Golf
History:
Golf as we know it today originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland in
the Kingdom of Fife during the 15th century. Players would hit a pebble around a natural
course of sand dunes, rabbit runs and tracks using a stick or primitive club.
Events:
Golf, Darwin Golf Club
Women’s Individual & Team Championship;
Men’s Individual & Team Championship;
Junior Girl’s Individual & Team Championship; and
Junior Boy’s Individual & Team Championship
Rules:
The rules of Golf, as adopted by R&A Rules Limited shall apply together with Local Rules
drawn up by the Match Committee.
Golf is a game in which a ball is struck with a club from a prepared area, known as the
"teeing ground", across the fairway (long stretch of course) and rough to a second prepared
area, which has a hole in it, known as the "putting green".
The object of the game is to complete what is known as a hole by playing a ball from the
teeing ground into the hole on the putting green in the fewest possible number of strokes. A
"round of golf' consists of playing 18 such holes.
There are basically two forms of play, one which is decided by holes won and lost (match
play) and the other which is decided by the total number of strokes taken to complete the
round (stroke play).
Glossary:
Ace: A hole-in-one; a score of 1 on any hole.
Albatross: A double eagle; a score of 3 under par on a hole; examples are a 1 on a par 4 or
a 2 on a par 5.
Back Nine: The final nine holes of an eighteen hole round.
Birdie: A score of 1 stroke less than par on a given hole, for example, a score of 3 on a par
4.
Bogey: A score of 1 over par on a hole, for example a 6 on a par 5.
Bunker: A bunker is a type of hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground, from which
turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like.
Chip-Out: A shot, generally going only a short distance, made from trouble in an attempt to
get the ball back in play. Chip-outs are commonly made from trees or similar positions.
Course: The entire area on which a game (or round) of golf is played.
DGC – Darwin Golf Club
Double Bogey: A score of two over par on a hole.
Double-Eagle: A score of 3 under par on a hole, for example, a 2 on a par 5; also called an
"albatross."
Drive: The first shot on a hole, played from the teeing ground.
Driving Range: A practice area, either at a course or on its own, where players of all ability
levels go to practice their game. A range may be a simple as a large mowed field with hitting
areas or may be as elaborate as a facility with target greens and practice putting greens.
Eagle: A score of 2 under par on a hole, for example, a 3 on a par 5.
Even Par: A player’s score that matches the par for the course at any point during a round.
Fairway: Closely mown area onto which the ball is aimed on most holes.
Gross Score: Gross score is, of course, every stroke a golfer has taken during a round,
added up to a total score.
Handicap: The number assigned to a player’s ability level, as related to the number of
strokes over or under par a player is expected to play. The lower the handicap, the better the
player. A player’s handicap is deducted from his gross score to establish his net score. (See
"Gross" and "Net.")
Home Green: The 18th green, or any other designated as the last to be played.
Hook: Type of shot, for a right-handed golfer, that often starts to the right of the target and
curves dramatically to the left, usually ending much more left of target than desired. A hook is
normally considered to be a non-desirable shot.
Lob Shot: A high, soft shot, generally played near the green with a high-lofted wedge of
some type (i.e., a lob wedge.)
Match Play: Type of competition, typically among 2 individuals or two teams, in which the
score is kept by the number of holes won and lost. The winner of a match play competition is
the side who wins the most holes. A match play score may look like this: "3 and 2". This
indicates the winning team was three holes up (ahead) with only two to play. "5 and 4"
indicates 5 up with 4 to play, and so on.
NGA – National Golf Association
Net Score: A player's gross score minus the strokes his or her course handicap allows to be
taken during the course of the round. A golfer may have a gross score of 92, but during the
round was allowed to take 9 strokes. That player's net score is 81.
29/07/2017
Page 2
Over Par: Term given to the number of strokes a player’s score is over the par for the
number of holes played. For example, if a player shoots a score of 40 on 9 holes whose par
is 36, he is said to be "4 over."
Par: Expected score on a given hole based on its length and difficulty. Par 3 holes tend to be
less than 225 yards in length, par 4’s range from less than 300 to over 412 metres, and most
par 5’s tend to be longer than 438 metres.
Putting Green: The area of the hole being played that is specifically mowed for putting. The
term "Putting Green" may also refer to a practice putting area, usually near the clubhouse.
Sand Trap: Term given to a bunker filled with sand.
Slice: A shot that tends to start to the left of the target and curve to the right of the target,
most often more that the player desires (assuming a right-handed player.) A slice is the most
common shot among amateur golfers.
Stroke: The forward movement of the club made with the intent of hitting the ball.
Tee: The wooden or plastic implement on which a ball is placed prior to the play of the first
shot on a hole. The term "Tee" may also be used to describe the Teeing Ground."
Triple Bogey: A score of three over par on a hole.
Under Par: Term given to stokes a player has taken relative to what hole he is playing. If a
player has played the front 9 in 34 strokes and par is 36, he is said to be "2 under."
Further Information:
www.darwingolfclub.com.au - Darwin Golf Club
29/07/2017
Page 3