GOLF GLOSSARY : S
SANDBAGGERA golfer who lies about his ability to gain an edge in the game.
SAND IRONAlso called a sand wedge. A heavy, lofted club that was used for playing from bunkers. No longer in use.
SAND TRAPThe common name for a bunker
SAND WEDGEAn iron with a heavy flange on the bottom that is used primarily to get out of sand traps.
SANDYMaking par after being in a bunker.
SCOOPAn improper swing in which the club has a digging or scooping action
SCOTCH FOURSOMEA match that has partners alternating hitting the same ball. They also alternate driving regardless of who holed out on the previous hole.
SCRAMBLEA team competition where players play the best ball of a team member after every stroke or drive.
SCRATCHPar play. A zero handicap.
SCRATCH PLAYERA player who has no handicap
SCRUFFTo misplay the ball by hitting or grazing the ground with the clubhead prior to hitting the ball.
SEMI-PRIVATEcourse A course that has members but is still open to the public.
SETA full set of golf clubs.
SET UPset up To position yourself for the address.
SEVEN IRONAn iron club used for a distance of 125-160 yards for men's clubs. Also known as a mashie-niblick.
SHAFTThe part of the club joined to the head
SHAG BAGA bag for carrying practice balls.
SHAGGINGPicking up golf balls from practice ranges
SHANKA shot struck by the club's hosel. Travels to the right of the intended target.
SHIPERIOSimilar to a mulligan where a player is allowed a second shot without penalty but is allowed to choose which ball to play, the first one or the second one.
SHORT GAMEThe part of the game that is made up of chip shots, pitching and putting
SHORT IRONSThe highly lofted irons.
SHOTGUN STARTIn tournaments when players are to start at different holes; a firing of a shotgun may be used as a signal to start play.
SHOT HOLEA par three hole.
SHOTMAKERA player who has the ability to play a great many different shots.
SHOTMAKINGThe ability to play a great many different shots.
SIDECan mean the first 9 holes (front side) or the last 9 (back side) of an 18 hole course. Also two or more players who are partners.
SIDEHILL LIEA lie with the ball either above or below your feet.
SINK A PUTTMake a putt.
SIX IRONAn iron club that gives a distance of 135-170 yards for men's clubs. Also known as a spade or spade-mashie.
SKINSA golf game that awards the money to the player with the lowest score on a hole. In case of a tie, the game continues until someone wins.
SKULLINGHitting the ball at or above its center causing the ball to be hit too hard and travel too great a distance.
SKYTo hit underneath the ball sending it much higher than intended. Like a pop fly in baseball
SLICEA shot that curves strongly from left to right as a result of sidespin. The converse applies to a left-handed player.
SLOPEAdjusts your handicap to the difficulty of the course you play. The more difficult the course, the more strokes you'll need. Under slope, golfers will no longer have a handicap. You will have an index. An average course will have a slope rating of 113. Your index is a mathematical calculation of your playing ability on an average course. Maximum index allowed is 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women. Conversion charts will be located at the first tee.
SLUMPA prolonged period of bad play.
SMOTHERTo hit down on the ball so that it travels a short distance on the ground.
SNAKEA very long putt that travels over several breaks in the green.
SNAKEA three-putt off any green. A game played where the last three-putts of round, occuring on any hole owes the other members of the group the pre-agreed total of all three-putts. Gets pretty exciting the last few holes with some competitors playing snake-avoidance.
SNAP-HOOKTo hit a hot with an acute hook.
SNIPEA ball that is hooked and drops quickly
SOLEThe bottom of the club head
SOLE PLATEThe metal plate on the bottom of woods
SPGASenior Professional Golf Association.
SPADE-MASHIEOld term for a 6 iron.
SPIKE MARKMark made on the green by the cleats of a golf shoe.
SPOONOld term for a 3 wood.
SPOT PUTTINGA player aims at a spot on the green that will allow the ball to roll into the cup, rather than directly at the hole.
SPRAYTo hit the ball erratically off line.
SPRINGThe flexibility of the club shaft.
SQUARE STANCEPlacing your feet in a line parallel to the direction you which the ball to travel
STABLEFORDA method of scoring that uses points instead of strokes.
STANCEThe position of your feet when addressing the ball
STARTERPerson who determines the order of play from the first tee.
STICKThe pin in the hole.
STIMPMETRESuperintendents measure green speed with a stimpmetre. Its readings give a snapshot of the green speed at that time of day. Stimpmetre readings in the five to six range mean slow greens, seven to eight mean medium, nine to 10 fast and above 11 extremely fast - PGA Tournament speeds.
STIPULATED ROUNDThe playing of all holes of a course in the correct order
STONYTo hit a ball close to the flagstick
STRAIGHTAWAYA hole having a straight fairway.
STRAIGHT-FACEDRefers to a club with little or no loft on the face.
STRIKE OFFTo drive from the tee.
STROKEThe forward motion of the club head made with the intent to hit the ball whether contact is made or not
STROKE PLAYA competition in which the total number of strokes for one round, or a pre-determined number of rounds, determines the winner
STYMIEWhen an opponent's ball is in the line of the other player's putt. Since the ball may now be lifted, the term is used these days to refer to a tree or object in the way of a shot
SUDDEN DEATHWhen in a match or stroke competition the score is tied after completing the round, play continues until one player wins a hole
SUMMER RULESOrdinary play according the Rules of Golf
SUPINATIONThe rotation of the wrist so that the palm of the hand faces upward.
SURLYNMaterial from which most golf balls are made of.
SWALEA moderately contoured depression or dip in terrain.
SWEET SPOTThe dead center of the face of the club
SWINGThe action of stroking the ball.
SWING WEIGHTThe measure of a club's weight.