Slang Golf Terms

Golf, like many other sports, uses terms that are all their own. A golf dictionary might help but not for the slang thrown around. The slang golf terms are usually regular words that have a completely different meaning in the game of golf. Here are some of the most common slang golf terms that you might come across during a round of golf.

Hangman - this term means that you have scored a 9 on a particular hole in golf. It comes from the resemblance that some people see between the hangman’s pole and the number 9.

Bo Derek - this term was created from the movie 10 with Bo Derek, but instead of referring to being somebody’s desire the term refers to a score of 10 on any hole in golf, which nobody wants.

Kitty Litter - means sand bunker. You will also hear golfers referring to the sand bunker as a bunker, beach, cat box, or even sand trap. It has gotten these names because the sand inside the bunker resembles kitty litter.

Fourball Alliance - this is simply the name of a golf tournament format, mostly used in South Africa. In the United States, it can be referred to as 1-2-3 best ball or money ball. The score on each hole a set number of the team member’s score is combined on each hole for one team score.

Air Mail – this term refers to the fact that you hit the ball too far when you were aiming for a specific spot. It can also refer to the fact that you overshot the green.

Dawn Patrol – this term refers to any golfer player or group of players who try to play as early as possible in the morning, they get to the golf course as soon as they open and are the first ones on the course. Dew Sweepers also means the same thing.

Goat Track – A goat track is used to talk about a golf course that is in really poor condition, you can also hear the term dog track used along the same lines.

Fried Egg – this term is used to describe a golf ball that has been hit into the sand bunker, but the ball has settled into the sand giving it the appearance of a fried egg. It resembles a fried egg because of the pattern that is left in the sand and only the top half of the ball is showing, similar to the yolk of an egg.

Rainmaker - this is used to describe a shot that has a very high trajectory. A great example of this kind of shot would be a lob wedge, but it can also happen accidentally.

Duck Hook - this is simply a different term for a snap hook, which is a very severe form of a hook. With a snap hook the ball immediately begins to curve from right to left, the ball then dips to the ground and runs off to the person’s hook side.

Play the Pros in The British Open

For amateur golfers, having an “open” tournament is a great opportunity to break into the world of professional golf.  But the U.S. Open isn’t the only open tournament – there’s also the British Open for the golfers “across the pond”.  Open tournaments were designed to allow amateur golfers to perhaps break into the pro pool by winning one of these contests.

Many people think that the U.S. Open was the first open championship to be founded, but that just isn’t true.  The British Open was being played 35 years before the United States got in on the open tournament phenomenon.  Since the turn of the century, the British Open has included amateurs from all countries.  The U.S. Open is currently trying to make a move towards this trend, but for years, The British Open has been known as “The World Open”.

Originally designed as a way for unknown golfers to make a name for themselves, the “opens” have long been touted as the greatest chance an amateur has for worldwide fame and fortune as a professional golfer.  The British Open was the first tournament to bring forth this amazing idea, and golfers all over the world became excited at the prospect of becoming a pro.

The British Open is one of the four major golf tournaments of the year and winning it is a great honor.  Just as with the U.S. Open, it is one of the championships that tournament professionals strive to achieve and wear the honor with pride.  However, amateurs should beware.  Because the British Open is an open event, the pros can play too.

The last time an amateur won a British Open was back in 1930 when American legend Bobby Jones won with an overall score of 291.  Since that time, there have been many amateurs who have made good showings, but as far as winning the open, that hasn’t happened in quite some time.

To qualify for the British Open, you must strive for one of the 156 places that are available.  Most of the field of players has achieved entry into the open through exemptions by playing well throughout the year on the tour.  The rest of the field has won qualifying rounds in local events that lead them to the “big show” and perhaps the chance of the lifetime!

