Golf Terminology: A Practical Guide to Common Terms

If you’ve ever watched a match and heard words like "birdie" or "mulligan" and felt lost, you’re not alone. Golf has its own language, and knowing the lingo makes the game easier to follow and more enjoyable to play. Below you’ll find the words you’ll hear most on the course, broken down into two easy sections.

Basic Scoring Terms

Par is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need for a hole. If you finish a hole in exactly par, you’ve played it as intended.

Birdie means one stroke under par. It’s called a birdie because early golfers thought a good score was as “nice as a bird”. Scoring a birdie feels great and usually keeps you in the lead.

Eagle is two strokes under par. It’s rarer than a birdie but just as exciting. On a par‑5, reaching the green in two shots and sinking a putt can give you an eagle.

Bogey is one stroke over par. It’s not terrible—it just means you took a bit longer than expected. A double bogey is two over, and a triple bogey is three over.

Handicap is a number that shows your skill level. It lets players of different abilities compete fairly by adjusting scores based on each player’s average performance.

Shot and Course Terms

Mulligan isn’t an official rule, but many casual players use it to mean a do‑over on a bad shot—usually on the first tee. It’s a friendly way to keep the round fun.

Hook and Slice describe ball flight. A hook curves left (for a right‑handed player), while a slice curves right. Understanding these helps you fix swing issues.Fade and Draw are controlled versions of a slice and hook. A fade gently moves right, a draw gently moves left—both are useful for shaping shots around obstacles.

Fairway is the trimmed, short‑grass area between the tee and the green. Hitting the ball onto the fairway gives you a clean second shot.

Rough is the longer grass beside the fairway. Getting stuck in the rough makes the next shot harder, so most players aim to stay on the fairway.

Green is the smooth, short‑grass surface surrounding the hole. It’s where you putt, and reading the slope of the green is a key skill.

Pin or Flagstick marks the exact location of the hole on the green. The distance from the ball to the pin guides your putting strategy.

These terms cover the basics you’ll encounter in most rounds, broadcasts, or club conversations. When you start using them, you’ll notice a boost in confidence and a deeper connection to the game.

Next time you’re on the tee box, give these words a try. Call out the score you’re aiming for, note if your shot is a fade or a slice, and celebrate every birdie. The more you speak the language, the more natural it feels.

Enjoy the game, keep practising, and watch how quickly the terminology becomes second nature. Happy golfing!