Golf terms for the complete novice

Ace
A hole in one. The golfer hits the ball off the tee and into the hole in one shot.

Birdie
A score of one under par for a hole.

Bogey
A score of one over par on a hole.

Bunker
A sandtrap.

Caddie
A person who carrie a golfer's clubs and performs other duties during the game.

Deuce
A hole in two. The golfer hits the ball off the tee and into the hole in two shots.

Divot
A chuck of turf that is displaced up when the golfer hits the ball. Always replace the divots and tamp them down so the grass can grow back.

Dogleg
A hole that goes straight then has a bend, or 'dogleg', to the left or right.

Double Bogey
A score of two over par for a hole.

Double Eagle
A score of three under par for a hole.

Driver
This is the club know as the 1 wood. It is usually the club that hits the ball the farthest. It is also a person that very rich people have to haul them around.

Eagle
A score of two under par for a hole.

Fairway
The part of the golf course that lies directly between the tee box and the green.

Fore
A warning that a golfer yells when a shot has been hit toward another person on the golf course.

Fringe
The closely cut area around the edge of the green.

Handicap
The number of strokes a golfer deducts from his score to adjust it to par.

Hole-In-One
The golfer hits the ball off the tee and into the hole in one shot.

Lie
The position where the ball comes to a stop on the ground.

Links
A golf course.

Match Play
A form of competition where each hole is worth one point no matter how many strokes the golfers take.

Par
The number of stokes that a scratch golfer should take to complete a hole or the entire course.

Putt
A shot taken on the green with the putter.

Putting Green
The groomed surface around the hole that is designed for putting.

Range
An area where golfers can hit practice shots.

Rough
Long grass area beside the fairway.

Run
The distance a golf ball travels along the ground after it lands.

Sand Trap
An area filled with sand that should be avoided.

Sand Wedge
An iron used to hit the ball out of the sand or on short pitch shots.

Scratch Golfer
A player who can shoot even par or better every time he or she plays.

Tee
A peg that holds the ball up for driving. It is also the name for the area on a hole where play begins.

Wedge
An iron with a high angle that is used for short, high shots.

Whiff
Swinging and missing the ball.