Alternate Shot – A format of play whereby each player on a team (2-, 3-, or 4-person) takes a turn hitting the same ball from tee to green. The score for the hole is the total number of strokes taken by all players on the team.

Ball Mark – A small piece of the green that is torn up when the ball lands on the green. Upon reaching the green, a player fixes her ball mark with a tool for this purpose.

Birdie – A score of one under par (one better than par) for a hole.

Best Ball – A format of play whereby each player on a team hits her own ball from tee to green. The score for the hole is the score of the player with the lowest (best) score.

Bogey – A score of one over par (one worse than par) for a hole. A double bogey is two over par, a triple bogey is three over par, et cetera.

Bunker – An area of ground on the course that is dug out and filled with sand.
Casual Water – Water standing on the course temporarily, like from a rainstorm. Not a water hazard.

Chip – A short shot usually made from near the green to the green.

Divot – A small piece of grass and ground torn up when striking the ball. Some courses provide sand on their carts to pour over the exposed dirt.

Draw – A shot that curves slightly to the left (for right-handed golfers).

Eagle – A score of two under par (two better than par) for a hole.

Fade – A shot that curves slightly to the right (for right-handed golfers).

Fairway – The part of the course down the center between the tee box and the green, covered with short grass.

Flight – A grouping of players of similar skill who compete against each other in an event.

Fore! – Called to warn others that a ball has been hit (oops!) in their direction.

Green – The area with the shortest grass where the hole is located.

Gross (score) – A player’s score for a round not adjusted by her handicap.

Handicap – A number assigned to a golfer that represents her playing ability. Golfers with less skill are “high handicappers” and golfers with more skill are “low handicappers.”

Honors – The player with the lowest (best) score on the previous hole has honors on the next hole and tees off first.

Hook – A shot that curves sharply to the left (for right-handed golfers).

Lie – The condition of the ground under the ball (an uphill lie or a downhill lie) or around the ball (a ball that comes to rest where there is a tree directly between the ball and the green would be a “bad lie”).

Match Play – A format of play whereby players compete to win each hole. The score is the number of holes won. Can be played on an individual or team basis.

Net (score) – A player’s score for a round that has been adjusted (reduced) by her handicap.

Par – The number of strokes a player is expected to make on a hole.

Pin – The flagstick that is placed in each hole.

Putt – A shot made on the green that rolls the ball toward or into the hole.

Ready Golf – When playing ready golf, the player who tees off first on a hole is whichever player is ready first.

Relief – Rules of the game that allow a player to move her ball under certain conditions without penalty.

Rough – The taller grass along the sides of the fairway.

Scramble – A format of play whereby each player on a team (2-, 3-, or 4-person) tees off, then the team decides from which location of the balls that has been hit everyone should hit their second shot. The other players pick up their balls and move them to hit from the chosen location. This continues until one player holes out. The score for the hole is the number of strokes taken to get a ball from the tee into the hole.

Shotgun Start – Beginning an event by having each foursome of players start play on different holes at the same time.

Slice – A shot that curves sharply to the right (for a right-handed golfer).

Stroke Play – A format of play whereby each player plays her own ball from tee to green.

Tee/Tee Box/Teeing Area – The starting place for each hole on the course.

Water Hazard – Water on the course that is marked by red stakes (a lateral water hazard not in the line from tee to green) or yellow stakes (a water hazard that the ball must be hit over somewhere between the tee and the green).