The British Open – just like the U.S. Open – is a wonderful way for excellent amateur golfers to break into the professional circuit by doing what they love – playing the game of golf.  The British Open has a long and storied history and while considered one of the major events in the PGA, still holds a bit of mystery and hope for those who dream of a life as a PGA professional.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Driving Range Practice

Driving ranges are instrumental in helping you improve your game, and you should use them as much as you possibly can.  Even though it’s called a driving range, you can practice all of your golf shots on the range.  By taking advantage of this valuable tool offered by your golf course, you are sure to improve your game.

In the game of golf, it’s essential to know how far you are able to hit your clubs on a consistent basis.  By taking advantage of the golf driving range, you will get a great idea of how far your driver can go as well as your 9 iron.  Once you know how far you can hit your clubs, you will be able to practice some great course management skills when you are out on the course.

Start out with a bucket of balls and your driver.  Try out various stances and see which ones help you drive the ball farther.  Hit a lot of balls and pay close attention to what works and what doesn’t.  When you find a shot you are pleased with, hit several more balls using that same technique to see if it was just a fluke or if you can replicate it over and over again.

Then you should move to your fairway woods or your irons.  Practice the same technique with these clubs.  You may have to buy another bucket – or bag on some courses – of balls, but believe me, it will be well worth the money when you are able to effectively know what clubs will give you the yardage you need and want.

Many golf courses have lighted driving ranges, so even if you can’t play the course, you can still work on your swing in the evening hours.  Many people find that having a lighted driving range can help them work on their swing at inconvenient hours when daylight has left but they still feel the desire to swing a club.

One point you need to keep in mind when on the golf driving range is that you are playing in perfect conditions.  There are no hills, there are no hazards, and you are concentrating to the best of your ability.  Just because you can hit a 300 yard drive on the range doesn’t necessarily mean you can do the same on the course.

However, you can certainly learn a lot about your golf game when you are on the driving range.  Don’t pass up the chance to practice as much as you can.  Practicing is best done on the golf driving range, so buy a bucket of balls and whack away.  You never know what you’ll find out!

Choosing the Right Golf Ball

Casual golfers don’t give a lot of thought to choosing the right golf ball. They think of the golf ball as simply a tool that really isn’t important. After all, you’re just whacking it around the course, right? Wrong! Having the right golf ball can gain you distance in your drives, make it easier to pull off finesse shots, and so much more!

Ball Types

Basically, there are three types of balls: balata, two-piece, or a combination of both. Golf balls are constructed with three types of purposes in mind as well: distance, spin, and control. Choosing an appropriate golf ball really depends on what you are looking for in your golf game.

Are you a low handicap player looking for great spin and control? If so, choose a balata golf ball. This is just a softer ball that has a softer cover and allows for more spin. This is the ball that most professionals choose. They are also more expensive than other balls.

Perhaps you have a higher handicap and are looking for more distance and durability. This is where a good two-piece ball will be best. This golf ball has a harder cover which creates less backspin allowing you to hit it further.

Some golf balls are designed for slower swing speeds with a lightweight construction that catches air. They are generally marketed for women or seniors, but plenty of men will play these balls because it gets them extra distance.

Weather, Course Conditions and Golf Balls

Believe it or not the weather you are playing in can make a difference in which golf ball you use. Course conditions can also dictate golf ball choice. Let’s say the course has been deluged with rain. In this case, you will need a ball that will travel father and produces less spin. If you are playing on a rock hard, sun-scorched track, choose something softer that will land soft and spin.

Look at the temperature as well. Balls for men come in two compressions – 90 and 100. When you hit the ball, the ball compresses. Therefore the 90 compression ball will be softer than the 100. If it’s cold, the ball will not compress as much so you will want to play a 90 compression golf ball. If it’s hot out, you will want to opt for the 100 compression.

In general, two piece balls are going to give you more distance and they will be more durable so they will last longer. Solid core golf balls will offer less trajectory and can spin for better accuracy. Even the dimples on the ball can have an effect on your game. Smaller dimples lessen trajectory while larger dimples increase it.

Choosing the right golf ball really is important to playing a good game. There are many, many choices on the market. Explore which golf ball you may want to use and then try it out. Experiment and in time, you’ll find exactly the right golf ball for you.