Golf Terminology: A Glossary Of Golf Terms From E To G

Eagle: You are said to make an 'eagle' when you sink your ball in two less shots than the par for a specific hole. For instance, if the hole is a par 5 and you sink your ball in only 3 shots then you have made an eagle. You can also 'eagle' a par 3 hole but, in this case, you are said to have made an 'ace'.

Executive Course: An executive course is a small 9-hole par 3 course that can be played in under 2 hours.

Explosion Shot: An explosion shot is a bunker shot which sends an 'explosion' of sand flying through the air.

Fade: A fade is a shot which sends the ball veering slightly to the right (for right-handed golfers).

Fairway: The fairway is the entire in-bounds distance which runs from the tee to the green and which is kept neatly trimmed.

Fat: A 'fat' occurs whenever your clubface strikes the ground before hitting the ball.

Flagstick: The flagstick is the flagged pole that rests inside the cup to mark the position of the hole on each green.

Flex: Flex refers to the amount of bend within the shaft of a golf club.

Flier Lie: A flier lie is the lie that you have after you take a swing and too much grass comes between the ball and your clubface. This also has a tendency to reduce the amount of backspin on the ball.

Flop Shot: This is a form of pitch shot which shoots the ball high up into the air after which it falls short and lands softly.

Follow Through: Having taken your swing and made contact with the ball, the 'follow through' refers to the subsequent movement of your club and your body.

Forecaddie: A forecaddie is an individual employed by the Committee to indicate the position of balls to players during play and is an outside agency.

Fore: The word 'fore' is shouted loudly as a warning signal when a ball is hit and heading in the direction of another player.

Forms of Match Play:

• Single. A match where one player plays against another player.



• Threesome. A match where one player plays against two other players and where each side plays one ball.



• Foursome. A match where two players play against two other players and where each side plays one ball.



• Three-Ball. Three players play a match against one another with each playing his own ball. In effect, each player is playing two distinct matches.



• Best-Ball. A match where one player plays against the better ball of two other players or the best ball of three other players.



• Four-Ball. A match where two players play their better ball against the better ball of two other players.

Forms of Stroke Play:

• Individual. A competition where every competitor plays as an individual.



• Foursome. A competition where two competitors play as partners and play one ball.



• Four-Ball. A competition where two competitors play as partners with each playing his own ball. The lower score of the partners is taken as the score for the hole. If one partner does not complete the play on a hole then there is no penalty.

Fringe: The fringe is a collar of grass which surrounds the green in which the length of this grass is typically shorter than that of the fairway but longer than the green itself.

Front Nine: The first half, or first 9 nines holes, of an 18-hole course

Gimme: A 'gimme' occurs when your ball lies on the green so close to the hole that your playing partner does not require you to actually hit the ball in.

Glove: Golfers typically wear a glove on their lead hand to help their grip.

Grain: The grain refers to the direction in which the grass on the green is growing.

Green: The green area is a closely mowed area on which the hole is situated. It is also referred to as the putting surface.

Green In Regulation: This is a term used for getting your ball onto the green in one shot on a par 3 hole, in two shots on a par 4 hole, or in three shots on a par 5 hole.

Greens Fee: This is the sum of money charged for playing a round of golf.

Grip: The grip refers to either the manner in which you hold your club or the rubber covering on the shaft of a club where you place your hands.

Grooves: Grooves are the etched lines on the face of the club which are designed to help you to put the desired backspin on the ball.

Ground Under Repair: Ground under repair refers to any part of the course marked as such by order of the Committee. All of the ground (and any tree, bush, grass or other growing thing) within the ground under repair are deemed to be part of the ground under repair. Ground under repair includes such things as material piled for removal or a hole made by a greenkeeper. Grass cuttings and other similar material left on the course which have been abandoned and which it is not intended to remove are not considered to be ground under repair unless so marked.

Further golfing terms - A to B | C to D | E to G | H to O | P to Z

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