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Address
Position taken by a player prior to hitting a shot. According to the Rules of Golf, a player has "addressed" the ball when he has taken his stance and grounded his club. In a hazard a player is considered to have addressed the ball when he has taken his stance
Adjusted Gross
There is a maximum score you can post on any hold depending on your Course Handicap. This ensures your handicap is more representative of your potential scoring ability. The table below indicates the maximum score you can have on each hole for handicapping purposes. You are responsible for adjusting your score in accordance with the formula below before returning your card for handicapping.
| Maximum Scores for handicapping purposes | |
| Course Handicap Stroke Index | Strokes Limit on Hole |
| No handicap stroke on hole | 1 stroke over par |
| 1 handicap stroke on hole | 2 strokes over par |
| 2 handicap strokes on hole | 3 strokes over par |
| 3 handicap strokes on hole (women only) | 4 strokes over par |
Albatross
A score of three under the par for a hole (known in US as a double-eagle)
Amateur
Any golfer who plays the game for enjoyment and who does not receive direct monetary compensation due to his or her playing or teaching skills.
Ambrose (also called Scramble)
Term given to a type of game, played as a team, in which all players play from one position. For example, a team of 4 players all hit drives. The next shot is played, again by all 4 players, from the position of the best drive. Play continues in this manner until the ball is holed.
Approach
A golf shot that is played from the fairway or rough towards the green.
Apron
The closely mown area encircling a putting green; also called "fringe."
Back nine
Second set of nine golf holes on an 18 hole golf course.
Backswing
Before you hit the ball, the backswing is the part where you begin to move back from the ball, to the point where it starts to move forward.
Bail Out
You hit a shot to avoid danger, such as a bunker.
Bent grass
An ideal surface for putting greens is produced by this fine-leaved grass but in hot climates it is difficult to maintain.
Birdie
In order to score a birdie you need one shot under the par for the golf hole.
Bogey
This is a score of one over the par for the golf hole.
Bogey Golfer
A bogey golfer relates to a male golfer with a handicap of 17.5 to 22.4 and a female golfer with a handicap of 21.5 to 26.4.
Bunker
Holes with sand in the bottom which are placed around the course as obstacles. Usually when your ball goes into a bunker you waste at least one shot hitting it out. They are also called traps.
Carry
The distance between the playing and the landing of the ball. When played over a hazard such as water the term used is to "carry" the hazard.
Chip
A shot that is low running and normally played towards the hole from the edge of the green.
Course Handicap
The number of strokes a player receives based upon the relative difficulty (Slope Rating) of the course. You will find your Course Handicap on the Course Handicap Conversion Chart available at the golf club or near the first tee.
Cut
A player must score low enough, usually over the first 36 holes of a 72 hole tournament in order to qualify for the final two rounds. To miss the cut is to fail in obtaining this low score.
Cut shot
A shot that spins the ball in a clockwise direction thus resulting in a left to right bending flight.
Divot
When a shot is played the clubhead often removes a piece of turf known as a divot.
Dogleg
A hole changes direction sharply either left or right, normally in the landing area for the tee-shot.
Dormie
A matchplay term used when a side or individual is as many holes up as there are holes remaining to be played.
Double green
One putting surface that is shared by two holes.
Draw
A ball that starts straight, or slightly right, and arcs gently to the left. This is a popular shape with low handicappers due to its considerable length of carry and roll. The common spin characteristic turns the ball with its flight line and lands the ball lively giving it extra roll.
Driver
A long shafted club used for driving the ball a maximum distance from the tee with little loft.
Eagle
A score of two under the par for a golf hole.
Fade
Type of shot that generally tends to curve to the right in the air (assuming a right-handed player.) A fade is a controlled shot preferred by many players.
Fairway
This is an area of closely mown turf which stretches between the tee and the green. Bordered by long grass known as semi-rough or uncut grass known as rough.
Fourball
A match played by four players divided into teams of two - each player playing his own ball.
