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A–Z of golf terminology
Golf has its own language. Filter by letter or browse them all.
7 essential rules every golfer needs
These are the situations you will encounter on the course. Know what to do — and keep the round moving.
Out of bounds
If your ball lands beyond the white stakes (or white lines) marking the boundary of the course, it is out of bounds. You cannot play the ball from there.
What to do: Go back to where you played the original shot and play again from there. You add one penalty stroke, so you are now playing your third shot from the original spot. This is called stroke and distance.
Penalty: 1 stroke + distanceLost ball
You have 3 minutes to search for your ball. If you cannot find it, it is declared lost. You must go back to where you played from and play again.
The smart move: If you think your ball might be lost, always play a provisional ball before you go forward to search. This saves walking back and keeps the round moving for everyone.
Penalty: 1 stroke + distanceProvisional ball
If your ball might be lost or out of bounds, you can play a provisional ball from the same spot before going forward to search. Announce it clearly: "I'm playing a provisional."
What happens next: If you find your original ball in bounds, you must play it and pick up the provisional. If you don't find it, the provisional becomes your ball in play — with a one-stroke penalty added.
Playing a provisional is the single biggest thing you can do to speed up your round.
Penalty: 1 stroke + distance (only if original ball is lost or OB)Yellow penalty area (water)
Yellow stakes mark a standard penalty area — usually a lake directly in front of you. You have three options.
Option 1 (no penalty): Play the ball as it lies if it is playable.
Option 2: Go back to where you played from and replay.
Option 3: Drop behind the hazard on a line from the hole through where the ball entered, going back as far as you like.
Key difference from red: you cannot drop to the side — only back on the line or from the original spot.
No penalty: play as lies | Penalty: 1 stroke (options 2 & 3)Red penalty area (water)
Red stakes mark a lateral water hazard — usually a pond, ditch, or stream running alongside the hole. You have four options.
Option 1 (no penalty): Play the ball as it lies if it is playable.
Option 2: Go back to where you played from and replay.
Option 3: Drop behind the hazard on a line from the hole through where the ball entered.
Option 4 (most common): Drop within two club-lengths of where the ball last crossed the red line, no closer to the hole.
Unplayable lie
Anywhere on the course (except in a penalty area), you can declare your ball unplayable if you cannot or do not want to play it. Only you can make this decision.
Option 1: Go back to where you last played from and replay.
Option 2: Drop within two club-lengths of where the ball lies, no closer to the hole.
Option 3: Drop behind the ball on a line from the hole, going back as far as you like.
Often the smartest choice when stuck behind a tree or in a deep bush.
Penalty: 1 strokeMoveable and immovable obstructions
An obstruction is anything artificial on the course — a rake, a sign, a sprinkler head, a cart path, or a bin.
Moveable (no penalty): If the object can be moved without too much effort, simply move it. If your ball moves in the process, replace it with no penalty.
Immovable (free relief): If the object cannot be moved and it interferes with your stance or swing, you are entitled to free relief. Find the nearest point of complete relief no closer to the hole, and drop within one club-length of that point.
Note: Natural objects — stones, leaves, twigs — are loose impediments. You may move them freely anywhere on the course except in a penalty area.
No penalty — free relief appliesSpeed of play
Slow play is one of the most common frustrations in golf. Follow these habits and you will always be welcome on the course.
Be ready to play
When it is your turn, be ready. Choose your club while others are playing, not after you arrive at your ball.
Play provisional balls
If your ball might be lost or out of bounds, always play a provisional. This avoids a long walk back and keeps everyone moving.
Limit your search
You have 3 minutes to search for a lost ball. Do not hold up the group behind. If not found quickly, take the drop and move on.
Leave the green promptly
Once the hole is finished, mark your scorecard at the next tee — not on the green. This keeps the flow going for everyone.
Play "ready golf"
In casual rounds, whoever is ready plays next — not strictly furthest from the hole. Strict honour applies in competitions only.
Pick up when you've had enough
If you have taken too many shots on a hole, pick up your ball and move on. It keeps the round moving and is the considerate thing to do.
Let faster groups through
If a group behind you is waiting regularly, wave them through at the next opportunity. It is good golf etiquette and makes the round enjoyable for everyone.
Be aware of your pace
If there is a big gap to the group in front, you are too slow. If the group behind is close, consider letting them through. Stay connected to the rhythm of the whole course.
Know the benchmark times
A standard 9-hole round: around 2 hours 15 minutes. A full 18-hole round: 4 to 4.5 hours. If you are running over, pick up the pace.
How Stableford scoring works
Stableford is used in most club competitions in Sweden. Instead of counting every shot, you score points per hole. More points is better.
| Result on the hole | Score vs par | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Albatross (3 under par) | −3 | 5 |
| Eagle (2 under par) | −2 | 4 |
| Birdie (1 under par) | −1 | 3 |
| Par (level) | 0 | 2 |
| Bogey (1 over par) | +1 | 1 |
| Double bogey (2 over par) | +2 | 0 |
| Triple bogey or worse | +3 or more | 0 |
Understanding your handicap
A handicap is simply a number that represents your current ability. It lets golfers of all levels compete fairly against each other on any course.
