Teaching Golf Online

From the Teaching Golf Online program by Claude LeBlanc, PGA of Canada teaching professional with more than 30 years of experience.

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You belong here—even as a beginner. Every golfer starts somewhere. You do not need a perfect swing or know every golf term to enjoy the game. Learn a few words at a time and ask questions freely.

In this guide: understand the aim of golf, follow one example hole, and explore your illustrated A–Z vocabulary guide.

1. What Is Golf?

Golf is a game in which you use clubs to play a ball from a starting area—the teeing area—into a hole on the putting green. The aim is to complete each hole in as few strokes as possible while following the rules. A round commonly includes 9 or 18 holes.

You will play longer shots toward the green, shorter shots around it, and use a putter to roll the ball into the hole.

2. Follow One Hole—from Tee to Cup

Imagine playing a par-4 hole. Here is one possible route. Your own route may take more shots, and that is part of learning.

Four strokes on a par 4 = par. Three would be a birdie; five would be a bogey, assuming no penalty strokes.

3. Your Illustrated Golf Vocabulary—A to Z

Explore these four pages in order. Look at the picture, say the word, then explain it in your own words. Select any image to open a larger version.

Page 1 · Alignment to Double bogey

Select the image to enlarge.

Page 2 · Drive / Tee shot to Hole-in-one / Ace

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Page 3 · Honours to Ready golf

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Page 4 · Relief to Triple bogey

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4. Your Written Reference

Use these definitions whenever you need a reminder. This alphabetical reference also includes useful club and setup words introduced in the program.

Address — The position you take before making a stroke, with your body and club ready to play.

Alignment — The direction your clubface and body are aimed relative to your intended target.

Approach shot — A shot played toward the green.

Ball mark — A dent made when a ball lands on the green; also called a pitch mark.

Ball marker — A small object used to mark the position of a ball before lifting it.

Birdie — A score of one stroke under par on a hole. For example, scoring 3 on a par-4 hole.

Bogey — A score of one stroke over par on a hole. For example, scoring 5 on a par-4 hole.

Bunker — A specially prepared area of sand on the course.

Carry — The distance the ball travels through the air before first landing.

Chip — A short shot near the green that usually flies a short distance and then rolls.

Clubface — The part of the clubhead that strikes the ball.

Divot — A piece of turf displaced by a golf stroke. Follow the course’s instructions for replacing divots or filling them with the supplied mix.

Double bogey — A score of two strokes over par on a hole.

Drive / Tee shot — The first shot played on a hole. You do not have to use a driver.

Driver — A club designed mainly for long shots from the teeing area.

Eagle — A score of two strokes under par on a hole.

Etiquette — Considerate behaviour on the course: play safely, respect others, care for the course and keep a suitable pace.

Fairway — The closely mown area between the teeing area and the green on many holes.

Flagstick — The pole placed in the hole to help you see its location.

Fore! — A loud warning shouted immediately when a ball might hit someone. If you hear it, protect your head and take cover.

Fringe — The short grass surrounding the putting green, usually slightly longer than the grass on the green.

Green — The specially prepared, closely mown area containing the hole, where you normally use your putter.

Grip — The way you hold the club. The word also describes the handle of the club.

Handicap Index — A number representing your demonstrated playing ability, used to help golfers of different abilities compete fairly.

Hole — The cup into which you play your ball. The word also means the entire playing area from a hole’s teeing area to its green.

Hole-in-one / Ace — Completing a hole with your first stroke from the teeing area.

Honour — The right to play first from the teeing area. After the first hole, it generally belongs to the player or side with the lowest score on the previous hole. In stroke play, safe and responsible “ready golf” is encouraged.

Hook — A shot curving strongly left for a right-handed golfer; right for a left-handed golfer.

Hybrid — A club that combines features of a wood and an iron, often used as an alternative to a long iron.

Iron — A club commonly used for approach shots and other shots requiring a particular distance or trajectory.

Lie — The way the ball rests on the ground, such as on short grass, in thick rough or on a slope.

Loft — The angle of the clubface that helps launch the ball into the air.

Out of bounds — Ground outside the course boundaries, often identified by white stakes, white lines or boundary fences. Special penalty procedures apply.

Pace of play — The speed at which a group moves around the course. Be ready when it is safe and your turn to play.

Par — The score an expert golfer is expected to make on a hole. Most holes are par 3, par 4 or par 5.

Penalty area — An area marked with red or yellow stakes or lines, often containing water. Relief options may let you continue with a penalty stroke.

Pitch — A short approach shot that generally flies higher and rolls less than a chip.

Pitch mark — A small depression made when a ball lands on the green. Repair it carefully with a ball-mark repair tool.

Provisional ball — Another ball played to save time when the original might be out of bounds or lost outside a penalty area. Announce that it is provisional before playing it.

Putt — A stroke usually made with a putter to roll the ball toward the hole.

Putter — A club designed mainly to roll the ball on the green.

Ready golf — Playing when you are ready, when it is safe and responsible to do so, to help maintain the pace in stroke play.

Relief — Proceeding under a rule that lets you play from a different spot, with or without a penalty.

Rough — Longer grass beside the fairway or around other parts of the course.

Round — A session of golf played over a set number of holes, commonly 9 or 18.

Score — Your strokes plus any penalty strokes.

Slice — A shot curving strongly right for a right-handed golfer; left for a left-handed golfer.

Stroke — The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball. A deliberate attempt can count even if you miss the ball.

Tee — The small peg used to support the ball for a shot from the teeing area.

Teeing area — The starting area for a hole. It extends two club-lengths behind the tee markers, within their outside edges.

Tee markers — The two markers that identify the front and side limits of the teeing area.

Triple bogey — A score of three strokes over par: for example, 7 on a par-4 hole.

Wedge — A lofted club used for shorter approach shots, shots around the green and many bunker shots.

5. Build Your Confidence

Try this before your next lesson or course visit:

1. Find fairway, rough, bunker, fringe and green in the pictures. Explain how they differ.
2. On a par-4 hole, what do we call a score of 3, 4 and 5?
3. Say the safety warning aloud: “Fore!” When would you use it?
4. Choose five unfamiliar words. Explain each one without looking, then check your understanding.
5. At the course, identify the tee markers and ask where your teeing area begins and ends.

Scoring check: 3 = birdie; 4 = par; 5 = bogey on a par-4 hole.