9 Golf Terms You May Not Know

Golf has some of the most unique words in the sporting world. Most people are aware of the standard terms: birdie, bogey, and the dreaded snowman, but what about the albatross or the buzzard? What does an Army have to do with golf, and what is the true meaning of a sasquatch? Golf analysts, weekend hackers, and professional players have created some of the most creative words out on the links. Especially when playing with your weekly foursome, the course can get pretty exciting.
 




 
Many terms have simply developed over time, yet others have an actual meaning and significance of the game. When scoring, it’s important to be able to tell your score without digits. Of course, depending on your score, you may “inadvertently” slip in a few colorful words to describe your F**ing 3 putt. Now I’m sure, you’re already familiar with most of the terms, but below are a few that are not quite as common…
 

 

Albatross

 
The albatross is used to define 3 under par on a hole. This means you got an ace on a par 4 or a 2 on a par five.
 

Buzzard

 
The buzzard is a synonym for the double bogey. (Honestly, I have been in the golf industry for decades and had never heard this one) If you want to impress your buddies after making a double, you may just want to tell them you had a buzzard. It may help to take the sting out of the score and their comments.
 

Army Golf

 

 
I must admit, I hate this one. The classic double miss. Playing Army golf means that you’re hitting shots left to right and left again. As the Army calls out, “Left, right, left.” The sand traps are also called bunkers, which also has to do with the military theme. Someone going from bunker to bunker may be called a “Richy”. This is a play on the ostrich. This animal is known for digging holes in the sand to use as nests.
 

Sasquatch

 
Sasquatch, Bigfoot, and Yeti are just some of the names for mythical creatures that roam in wilderness areas around the world. The term “Sasquatch” can be used two different ways on the course. The word is used to describe the myth that you actually found your ball in the woods.
 
Mmmmmright!
 
Few things are more frustrating than discovering that the ball you found isn’t yours, it was just a Sasquatch. You didn’t really see what you thought you saw. The term can also be given to the player who is constantly hitting the ball into the bushes, trees or the woods. A similar term for this person is the Lumberjack…Lumberjill for the ladies. See what we did there?
 




 

Teel Putt

 
A “Teel Putt” is a dreaded occurrence. One that I hope you have never had…It’s bad enough to three-putt, but when that one doesn’t fall, you have the Teel Putt. This is named after Kevin Teel. Look it up!
 

Lego

 

 
After the “Teel Putt” you may want to consider making your next putt to get a “Lego”. This term is used because of the inevitable pain one feels when stepping on a Lego. The term came about during a Pro-Am when the golfer said, “That F**ing four-putt hurt worse than stepping on a Lego.”
 

Dog Track

 
If the course you’re playing on is run down and not properly cared for, it can be referred to as the dog track.
 

Velcro

 
To continue with course descriptions, the word Velcro can be used to describe greens that are very slow. These greens usually only run between 5-7 on the stimpmeter. It can also be used to describe kikuyu grass on the surrounds of the greens. As we all know, running a chip through the kikuyu is near impossible. Like Velcro!
 




 

PPK Hole or C-Note

 
Many football enthusiasts also love to hit the sticks, so it’s no wonder that football has some roots in golf. For any short par 3 hole, it may be called a “PPK hole” or a “C-note”. PPK refers to “Punt, Pass, or Kick and the C-Note refers to a “$100 bill” In most instances, these terms are used on a 100-yard hole. It is in reference to the ways football players cover 100 yards. The terms used in golf are not all standard.
 
Many names have been proposed by individuals throughout the history of the game, but few have actually stuck around for generations to enjoy and use. From the chili dip to the dance floor, to the short grass to the cabbage, you can count on a variety of words to be used for just about any occurrence. Regardless, golf continues to evolve and golf terms will continue to be created.
 
Now that you know all these new golf terms, we release you out into the world and give you creative license to use them as you see fit. Trust me, use them wisely and you will be the savant of your next golf round! Thank me later. I’ll show myself out…