The basic idea: Your handicap tells you how many shots above par you are expected to score on an average day. A handicap of 18 means you are expected to make one bogey per hole. A handicap of 0 (scratch) means you are expected to play to par. The lower your handicap, the better you play.
How your shots are spread: Your handicap shots are given on the hardest holes first. Every course has a "stroke index" (SI) — a ranking of each hole from 1 (hardest) to 18 (easiest). Your shots are allocated in SI order.
You receive 3 shots on every hole. On a par 4, you play it as a par 7. A triple bogey scores 2 Stableford points. Focus on enjoying the round — the shots come down quickly.
You receive 2 shots on every hole. On a par 4, you play it as a par 6. A double bogey scores 2 Stableford points. A bogey scores 3 points. You are building real consistency.
You receive 1 shot on every hole. A bogey scores 2 Stableford points — the same as par without a handicap. Par gives you 3 points. A very competitive level for recreational golf.
Handicap 38 is like 36 — 2 shots every hole — but with 1 extra shot on the 2 most difficult holes (SI 1 & 2). On those holes a triple bogey scores 2 points, double bogey 3, bogey 4. Target: 36 points.
Golf etiquette
Golf has traditions and an unwritten code of conduct. Learn these and you will fit in anywhere in the world.
Silence during the swing
Never talk, move, or make noise when another player is about to hit. Stand still and wait until they have completed their shot.
Repair the course
Replace your divots on the fairway, repair pitch marks on the green with a pitch mark repairer, and rake bunkers smooth after you play from them.
Dress code
Most clubs require a collared shirt and smart trousers or shorts. Jeans and football shirts are typically not permitted. When in doubt, dress smart.
Honour system
Golf is one of the only sports where you call penalties on yourself. Honesty is fundamental. Count every stroke — including the ones you would rather forget.
The 19th hole
The clubhouse bar after the round. A tradition of sharing a drink, discussing the round, and enjoying the company of those you played with.
Respect the flag
Do not stand on another player's putting line. Be careful not to step on it even when tending the flag.
Keep your shadow off the line
When someone is putting, make sure your shadow is not falling across their ball or line. It can be very distracting.
Hole-in-one tradition
If you score a hole-in-one, tradition says you buy drinks for everyone in the clubhouse. A small price for a remarkable achievement.
Swing examples to study
Every great swing is different — but all share fundamental principles. These are the best examples to watch and learn from.
Ben Hogan
The gold standard for iron play. Study his hip rotation, flat left wrist at impact, and incredible consistency. His 1957 instructional book is still considered essential reading.
Tiger Woods (2000)
At his peak, Tiger combined extraordinary power with surgical accuracy. His 2000 swing is widely considered the most complete in history. Notice his lag, his footwork, and his aggressive release.
Annika Sörenstam
Rotational power done perfectly. Her famous move of pointing her eyes at the target through impact became a teaching reference worldwide. Proof that technique beats brute force.
Rory McIlroy
The best modern example of how to generate distance without losing control. His hip clearance and swing speed are extraordinary, but the fundamentals are sound enough for any golfer to study.
How to improve your game
Improvement in golf is not about talent — it is about consistency, repetition, and the right approach. Follow these four principles and you will make real progress.
Play and practise regularly
For your first three months, commit to a simple rhythm: one round on the course, one practice session. Repeat. Every week without exception.
The round gives you real-game experience — pressure, decision-making, and learning to score. The practice session lets you work on what went wrong. One without the other is half the work. Three months of this builds more than a year of occasional play.
Occasional lessons — then train, practise, repeat
A lesson gives you something specific to work on. But the lesson itself is just the starting point. The real improvement happens in the training sessions that follow — when you take what you were taught and ingrain it through repetition.
Take a lesson. Train the change. Practise until it feels natural. Then play. Then come back for the next lesson. This loop — lesson → train → practise → play → repeat — is how golfers genuinely improve at every level.
Watch golf, visualise, find a model swing
Your brain learns from watching as well as doing. Find one player whose swing you admire and watch it every week. Study how they stand, how they move, how they finish. Then close your eyes and see yourself doing the same thing before you practise.
Visualisation is not mystical — it is how your nervous system rehearses movement. The best players in the world do it on every shot. Start doing it on the range and you will transfer that habit to the course faster than you think.
Winter swing plan — use the off season wisely
The Swedish winter is not a break from golf. It is your biggest opportunity. When the course is quiet and the pressure is off, this is the perfect time to do the technical work that is hard to do mid-season.
Join me for a structured 6 or 12-week winter training plan at JP Golf Academy. We work on the fundamentals — grip, posture, swing path, impact — so that when summer arrives, you are playing the best golf of your life. Put the technical work in during winter. Play freely in summer.
Ready to build your game?
6 and 12-week training plans at JP Golf Academy, Stannum GK, Gråbo.
Limited places each season — book early to secure your spot.
As a JP Golf Academy student you receive an exclusive 30% discount on a GolfStar Göteborg membership. Play Stannum GK and all GolfStar courses — the best value golf membership in Göteborg, made even better for you.