Lingo 101

In every sport, industry, workplace, family and group of friends, there exists a language specific to that group. It is easy to feel like an outsider when we hear people using terms and phrases that mean absolutely nothing to us. As a meeting planner I could have a 45 minute conversation comprised primarily of acronyms, for example: “I was reviewing the BEO’s and I think schoolies will fit better in that set to make sure there is enough room for the A/V and F&B”. See what I mean? Imagine being an intern working for me! Anyway, in terms of insider lingo, golf may be the worst offender, especially to someone who is new to the scene and already feels like an outsider. I suggest that if you want to assimilate quickly and easily into this foreign land, get a jump start on learning the language.

There are certain terms that my sweetie and I use and are specific to us. However, the terms are often rather catchy and by the end of a round, the other people in our foursome have likely adopted our vernacular as their own. And the people in our foursome have likely used some terms that we pick up and use repeatedly. Not only is it helpful to know the normal course lingo, but throwing out a unique term will impress your foursome (or at least make them laugh which is good in any case). Therefore, I am happy to provide a cheat sheet of golf vernacular (sometimes common, sometimes things my sweetie uses, or we’ve picked up from other player). Here goes:

You’ve got the boxes: This means, that “you have the honor of being first to tee off”. Normally, the person who had the lowest score on the last hole is the first to tee off at the next hole. So then, you say this to the person who has “earned” the boxes.

Grip it and rip it: This is sort of a way to let the person who’s up know they need to go ahead and tee off. Perhaps you were waiting for the group ahead to get off the green, but in any event, it’s like “ok, your turn, let’s go”.

Tasty two (or 3 or 4, etc.): When someone has had a particularly good hole, and putts it in you can say that it was a tasty “whatever they shot”. So, on a par 3, someone just birdied, you say “tasty two”.

Sandy: This is when you’ve gotten your ball out of the bunker and onto the green in one, then one putt.

Up and down: This is when you get “up” onto the green, and one putt “down” into the hole. When someone does this you say: “Nice up and down!” More often than not, during a tournament you’ll hear an announcer say “he’s got to get up and down to save par”, or something along those lines.

Settle: This is what you yell at your ball to stop rolling “for the love of gawd!”.

Sit Down: This means, that the ball is in the air (some people actually get killer hang time, whatever…) and they want the ball to come down so it doesn’t overshoot the aimed for landing place. You hear this most often on really windy days when someone made the error of using a high lofted club. I personally, have yet to beg my ball to sit down. I wish she’d get “up” in the first place. Sigh.

Pull the string (or put the brakes on): This refers to backspin. Backspin is often necessary when a ball has to be hit high or especially long to hit the green, or if the green has a downhill slope. When backspin is used correctly, the ball lands on the green and either rolls backwards, or stops in its tracks.

Tend the flag: When someone has a really long putt, or is chipping from the rough around the green, another person in the group should go to the flag and ask if the person swinging can see the hole, if yes, they will give you the thumbs upward motion and say “pull it”, or if they can’t see it, you stand at the hole, and as soon as they hit the ball you pull the pin.

Nice roll: When someone hits a nice putt, but perhaps does not land in the hole, you acknowledge that it was a nice roll. You can also say: “perfect distance”, or “you had the line”. This just means the putt was good regardless of them not sinking it.

Nice out: When someone has just gotten their ball out of the bunker on the first try you say nice out, pretty much regardless of the crappy place it may have landed.

There are a million more where these came from, but this is a good start. I figure that speaking the native language in any country helps us not to feel like we don’t belong.

Parlez-vous Golf?