GOLF TERMINOLOGY

Golf: the origin of the word “golf” is thought to have come from the Dutch word “kolf” or “kolve”, meaning “club” and the passed into Scottish language and became to “golve,” “gowl” or “gouf” because of the eccentricities of Scottish dialect. Many people wrongly believe that it’s because it forms the acronym; “Gentleman Only, Ladies Forbidden”, but that is merely an internet myth.

Birdie: coined by an American named Ab Smith who initially referred to a “bird of a shot” which later became a “birdie.”

Caddy: is derived from the French word “cadet” (with has roots in the Gascon Occitan as capdèth or capdet, meaning chief then younger boy) used to refer to the Cadets de Gascogne, the youngest sons of the aristocratic families of Gascony who were captains serving in the French Army during the 15th century.

Scratch golfer: a golfer with a handicap of zero.

The Honor (Honour in British English): when a golfer is entitled to tee off first, usually having won the last hole, or maintained “The Honor since the last hole with a winner.

Condor: not a phrase you’re likely to come across in golf, a “condor” is the name for a score of 4 under par. There have only been four verified condor’s, all hole-in-one’s on par 5.

Links golf courses: are characterized by being built on the thin strip of grass, sand and dunes between the sea and typical agricultural land. As a result they often have undulating fairways, are interspersed with sand dunes, have numerous bunkers and very little in the way of trees.

Parkland golf courses: typically have lush, well maintained fairways, mature trees and woodland, deep rough and bunkers.

Resort golf courses: resort courses are typically more playable than other types of golf courses because they’re designed to entertain guests of hotels and resort companies. Featuring wide fairways, short cut rough and forgiving greens, resort courses are designed for quick, easy play and to make the most of their natural surroundings.

Heath-land golf courses: usually have rolling fairways, sculpted through the natural landscape with bushes, shrubs and few trees.

Desert golf courses: rely heavily on man-made watering systems to maintain lush fairways and greens in stark contrast to their barren desert setting. Popular in southwestern US states they’re also becoming more common in North Africa and the Middle East. Desert golf courses are usually flat with man-made lakes and waterways, cacti, palm trees and rocky outcrops.

A “mulligan” is a bad shot which by mutual agreement between playing partners is cancelled and replayed.

Striking the ground before making contact with the ball was called a “sclaff”.