Golfing Terminology: A Simple Guide to Common Golf Terms

If you’ve ever watched a game of golf and felt lost when the commentator says "birdie" or "double bogey," you’re not alone. The sport is full of its own language, but you don’t need a dictionary to understand it. Below you’ll find the most useful words explained in a straightforward way, so you can join the conversation on the course.

Scoring Terms You’ll Hear on the Course

Par is the baseline. It’s the number of strokes a skilled player is expected to need for a hole. Most courses have a mix of par‑3, par‑4, and par‑5 holes.

A birdie means you finished the hole one stroke under par. The name comes from early 1900s slang where “bird” meant something excellent.

If you get two strokes under par, that’s an eagle. Three under is a double eagle or “albatross,” a rare feat.

On the flip side, a bogey is one over par, while a double bogey is two over. Higher numbers just add “double,” “triple,” etc., in front of bogey.

When a player finishes a round with a total score under the course’s par, they’ve shot “below par.” If they’re over, they’re “over par.”

Equipment and Shot Terms You Should Know

Golf clubs come in families. A driver is the longest club, used for the first shot on a par‑5 or long par‑4. Irons (numbered 3‑9) are versatile for a range of distances. Wedges (like the sand wedge or lob wedge) help you get the ball out of trouble or land it softly on the green.

A putter is reserved for the final strokes on the green. When you tap the ball with a putter, that action is called a putt.

Shots also have nicknames. A fade is a controlled left‑to‑right curve (for right‑handed players). Its opposite, a draw, curves right‑to‑left. A chip is a short, low‑trajectory shot that gets the ball onto the green quickly, while a pitch flies higher and lands softer.

When your ball lands in a bunker, you’ll hear “sand shot” or “sand wedge” being used. Getting out of a bunker cleanly is a skill worth practicing.

Finally, the term handicap refers to a numerical value that reflects a player’s skill level. It lets golfers of different abilities compete fairly by adjusting scores.

Getting comfortable with these terms means you’ll understand what’s happening on the course, whether you’re playing yourself or watching a tournament. The next time someone shouts “birdie!” you’ll know exactly why they’re cheering. Keep this guide handy, take a few minutes to memorize the basics, and you’ll feel right at home in any golfing conversation.