# Golf Terms for Beginners: A Simple Glossary

By Fayrway Pros · Published 25 September 2026

**The short version**

New to golf and lost in the lingo? This plain-English glossary explains the scoring terms (par, birdie, bogey), the course words (fairway, rough, green) and the shots (slice, hook, chip) every beginner needs to know.

- Scoring: par, birdie, bogey and more
- The course: tee, fairway, rough, green, bunker
- Shots and slang: slice, hook, chip, gimme

Golf has a language all of its own, and it can be baffling at first. **Here is a plain-English glossary of the golf terms every beginner actually needs**, grouped so you can find them fast.

### Scoring terms

- **Par:** the number of shots a good golfer is expected to take on a hole (usually 3, 4 or 5).
- **Birdie:** one shot under par on a hole.
- **Eagle:** two shots under par.
- **Bogey:** one shot over par. A double bogey is two over.
- **Handicap:** a number reflecting your ability, so players of different standards can compete fairly.

### Around the course

- **Tee:** the starting area of a hole, and the peg you place the ball on.
- **Fairway:** the mown strip between tee and green, the ideal place to be.
- **Rough:** the longer grass either side of the fairway.
- **Green:** the smooth putting surface where the hole is.
- **Bunker:** a sand hazard.
- **Pin or flag:** the marker in the hole.

### Shots and swings

- **Drive:** a long shot from the tee, usually with a driver.
- **Chip:** a short, low shot near the green.
- **Putt:** a roll along the green towards the hole.
- **Slice:** a shot that curves sharply away (right for a right-hander).
- **Hook:** a shot that curves sharply the other way (left for a right-hander).
- **Fore:** the warning you shout when your ball heads towards other people.

### Handy slang

- **Gimme:** a very short putt your partners agree to count as holed.
- **Up and down:** getting the ball in the hole in two shots from near the green.
- **Provisional:** a second ball played in case the first is lost.
- **Mulligan:** an informal do-over, not allowed under the rules but common in friendly games.

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### Frequently asked questions

#### What are the basic golf scoring terms?

Par is the expected number of shots for a hole. A birdie is one under par, an eagle two under, a bogey one over, and a double bogey two over. Your handicap reflects your overall standard.

#### What is the difference between a slice and a hook?

A slice curves sharply away from you (to the right for a right-hander), usually unintended. A hook curves the other way (to the left for a right-hander). Both come from the clubface and swing path at impact.

#### What does fore mean in golf?

It is the warning you shout, loudly and immediately, when your ball is heading towards other people, so they can protect themselves. It is a key piece of golf safety and etiquette.

#### What is a gimme in golf?

A gimme is a very short putt that your playing partners agree to treat as holed, so you pick it up without putting. It is common in friendly and match-play golf, but not in strict stroke-play competition.

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