Golf is a game with a rich culture, so much so that golfers at times seem to speak their own language. As the leader of the Golf Instructor team here at Tell Me More Golf, I will be breaking down the golf sayings and golf phrases that you may hear on and off the golf course so that you can speak the language of golf as well as any golfer.
Our Favorite Golf Sayings
- “Drive for show, putt for dough.”
This is a lighthearted phrase that emphasizes the importance of putting well on the course. Everyone loves a long drive, but if your putter is not working in your favor you will still have a tough round. - “Stay out of the sand and away from the trees.”
Practically a prayer to the golf gods, every golfer can understand this phrase. It’s a wish to avoid the hazards that the golf course presents. - “Fairways and greens.”
This phrase boils golf down to the basics: hitting the fairway off the tee and the green in regulation each hole surely makes a round easier. - “The most important shot is the next one”
This Ben Hogan saying is a reminder that even following a bad shot, you can always turn things around with the next one. It is easy to get into a negative mindset, but good shots usually follow a positive attitude. - “Grip it and rip it.”
This saying encourages confidence and maybe a bit of aggression when taking your next shot. Sometimes the thing a golfer needs to fix an issue with their golf swing is just to think less, walk up to the golf ball and let one rip. - “Never up, never in.”
Typically used for putting, this golf phrase highlights the fact that a putt won’t have a chance to go in if it doesn’t reach the hole. This one should remind golfers to give the putt a bit of confidence rather than being timid, especially on a birdie putt or better. - “In the hole!”
This one is pretty obvious – a wish for the golf ball to find its home. You’ll hear this often if you watch PGA Tour tournaments, especially those with a large number of spectators.
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Golf Sayings For Good Luck
- “May your drives be long, and your putts be true.”
A friendly wish for your fellow golfer to play golf well. - “Tee it high and let it fly, and may good luck be on your side.”
A lighthearted saying urging golfers to tee up confidently and trust in their abilities. We appreciate the fun rhyme in this one, too. - “With a positive attitude, luck follows suit.”
Every golfer knows that the mental portion of the game of golf is crucial, and a round can quickly turn bad with a negative mindset. This saying is a good reminder to keep your mindset positive even when the round might not be going your way. - “Find the fairway, find your luck.”
Another positive reminder on the course, this phrase emphasizes the importance of finding the fairway with your tee shot. The game of golf seems much easier when you are hitting the fairway. - “Good luck is when opportunity meets preparation.”
While luck is certainly prevalent in golf, this is a good reminder that practice leads to hitting good golf shots, and good golf shots tend to give a golfer more good luck. So keep practicing!
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Funny Golf Terms
- “Dance Floor”
The dance floor is a fun term for the green. If your putts are going well, you could say you are making them dance into the hole. - “Worm Burner”
Shots that skim right along the ground barely getting in the air are sometimes referred to as worm burners. As you can imagine, a golf ball skimming along at a high speed might burn some ground dwellers like worms as it moves past. - “Cabbage”
If you’re hitting out of a thick spot in the rough, it might feel like the consistency of cabbage. Golf clubs aren’t quite as efficient at cutting through cabbage as we would sometimes like. - “Lip Out”
We’ve all had a putt that looks great toward the hole, but goes right around the rim of the cup and doesn’t fall once it reaches the hole. You might groan this one on the green if it happens to your putt. - “Barkie”
Ever hit a tree (bark) with your drive (or another shot) and still salvage a par for the hole? That’s a Barkie! - “Gimme”
A Gimme is a given when the golf ball is close enough to the hole that you don’t feel the need to actually make the putt. While everyone has different rules about where to give a gimme putt, most suggest it at about a club length from the hole for the average golfer. - “Texas wedge”
The act of using a putter from off the green instead of a lofted club. It’s called a “Texas wedge” because of the dry, firm conditions of some Texas golf courses, where putting from off the green can be a viable option. It may sound odd, but a caddy might recommend it in some situations.
One Liners
- “Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose.” – Winston Churchill
Churchill was onto something with this observation about what makes golf so difficult. - “Golf is a game of ego, but it is also a game of integrity: the most important thing is you do what is right when no one is looking.” – Tom Watson
This is a quote about the honor and integrity that the game of golf instills and upholds for many. Think of this one when you’re thinking about taking a gimme putt from 15 feet. - “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated.” – Arnold Palmer
A concise description of the game of golf’s paradoxical nature, where its rules and basic play are straightforward, but mastering the game is a lifelong pursuit for most. - “Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots – but you have to play the ball where it lies.” – Bobby Jones
More a quote about life than about golf, this one emphasizes the need to adapt to the circumstances presented and make the best of them. - “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” – Mark Twain
This famous Mark Twain quote humorously shows the love-hate relationship golfers have with the game. - “The greatest thing about tomorrow is, I will be better than I am today.” – Tiger Woods
The game of golf is a lifelong pursuit for many, and each day presents an opportunity to improve. Like many of the golf quotes listed here, this also applies to life as much as it does to golf. - “Golf is not, and has never been, a fair game.” – Jack Nicklaus
Another quote from one of the great all time golfers, this highlights the nature of golf and one of the reasons it is so difficult for most. - “The more I practice, the luckier I get.” – Gary Player
Gary Player emphasizes the importance of hard work and dedication in golf with this quote. The more you practice, the more opportunities for success you create. - “If you watch a game, it’s fun. If you play at it, it’s recreation. If you work at it, it’s golf.” – Bob Hope
This classic Bob Hope quote speaks to the fact that golf demands a level of commitment and work to be successful that many games do not. - “You don’t know what pressure is until you play for five bucks with only two bucks in your pocket.” – Lee Trevino
This funny golf quote might serve as a reminder not to bet more than you can afford, or might just show the fun of adding a bit of a wager to a golf hole.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say good luck to a golfer?
There are many ways to say good luck to a golfer. A few favorites of ours are “May your drives be long, and your putts be true,” “Tee it high and let it fly, and may good luck be on your side,” or the classic and straightforward “Hit ‘em straight!”
What is slang for golfing?
Slang terms for golfing include “hitting the links,” “teeing it up,” or simply “playing a round.”
What is a golf compliment?
A golf compliment could be any way that you are making a positive observation about someone’s golf game. Some options are “Nice golf swing!” “Great drive!” or “Nice putt!”
What is the best shot in golf called?
The best shot in golf, where a player makes their tee shot into the hole, is called an “ace” or a “hole-in-one.” Many golfers spend their whole lives chasing the elusive ace, so it is a special moment when someone achieves it!
Conclusion
Golf is a game that is full of funny, inspirational, and at times very insightful phrases and sayings. This list curated by our team at Tell Me More Golf is a guide to some of the best. Next time you start a round of golf, keep these golf sayings in mind. They might just inspire you to play your best round yet, appreciate the camaraderie with fellow golfers, and cherish the timeless tradition of golf that extends well beyond the scorecard.
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Patrick Corley
From a golf scholarship to a Southern California University, to a private golf coaching career and an instructor position at a nonprofit organization, I’m here to help you get better at golf! With my 50+ years of golf experience; I bring you Tell Me More Golf. A golf coaching website that helps your game with instructional golfing content that’s ultimately geared toward making you a better golfer and having more fun!
Our golf instructor team brings it all to you, so enjoy!
