Golf is a game with a lexicon all its own, so you need to be in the know when you attend the Chrysler Championship. When someone says, "He got an albatross on the par 5 even though his drive was a duck hook," we want you to know what they're talking about.
So with a little help from The Golf Insite Network, we present you with these glossary terms.
Albatross - 1. A score of 3 under par on any given hole, also known as a double eagle. 2. That thing hanging around Phil Mickelson's neck at every major tournament.
Army golf - Slang term given to a player who has directional problems, especially from the tee. One shot goes left, one shot goes right. Left, right, left, right.
Bump and run - 1. A style of shot most commonly used on traditional British-style courses, it involves allowing for a substantial roll after the initial shot. 2. Lesson No. 1 at the Michael Pittman Driving School.
Bunker - 1. A sand hazard usually near the green. 2. A '70s sitcom character known for bigoted, yet comical statements. He was politically incorrect before we coined the term.
Cat box - 1. Slang term given to bunker. 2. Location of David Duval's game.
Chili dip - A shot in which a player hits behind the ball, not moving it very far.
Dimples - 1. Depressions on a golf ball designed to get the ball airborne. 2. Why we like Sally Field. And we like her, we really like her.
Duck hooks - 1. Shots that start at the target before curving dramatically left. 2. Pick-up lines used by Daffy Duck.
Fat - Shot type in which a player hits behind the ball, resulting in a much shorter shot. Not to be confused with PHAT (pretty hot and terrific), a slang term used to describe the wives of PGA Tour players.
Fried egg - Lie in a sand bunker in which most of the ball is below the sand. Visually, it looks like a fried egg.
Gimmee - 1. A shot, usually on the green, that is conceded by a player's opponent. 2. John Daly's favorite term at a buffet.
Hack - 1. Derogatory term used for player of lesser ability. 2. Derogatory term used for journalistic writer who pokes fun at golf glossary terms.
In jail - Term used when faced with a difficult shot with little option for hitting toward the green. Not to be used around Notah Begay.
Knife - Slang term applied to a 1-iron because of its lack of loft. Only God and Jack Nicklaus carry a knife.
Outside agency - A term given to something not part of the match. A dog or bird would be examples.
Royal and Ancient - 1. One of the two governing bodies of golf. 2. Jack and Arnie.
Shotgun start - 1. When competitors begin play simultaneously from different tees around the course. 2. The beginning of most weddings in Tennessee.
Udaman - Exclamation used to salute great golf shots and help PGA Tour players identify their gender.
Unplayable lie - 1. A ball hit into a position that does not allow a player to hit the ball. 2. Milli Vanilli deserved that Grammy.
Whiff - 1. When a player swings and completely misses the ball. 2. What you don't want to do while driving during low tide on Bayshore.
Worm burner - 1. A poor shot characterized by the ball not getting airborne and simply rolling fast along the ground. 2. A youth who roams the back yard with a magnifying glass looking for insects.
Yips - 1. A condition, either mental or physical, in which a golfer cannot seem to make short putts. 2. Slang name for the routine Sergio Garcia goes through before hitting any shot.
- Compiled by Ernest Hooper and Mike Readling.
- Design and Illustrations by Steve Madden of the Times
Golf is a game with a lexicon all its own, so you need to be in the know when you attend the Chrysler Championship. When someone says, "He got an albatross on the par 5 even though his drive was a duck hook," we want you to know what they're talking about.
Army golf - Slang term given to a player who has directional problems, especially from the tee. One shot goes left, one shot goes right. Left, right, left, right.
Chili dip - A shot in which a player hits behind the ball, not moving it very far.
Hack - 1. Derogatory term used for player of lesser ability. 2. Derogatory term used for journalistic writer who pokes fun at golf glossary terms.
Royal and Ancient - 1. One of the two governing bodies of golf. 2. Jack and Arnie.
Unplayable lie - 1. A ball hit into a position that does not allow a player to hit the ball. 2. Milli Vanilli deserved that Grammy.
