Golf

GOLF JARGON

Congratulations to Queenslander Adam Scott, who yesterday won the Australian PGA Championships, played at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast.  This wins caps off a successful year for Scott who also won the US Masters, the Australian Masters and the Australian Open.  He is ranked number 2 in the world behind Tiger Woods.

Golf seems to have its own language and jargon is used extensively in the sport.  As a sports physiotherapist I think it’s important to understand these terms so you can communicate effectively with your athlete and coach.  So here’s a list of the basics to get your head around:

The Golf Course

1 = teeing ground: area at the beginning of a hole from which the first stroke is taken
2, 6 = water hazard: area of water on the course
3 = rough: longer and thicker grass
4 = out of bounds: area outside the course
5 = bunker/sand trap: depression in the ground covered with sand  7 = fairway: area of the course between the tee and the green
8 = putting green: area around the hole with very short grass
9 = pin/flag stick: marks the hole
10 = hole/cup

Picture from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Golf_field.svg

 

Equipment

Caddie: person who carries the player’s clubs and may offer advice
Tee: a stand to support the stationary ball for the first stroke at each hole
Club: composed of a shaft with a grip and a clubhead.  Made of various materials
   Woods: used to long-distance shots
    Irons: Versatile, used for a variety of shots.  Numbered from 1-11 corresponding to their loft angle
   Wedge: a sub-class of irons with a greater loft angle.  Used for short distance, high-altitude, high-accuracy shots
   Putters: short distance, roll the ball into the hole

 

Shots

Backswing: body rotates club backwards (wind up)
Downswing: body moves the club from the top of the swing to the point of impact
Chip: A short shot that travels through the air then rolls to the hole
Hook: A shot that initially takes a trajectory opposite to the side of the golf ball from which the player swings but eventually curves sharply back towards the player
Jab: A putting stroke that is short and quick
Lay Up: A stroke played to position the ball in a certain spot
Putt: A shot played on the green
Shank: A horrible shot that doesn’t go where the player intended
Slice: A shot that initially takes a trajectory on the same side of the golf ball from which the player swings but eventually curves sharply back opposite of the player.
Zinger: A ball hit high and hard

Scoring

Par: Standard number of shots for the hole
Ace: A hole in one
Condor: 4 under par shot (also be called “triple eagle")
Albatross: 3 under par score (also known as a “double eagle”)
Eagle: 2 under par score
Birdie: 1 under par score
Bogie: 1 over par score

If you (both players and physios) want to know more on golf, then I would highly recommend Sports Physiotherapist Michael Dalgleish and The Golf Athlete http://www.thegolfathlete.com/

LB

 

 

References:
http://www.golftoday.co.uk/golf_a_z/articles/glossary.html#o

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf_glossary