Foursome
A match played by four players divided into two teams - one ball per team is used, the shots are alternated between the teams. Each tee shot is also alternated between the players of the teams.
Front nine
These are the first nine holes of an eighteen hole golf course.
Green
An area of closely mown, specially prepared grass that contains the golf hole.
Separated from the fairway by a fringe of grass that is longer than the grass on the green but shorter than the grass on the fairway.
Gross Score
The actual number of strokes plus any penalty strokes taken by a player.
Handicap
A system that theoretically enables players of all abilities to play on equal terms with each other. The handicap of a player is usually based on the average scores of a player set on a standard for a course.
Handicap Differential
This is the difference between a player's adjusted gross score and the Course Rating of the course on which the score was made. Then multiply that number by 113, divided it by the Slope Rating from the tees played and round it to the nearest tenth.
Handicap Index
Indicates a player's potential scoring ability on a course of standard playing difficulty. It is expressed as a number taken to one decimal place, and is used for conversion to a Course Handicap. For full information on how the Handicap Index is calculated and to find your handicap, visit the Emirates Golf Federation website on http://www.emiratesgolffederation.com/
Hole
A small cylinder cut into the ground, measuring 108mm in diameter and at least 101mm deep. It is where you want your ball to eventually end up.
Hook
A stroke that is caused by the application of counterclockwise spin and which bends the golf ball sharply to the left.
Hosel
On an iron golf club the head and the shaft are connected by a socket known as an hosel.
Interlocking Grip
The golf club handle is gripped with the little finger of the right hand intertwined with the forefinger of the left hand. This grip is popular with players that have small hands or short fingers as it helps to maintain a firm grip.
Links
Usually low lying ground, containing sand dunes and stretching beside the sea and on which golf is played.
Loft
This is the angle of slope on the face of a golf club away from the vertical. As the number of the iron increases so to does the loft thus giving a higher flight trajectory and longer distance.
Matchplay
A competition where the winner of the game is determined by the number of holes that are won or lost.
Mixed foursome
Two teams of two, each including one male and one female player, playing against each other.
Nett Score
A player's score after their handicap strokes have been subtracted from the gross score. A plus handicap player adds handicap strokes to the gross score to calculate their net score.
Out Of Bounds
Any area encountered during a round of golf from which play is prohibited. Typically, but not always, out of bounds (OB) is off normal course property. The penalty for OB is stroke and distance. The player must return to the spot where the original ball was played, hit another shot from there and add a penalty stroke to his score.
Overclubbing
The selection of a club that sends the ball farther than the intended distance. This error is known as overclubbing.
Par
This is the estimated standard score for a hole. Based on the length of the hole and the number of strokes needed by a scratch player, in normal conditions, to complete the hole.
Pitch
A lofted shot to a green that produces little run at the end of its flight.
Pro-Am
This is when a professional and an amateur player form a team to play golf together.
R & A
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
Rookie
A newcomer to the professional golf Tour.
Rough
An area that runs alongside the fairway. It is an unmown stretch of grass that punishes an off-line shot.
Sand wedge
Also known as a sand iron it is designed for playing from bunkers. It is an extremely lofted club with a wide flange that bounces the clubhead through the sand.
Scratch Golfer
An amateur who plays to the standard of the field of stroke play qualifiers in the men’s and women’s Amateur Championships.
Short game
This is the term given when play is within 90m of the green. It includes chipping, bunker shots and putting.
Slice
A shot with a considerable clockwise spin that curves violently to the right.
Stroke Play
This is when the outcome of a game is decided on by the number of strokes a player takes to complete a round of golf against his competitors. The player with the least number of strokes being the winner.
Tee
A term used to refer to the tee peg and to the closely mown area from which the first stroke on a hole is played.
Vardon Grip
Popularised by but not invented by Harry Vardon it is a method of gripping the handle of the club. The little finger of the right hand overlaps the forefinger of the left
Water Hazard
The term applied to any relatively permanent and open area of water (sea, lake, pond, etc.) anywhere on the course. The penalty for hitting your ball into a water hazard is one stroke.