The Girlfriend’s Guide to Golf

By Chase and Anabella

Whether you’re playing a round with the girls, teeing off with your boyfriend, or want to impress your boss, knowing a few basics of golf can make the game much more enjoyable. If you didn’t grow up playing golf, it can seem a daunting feat, however, with a little knowledge of the lingo and practice, you are sure to enjoy one of America’s favorite pastimes without embarrassing yourself on the course.

The Basics

The whole point of golf is to get your ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible. You’ll start at the tee box and hit your ball towards the green. A typical round of golf consists of 18 holes, but if we are being honest, the way to go is a quick 9-holes and then lunch.

The Vocab

Like any sport, golf comes with its own lingo. There are specific words that refer to the parts of the course and to your score. Brush up on the vocab beforehand so you sound like a pro once you’re there. Here are the important terms you’ll need to know:

When teeing off, you’ll notice there are a few distinct components of the course: the fairway, the rough, the green, bunkers, and water hazards. The rough is usually a darker green and off to the sides, outlining the perfectly manicured, light green fairway. You’ll want to keep your ball on the fairway and out of the rough as much as possible for a smooth game. 

The green, where the hole is, is where you ultimately want the ball to land in order to make a put. Pros and seasoned golfers can land their balls on the green with ease, while amateurs should always use the green as a target until their skills and golf prowess develop. 

The bunkers are a pesky obstacle, hated by pros and amateurs alike. Bunkers are, in essence, a giant sand box, usually near the green. “Getting out” of a bunker can be one of the most frustrating parts of the game and involves lots of practice. Finally, we have the water hazards. Whether it be in a lagoon, river, or lake, amateur golfers should expect to lose a few balls.

In addition to the parts of the course, there are also terms that represent your score. When you get to each hole, you’ll notice the “par” or the number of strokes it should take you to finish that hole. If you score one under par, it’s called a birdie. Two under par is an eagle. Conversely, scoring one over par is called a bogey, two over par is a double bogey, and three over par is a triple bogey. Obviously, the less strokes it takes the better, but don’t beat yourself up over a triple bogey if you’re just starting out! 

As a novice golfer, “fore” is a word that should be in your vocabulary. If you hit a bad shot or the ball slices to the side and is headed towards another golfer, yell this out to warn them. 

If you want a little assistance during your golf game, a caddy can carry your clubs or ride along with you as well as coach you on which clubs to use or what approach you should take towards the hole. Caddies are used by all levels of players and are very knowledgeable about the course and any possible tricky situations to be aware of or avoid.

Finally, our favorite golf course employee: the snack cart girl. Golf is just a bit more enjoyable for everyone with a few beers or cocktails on a hot day. The snack cart always seems to come around at the right time as well… missed the putt for par? Don’t worry there's an ice-cold beverage calling your name! If you want to really look like you know what you’re doing, order a Transfusion.

The Clubs

A good caddy will help you decide what club you should use for each shot, so let us be your virtual caddies and steer you in the right direction. Golf clubs are generally sorted into three groups: woods, irons, and the putter.

Woods: These are clubs like the driver which are best for covering distance. If you’re just teeing off and need to get the ball in play, you should probably use your driver (the biggest one) and you’ll put it on a tee. Once the ball is in play but there are still plenty of yards between you and the green, you might want to use a hybrid (which looks like a small driver) to get your ball down the fairway. 

Irons: Irons are the clubs that are set at angles. You’ll usually use these after your tee off. They can be helpful when you get trapped in the bunker or the rough. The rule of thumb is that as the number on the club gets lower, the more distance is covered. If the number is higher, or if the club has a “p” or “s” the ball will get more air but cover a shorter distance. If you’re on the fairway and want to get closer to the green, stick to the low irons. If you’re stuck in the sand or close to the green, use the high ones!

Putter: The putter is to be used on the green to get your ball in the hole. Every putter has a different “touch” to it, so we suggest going to your local golf shop and trying a bunch out until you find the one for you.

Common Etiquette

No golf guide would be complete without an etiquette section. A few good general rules: 

1. Be quiet when fellow golfers go to tee off or putt. We all need a little calm to focus, especially during these pivotal shots. 

2. Keep your speed of play thoughtful in regards to those playing behind you. In other words, don’t take 20 minutes trying to get your ball out of the bunker. After a few strokes in a difficult situation, it's better to pick up then hold up those behind you. 

3. Respect the course. Golf courses are manicured daily-- it's tedious but a well worth it job for the course maintenance team. With that being said, make sure to fill in or repair any divots and ball marks you make on the course. And finally, never ride your cart over the putting green.

Now go show off what you’ve learned!

Photo via Vintage Shots