Caddy Terms

Ace

A hole-in-one

Address

Position taken by a player before a stroke

Approach

A stroke played to the putting green

Apron

The last few yards of the fairway before and around the green

Away

The ball farthest from the hole (has priority unless ruled otherwise

Back side

The final nine holes of play

Blind green

A green that cannot be seen from where the player is hitting

Bunker

A “hole” on the green where grass has been replaced with sand

Casual water

An accumulation of water (like a puddle) that is not seen as a hazard. Players receive no penalty.

Divot

A piece of grass/sod cut loose after a stroke

Dog-leg hole

A golf hole that doesn’t follow a straight line from tee to green

Draw

A shot hit by a right-handed player, the curves slightly left

Drive

A shot played from the teeing area, usually with a wood

Fade

A shot hit by a right-handed player, that curves slightly right

Fairway

The short, well-kept grass between the teeing area and putting green

Flagstick

A staff for a flag marking the location of the hole “the pin”

Fringe

The closely mowed collar around the green

Front side

The first 9 holes

Gross

The number of strokes taken without handicap

Ground under repair

Areas on the golf course that are marked with white circles of paint to indicate “free relief” from abnormal playing surfaces. This area is in need of repair by the greens superintendent.

Handicap index

A number which represents the current level of a player’s golfing ability based on the golf course played.

Holed

A ball at rest within the hole, which means a player has “holed out”

Hook

A shot, hit by a right-handed player, which curves severely left

Line of putt

Path n which the ball is intended to travel over the putting green to the hole. Do not step in a player’s line of putt while on the green

Loose impediment

Any natural object like leaves or branches on the course

Lost ball

A ball not found within 3 minutes of searching

Match play

Competition in which results are determined by the number of holes won

Net

The number of strokes taken with handicap included

Obstruction

Artificial objects erected, placed or left on the golf course

Out of bounds

Ground on which play is prohibited, usually outside the golf course’s property and marked with white stakes or boundary fences. A ball is out of bounds when “all” of it lies out of bounds

Outside influence

Anyone (besides caddies and players) that may affect what happens to a player’s ball or equipment on the course

Penalty area

An area on the course where a player will get relief with a one-stroke penalty if their ball lands there. Examples are any body of water or marked area

Penalty stroke

A stroke added to a player’s score for breaking a rule

Provisional ball

A ball played for the OG ball which may be lost or out of bounds

Pull

A shot, hit straight by a right-handed player, but to the left of the target

Push

A shot, hit straight by a right-handed player, but to the right of the target

Slice

A shot hit by a right-handed player, which curves severely right

Stroke play

Competition in which the winner is determined by the number of strokes played

Teeing ground

Often called the tee or tee box, it is the starting point for each hole on the course. It is rectangular in shape, and two club lengths in depth. The front and sides are indicated by tee markers.

The turn

After nine holes, a group makes “the turn” between the front and back sides

Through the green

The whole area of the course except the teeing area, putting green and hazards