Golf Equipment 2

BAFF - To strike the ground with the “sole” of the club-head in playing.

BUNKER - A sand-pit.

CADDIE - A person who carries the Golfer’s clubs, and, if necessary, gives him advice in regard to the game.
CUP - A small hole in the course, probably made by the stroke of some previous player.

DEAD - A ball is said to be “dead “-1st, when it falls without rolling; dead, when it lies so near the hole that the “put” is a dead certainty.
DORMY - One party is said to be “dormy” on the other when the former is as many holes a-head as there remain holes to play. (This word is fancifully derived from dorrnio, to sleep,

owing to the security enjoyed by the dormy party.)
DRAW - To drive widely to the left hand. (Synonymous with Hook and Screw.)

FACE - 1st, The sandy slope of a bunker; 2nd1 the part of the club head which strikes the ball.
FLAT - A club is said to be “flat” when its head is at a very obtuse angle to the shaft.
FORE !- A warning cry to any person in the way of the stroke. (Contracted for “Before.”)
FOURSOME - A match in which two play on each side.

GOBBLE - A rapid straight “putt” into the hole.
GRASSED - Said of a club whose face is “spooned” or sloped backward.
GREEN - 1st, The whole Links;

2nd, The Putting-ground around the different holes.
GRIP - 1st, The part of the handle covered with leather by which the club is grasped;
2nd, the grasp itself.

HALF-ONE - A handicap of a stroke deducted every second hole.
HALVED - A hole is said to be “halved” when each party takes the same number of strokes.

A “halved match” is a “drawn game;” i.e., the players have proved to be equal.
HANGING -A “hanging” ball is one which lies on a downward slope.
HAZARD - A general term for bunker, whin, or other bad ground.
HEAD -This word is a striking specimen of incongruity and mixed metaphor. A head is the
lowest part of a club, and possesses’ among other

mysterious characteristics, a sole, a heel,
a toe, a nose, a neck, and face! These features are briefly described in this Glossary, and the
curious inquirer may easily have them pointed out to him by any one who knows the secrets
of Golf-craft.
HEEL - 1st, The part of the head nearest the shaft; 2nd, To hit off this part.
HOLE - 1st, The four-inch hole lined with iron; 2nd, The whole space between any two of these.
HONOUR - The right to play off first from the tee, which belongs to the winner of the last hole.
After the tee-stroke, the party whose ball is furthest from the hole must play first.
HOOK - See Draw.

JERK - In “jerking” the

club should strike with a quick angular cut behind the ball, and
stop on reaching the ground.

LIE - 1st, The inclination of a club when held on the ground in the natural position for striking;
2nd, The situation of a ball-good or bad.
LIKE - See under Odd.
LIKE-AS-WE-LIE - When both parties have played the same number of strokes.
LINKS - The open downs or heath on which Golf is played.
LOFT - To elevate the ball.

MATCH - 1st, The parties playing against each other; 2nd, The game itself.
MISS the GLOBE - To fail to strike the ball, either by swinging right over the top of it, or
by hitting the ground behind.

NECK - The

crook of the head where it joins the shaft.
NOSE - The point or front portion of the club-head.

ODD - 1st, “An odd,” “two odds,” etc., per hole means the handicap given to a weak
opponent by deducting one, two, etc., strokes from his total every hole. 2nd, To have
played “the odd” is to have played one stroke more than your adversary. Some other
terms used in counting the game will be most easily explained here all together :-If your
opponent has played one stroke more than you-i.e., “the odd,” your next stroke will be
“the like;” if two strokes more-i.e., “the two more,” your next stroke will be “the one off
two;” if “three more”-” the one

off three;” and so on.
ONE-OFF.TWO, ONE-OFF-THREE, &c. - See under Odd.

PRESS - To strive to recover lost ground by special exertion-a very dangerous thing to attempt.
PUT - To play the delicate game close to the hole. (Pronounce U as in but.)

RIND - A strip of cloth under the leather to thicken the grip.
RUB ON THE GREEN - A favourable or unlavourable knock to the ball, for which no
penalty is imposed, and which must be submitted to.

SCARE - The narrow part of the club-head by which it is glued to the handle.
SCREW - See Draw.
SET - A pack of clubs.
SOLE - The flat bottom of the club-head.
SPRING - The degree of

suppleness in the shaft.
SQUARE - When the game stands evenly balanced, neither party being any holes ahead.
STEAL - To hole an unlikely “put” from a distance.
STIMY - When your opponent’s ball lies in the line of your “put.”

SWIPE - A full driving stroke.
SWING - The circular sweep of the club in driving.

TEE - The pat of sand on which the ball is placed for the first stroke each hole.
THIRD - A handicap of a stroke deducted every third hole.

TOE - Another name for the Nose.
TOP - To hit the ball above its centre.
TWO-MORE, THREE-MORE, etc. - See under Odd.

UPRIGHT - A club is said to be “upright” when its head is

not at a very obtuse angle to the shaft.

WHINS - Furze or gorse.
WHIPPING - The pitched twine uniting the head and handle.

Allan Hess is an amateur history buff who likes sports history. If you would like more information about antique golf equipment visit http://www.antiquegolfequipment.com