A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Pace

The speed at which a putt should be moving to get to the hole. Pace and break are the two components of green-reading.

Pair

Two golfers playing together in a stroke competition. Also to assign players to play together in a competition.

Pairings

Groups of two players.

Par

The number of shots a good player should take either ona given hole or for the duration of an 18 hole round. For a short hole the good player should take three shots; on a medium length hole the number is four and on a long hole it is five. We call these holes a par three, a par four and a par five. Par for the course is the pars of all the individual holes added together. On an average 18-hole course the par is 72. It can vary from the low 60s for a very short course to 74 for a long course.

Par 3 Course

A short golf course comprised of all par 3 holes. Par 3 courses are good learning courses for beginners and help better players to improve their short games.

Par 3, 4 Or 5

(See "Par.")

Par Competition

A game in which play is against a fixed score for each hole (called the par or bogey). Scoring is as in match play with plus 1 if the player scores better than par, equal if he scores par and minus 1 if more than par. The player with the highest aggregate score is the winner.

Parkland

A course laid out in grassland with little rough.

Partner

A player who is teamed with another player on the same side of a match.

Path

The imaginary line formed by the arc of a player's swing. (See "Square", "Inside-Out" and "Outside-In".)

Pawky

Old Scottish term meaning cunning or tricky.

Peg

A tee.

Penalty

Stroke(s) assessed when a ball is hit into a specific area either on (water hazard) or off (out of bounds) the course. Penalties may also be assessed for specific violations as defined by the Rules of Golf.

Perimeter Weighting

Much the same as heel & toe weighting but the weight in irons is placed all around the perimeter of the head. Applies to irons and woods.

Persimmon

Wood with a distinctive grain used in many clubs.

PGA (Professional Golfer's Association)

Governing organization of males making their living in golf-related endeavors. The PGA issues guidelines and accreditation to its members depending upon their individual positions in the game.

Pick Up

To take up one's ball before holing out. In match play this concedes the hole or in stroke play incurs disqualification.

Pigeon

A golfer that you should defeat in a game.

Pill

Nickname for the ball.

Pin

The flagstick

Pin Placement (Pin Position)

The position of a hole on a putting green on any given day.

Pin-High

A ball even with the pin but off to one side. Same as "hole high".

Pinehurst

A variation of play in which a partner plays the other partner's drive. One ball is then selected to finish the hole.

Pinsetter

The official responsible for pin placement.

Pitch

The pitch shot is one that goes high and does not roll very far when it lands. It is needed to play over bunkers close to the green - and to get out of the bunkers if you don't get over them.

Pitch and Putt

A short golf course designed primarily for approaching and putting.

Pitch and Run

The same as a pitch shot but hit with a lower-numbered club to reduce loft and backspin. This allows the ball to run after it lands on the putting green.

Pitch Mark

The mark sometimes caused by the ball when it lands.

Pitch Out

Slang term for a "shanked" shot. That is, a ball struck on the hosel of the head resulting in a straight right ball flight.

Pitcher

Former name for a 7 or 8 iron.

Pitching

A short shot pulling the ball into the air in a sharp arc.

Pitching Irons

The short irons.

Pitching Niblick

Old name of an 8 iron.

Pitching Wedge

An iron club designed for making pitch shots.

Pivot

The rotation of the shoulders, trunk and pelvis during the golf swing.

Placement

Accuracy in the targeting of a shot.

Play

To strike the ball with a club. The action of playing the game of golf.

Play Club

An obsolete ancient driver.

Play Through

To be allowed through by a game in front, normally due to a lost ball.

Play Through

A situation in which a faster group is permitted to play a hole on which a slower group is playing. The slower group typically stands out of the way of the faster group, who is said to have "played through."

Playing Short

Hitting the ball so it deliberately falls short to avoid a hazard.

Playoff

In the event of a tie at the end of any competition, continuing play to determine the winner. The playoff may be sudden death, a specified number of holes or an entire 18-hole round.

Plugged Lie

A bad lie (typically in a bunker) where the ball is at least half-buried in sand. Also known as a "buried lie" or a "fried egg".

Plus Handicap

The number of strokes a player gives to adjust his ability to the common level.

Pop-Up

High, and short shot.

Pot Bunker

A small, but very deep bunker, usually filled with sand.

Power Fade

A shot, generally from the tee, that combines the control of a left to right fade with the power and distance of a pull. A highly effective shot that is difficult to master.

Practice Green

A place to practice putting.

Preferred Lie

Local rules which allow a player to improve his lie in a specific manner without penalty.

Press

Hitting the ball harder to gain extra distance.

Private Course

Type of course requiring a membership to play. Guests may play private courses for a fee at specific times, often accompanied by a member of the club

Pro Shop

The golf course shop operated by the head professional where equipment is sold.

Professional

A man or woman who plays golf for a living. There are two kinds: the club pro who teaches people to play and the tour pro who plays in the big tournaments. Some pros do both. If you have a problem with your game or your equipment, see your local pro.

Progressive Offset

The amount of offset increases progressively from the short irons to the long irons.

Provisional Ball

A ball that is played, usually in an effort to speed up play, as a potential replacement for a ball that may be lost or out of bounds. For example, a player hits his ball toward an out of bounds area, but is not sure the ball is out of bounds. He states the intention to hit a provisional (so he does not have to take time to return to the position from where he hit the original shot) in case the ball is out of bounds. If the original is out of bounds, the provisional becomes the ball in play, with penalty strokes added.

Public Course

A course open to play for all golfers, subject to time availability.

Pull

A shot that tends to go to the left of the intended target, in a straight path (assuming a right-handed player.) A pulled shot does not curve in flight, but flies in a straight line simply left of the target.

Pull

Ball flight that starts to the left of the target for RH golfers and to the right for LH golfers. Sometimes can turn a little bit more to the left at the end of the flight.

Punch

A shot, played intentionally low, to avoid wind, trees or other obstacles. The shot is played with a short backswing with the ball positioned rearward in the stance.

Punch-Out

Low shot played from trees designed to get the ball back into play.

Push

A shot that tends to go to the right of the intended target, in a straight path (assuming a right-handed player.) A pushed shot does not curve in flight, but flies in a straight line simply right of the target.

Push

Ball flight that starts to the right of the target for RH golfers and to the left for LH golfers.

Putt

When a player hits the ball while it is on the green.

Putt Out

To hole the ball with a putt.

Putter

A short club with a flat face designed to roll the ball along the ground when hit.

Putting

Attempting to roll the ball into the hole once you get your ball onto the green. The club used is called a putter.

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.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z