layout - Refers to the design of the golf course.
lie - The position of the ball on the course. You`ll often hear a player say, "I have a good/bad lie." It is also used when a player has played a certain number of strokes on that hole -- "She is lying three, and she still has the chance to par the 17th." With equipment, it is the angle at which the clubhead is set on the shaft.
links - A golf course situated on a seaside terrain. Also slang for golf course.
lip - The rim around the hole.
LPGA - The Ladies Professional Golf Association. This organization includes tournament operations and a teaching and club professional division.
LPGA Tour - Ladies Professional Golf Association of America for touring women golf professionals. The Ladies Tour conducts over 40 events a year.
majors, major championships - The Professional tournaments considered the most important within the golf community. For the Women`s Tour: Dinah Shore Classic, the LPGA Championship, the du Maurier Classic, and the U.S. Women`s Open. For the Men`s Tour: The Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship. Note: Golf purists refer to the British Open as "The Open."
marker - An item used to mark the position of your golf ball. Used on the green to indicate the position of the ball. This may be a coin or a small object. Many clubs provide markers. Also, a term referring to a person who keeps score during stroke competition.
match play - A competition by holes between two parties/players. One player defeats the other one by winning more holes than there are holes left to play.
medal play - A competition where the player wins with the lowest number of strokes. Also known as stroke play.
mulligan - The chance to replay your last shot.
nassau - A golf betting game consisting of three parts during a round. Players establish a wager on the front nine, back nine and the entire 18.
niblick - An old term for a nine iron, Scottish in origin. ob - Short for Out of Bounds. The area lying outside of the defined golf course.
par - The standard score in strokes assigned to each hole on the golf course. The par for each hole is given on the scorecard. You`ll have a great round if you score "the par" on any course.
penalty stroke - An additional stroke added to a player`s score for a rules violation
PGA of America - The Professional Golfers` Association of America, the governing body of American professional golf.
PGA Tour - Based in Ponte Verdra Beach, FL. This group governs the PGA TOUR, Senior PGA TOUR and the Nike Tour. The Tour conducts almost 150 tournaments a year.
pin - Slang for flagstick.
pin-high - Reference to a ball on the green that is even with the pin but off to one side.
pitch - An approach shot to the green. The player does not use a full swing during a pitch shot. This shot is shorter than a normal swing, but longer than a chip shot.
play through - When a group or player will pass a group of slower golfers playing on the hole ahead. In terms of proper etiquette, it is recommended you ask permission before moving ahead.
professional - A player, usually called a Pro, who receives payment for teaching or playing in tournaments.
putter - The club specifically designed for putting. It has very little loft and is usually shorter than other clubs.
