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By Christina Ricci
Golf is multi-faceted to the point where it can be downright overwhelming! To alleviate some of this pressure it is always a good idea to fill your mind with knowledge.
The more you know, the more confident you will feel out on the
golf course, whether you are a newbie or an avid golfer. So I am here to fill your mind with a few common terms used out on the golf course so the next time you hear dogleg left, your not looking for the dog on the left, out in the fairway. Plus, I’ll throw in a couple of rules and proper behavior every Golfer Girl must know! We will work our way through the alphabet:
ACE, aka HOLE-IN-ONE
A hole finished in one stroke, typically on par 3’s.
ADDRESS
Position taken by a player prior to hitting a shot. According to the Rules of Golf, a player has "addressed" the ball when she has taken her stance and grounded her club. Commonly referred to as "addressing the ball."
BALL IN PLAY
A ball is in play as soon as the player has made a stroke in the tee-off area. It remains in play until it is holed out except when it is out of bounds, lost, lifted or when another ball is substituted in accordance with the rules.
BACKSPIN
A reverse spin placed on the ball, achieved when a player compresses the ball which refers to hitting down on the back of the ball.
BALL EMBEDDED, aka PLUGGED
A ball stuck in the ground as a result of its impact. Example: As part of the Rules of Golf you are permitted to lift, clean and then drop an embedded ball without penalty.
CHUNKEY MONKEY, aka CHUNK SHOT, CHILI DIP, FAT
When the club hits the ground behind the ball resulting in a missed shot.
DOGLEG
A left or right bend in the fairway.
COLLAR
No not a shirt collar, but the grassy fringe surrounding the putting green.
FAT SHOT
When the club hits the ground behind the ball. This results in high or low shots with a loss of distance.
FRIED-EGG
A ball half-buried in the sand.
HOSEL
The hollow part of an iron club head into which the shaft is fitted.
LAG
To putt the ball with the intention of leaving it short to ensure being able to hole out on the next stroke. Lag also refers to wrist hinge created in the downswing.
LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS
Any natural object that is not fixed or growing. This can include loose stones, twigs, branches, or turtles.
LIP
The top rim of the hole or cup OR where the sand meets the edge of the grass in a bunker.
MULLIGAN
A second shot that is allowed on the first tee to be taken in friendly play when the player has missed the first one. Not allowed by the Rules of Golf.
LIFT-CLEAN-AND-PLACE
A rule that allows a player to mark her ball, so that she can clean the ball and place it back no greater than six inches from original spot or no closer to the hole.
PROVISIONAL BALL
A ball played if the previously played ball could be lost or out of bounds.
PUNCH SHOT
Low, controlled shot typically used to get under a tree or obstruction or to keep the ball flight low.
SKULLING
Hitting the ball at or above its center, causing the ball to be hit too hard and travel too great a distance.
SNAP-HOOK
To hit a shot with an acute, low right-to-left ball flight.
TEXAS BUGRUNNER, aka WORMBURNER
A ball hit with adequate distance that hugs the ground.
SANDY
Making par after being in a bunker. Example, one shot out of the bunker and a one-putt.
YIPS
Shakiness or nervousness in making a shot.
BALL Marker
You replace your ball about an inch in front of the marker on the green.
The Rule: 16-1b: A ball on the putting green may be lifted and, if desired, cleaned. The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted and the ball must be replaced.
The Translation: In the Rules of Golf, replaced means to place it back as closely as possible to the position the ball was in before marked. Replace does not translate to "casually move it up just a teensy-weensy bit."
The Penalty: Two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole
in a match.
HOW TO DROP Whom and How
A ball to be dropped under the Rules must be dropped by the player himself. She must stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm’s length and drop it. If a ball is dropped by any other person or in any other manner and the error is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.
You improve your lie
The Rule: 13-1: The ball must be played as it lies.
The Translation: Nudging the ball out of a sand-filled divot, teeing it up on a blade of grass in the rough or moving your ball away from a fence or other immovable obstruction (even if you could nick your new 7-wood) is a strict no-no.
The Penalty: Two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in a match.
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