Wit & Wisdom of Golf

[Stan Nehilla]

Golf Dictionary

Bomb - A very long shot, usually a drive. John Daly hits bombs. Tiger Woods hits bombs. Most amateurs are content to hit firecrackers.

[Stan Nehilla]

Golf Dictionary

Borrow - On a breaking putt, the amount of distance aimed to the right or left of the cup. The greens at August National (where the Masters Tournament is held each year) are so severely sloped that golfers may have to borrow fifteen or twenty feet when lining up their putts. Borrow too much or too little, and you'll wind up borrowing to pay your gambling debts.

[Stan Nehilla]

Golf Dictionary

Boss of the moss - A golfer who is especially proficient on the green. On the PGA Tour, Loren Roberts is commonly called "the boss of the moss" because of his putting prowess.

[Stan Nehilla]

Golf Dictionary

Brassie - Traditional name for the 2-wood, whose sole was at one time made of brass. The 3-wood is sometimes referred to as a "spoon," the 4-wood as a "baffie," the 5-iron as a "mashie," the 7-iron as a "mashie-niblick," and the 9-iron as a "niblick." Any club wrapped around a tree is a "smashie." If a club is flung into a water hazard, it is a "splashie." If it has a slippery grip, it is a "bashie." If it is hurled at a dog, it is a "lassie." A club that was allegedly used in a hole-in-one is a "fibstick." If it was a wood, it is a "fablespoon."

[Stan Nehilla]

Golf Dictionary

Break - 1. The shifting or changing of the direction of a putt caused by the slope or slant of a green. 2. The splitting or shattering of the shaft of a putter caused by the rage or wrath of a player.

[Stan Nehilla]

Golf Dictionary

Breakfast ball - Another way of saying mulligan Derived from the fact that many players eat breakfast just before teeing off and may require two tries to hit a good tee shot on the first hole.

[Stan Nehilla]

Golf Dictionary

Broom - A term used to describe the putting stroke, since the motion involved in using a broom is similar. Many amateurs, though, are far more proficient at sweeping the garage than getting down in two.

[Stan Nehilla]

Golf Dictionary

Brother-in-law act - Alternating excellent play by partners in a two-ball match. Getting brother-in-lowed means your opponents took turns beating your brains in.

[Stan Nehilla]

Golf Dictionary

Bunker - A hazard consisting of an area of ground along a fairway or adjacent to a green from which a large amount of soil has been removed and replaced with something designed to trap golfers. If such a hazard occupies more than 2,000 square feet of ground and traps golfers permanently, it is referred to as a "condominium."

[Stan Nehilla]

Golf Dictionary

Bunt - A controlled shot struck more for accuracy than distance; usually follows a low trajectory and runs a long way after hitting the ground. Nick Faldo and Lee Trevino are two accomplished golfers who bunt the ball to avoid the wind or to make sure the ball finds the fairway. For fun, you can also use the term to describe a less-than-prolific drive hit by an opponent, for instance, "Nice bunt, ace."