of the hole.
Hickory Shaft
A hickory shaft refers to the wooden shafts that used to be commonplace in golf clubs before steel shafts were introduced. Some putters still use hickory shafts today, although they are very rare.
Handicap
A handicap is a scoring system that takes into account the ability of the golfer before they are awarded a score. It is used so that golfers of different abilities can compete together. The higher a handicap is, the worse the golfer is (generally speaking!). A golfer who plays off a handicap of 0 is called a scratch golfer. It is possible for very good golfers to have a plus handicap where they add their handicap to the score rather than taking it away.
Headcover
A headcover is a cover used to ensure that the club is not damaged when being moved around. It is typically made of a soft material like neoprene or fabric and slips over the clubhead and shaft to protect it from scratches and other damage.
Keep reading Golf Glossary I – L
If you’re looking to improve your golf why not check out our other article on the best cheap golf rangefinders, or have a look at our best golf balls for beginner golfers. We also review the best golf simulators to help improve your golf whilst at home.
