GOLF GLOSSARY : P

PAIRS
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 strokes a player should take to complete a round with good performance. Par for each hole is given on the scorecard.

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 golfer who plays together with another in a match.

PAWKY
Old Scottish term meaning cunning or tricky.

PEG
A tee.

PENALTY STROKE
An additional stroke added to a player's score for a rules violation

PERSIMMON
Wood with a distinctive grain used in many clubs.

PGA
Professional Golfers Association

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

PILL
Nickname for the ball.

PIN
Same as "flagstick"

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

PIN PLACEMENT (PIN POSITION)
The position of a hole on a putting green on any given day.

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

PITCH
A short shot lofting the ball into the air in a high arc and landing with backspin

PINSETTER
The official responsible for pin placement>

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.

PITCHER
Former name for a 7 or 8 iron.

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 OFF
To determine a winner in a tie match by playing further holes or a further round.

PLAYING PROFESSIONAL
A professional golfer who primarily competes in tournaments.

PLAYING THROUGH
Passing another group of players who are playing ahead

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

POP UP
A short, high shot.

POT BUNKER
A small, deep sand trap with steep sides.

PRACTICE GREEN
Green set up for putting practice.

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

PROFESSIONAL
A player who receives payment for teaching or playing in tournaments. Usually shortened to Pro.

PRO-AM
pro-Am A competition which pairs professional players with amateurs.

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

PROVISIONAL BALL
A ball played if the previously played ball may be lost or out of bounds.

PUBLIC LINKS
A course open to the public.

PULL
A ball that goes to the left of the target with little curve as hit by a right-handed player. The converse applies to left-handed players.

PUNCH
Low, controlled shot into the wind. It is made by slamming the club down into the ball with a short swing

PUSH
A ball that goes to the right of the target with very little or no curving for a right handed player. Or the converse for a left-handed player. As opposed to "pull"

PUTT
The shot made on the putting green. From a Scottish term meaning to push gently or nudge.

PUTT OUT
To hole the ball with a putt.

PUTTER
A short-shafted club with a straight face for putting.

PUTTING GREEN
The surface area around the hole that is specially prepared for putting.

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