Glossary of golf terms

Our golf dictionary covers the main terms used in golf. The first step in demystifying the game is to understand the language and terminology that golfers commonly use.

Term

Definition

yardage guide
A book printed by the Golf Club that provides information about each hole on the respective golf course. In some parts of the world it is referred to as a strokesaver. The pocket-sized book usually contains diagrams and details about local rules, yardages of each hole, location and distance to hazards and distances to the green from various points on the hole. The better yardage books also provide a plan of the course and some historical notes about the club and course.
Yellow Ball
A variation of the Devil Ball format, played by 3 or 4 person teams on a stableford scoring basis. On each hole, one player must play the "yellow ball"; his/her stableford points for that hole are doubled and then combined with the one best stableford score from among the other golfers, giving the team stableford score for that hole. The "yellow ball" rotates from hole to hole, so that in a four person team each golfer is in the spotlight every fourth hole. (See also "Devil Ball").

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Tournaments

Chevron Championship: Carlton Woods near Houston in Texas provides the stage for the first women’s major championship of 2025, where Nelly Korda defends her title. (April 24-27).

Soudal Open: successor to the Belgian Open, the Soudal Open takes place on the quiet, wooded North course of Rinkven Golfclub. Belgian stars Thomas Pieters and Nicolas Colsaerts will be vying for top honours. (May 22-25).

Who's Who

Rory McIlroy: with his 2025 win in The Masters, Rory joined the pantheon of golfing greats who have achieved a career Grand Slam of men’s majors ... Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only others in this select band.

Bernhard Langer: he may have played in his last Masters Tournament, but the 67-year-old German will be trying to extend his own record, and win a 13th senior major title at the 36th Regions Tradition. (May 15-18).

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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Bethpage State Park (New York) host of the Ryder Cup 2025

Whistling Straits (Wisconsin, US)

TPC Louisiana host of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans