QUICK REFERENCE CHART

QUICK REFERENCE CHART USE Fellow-competitor Group-of-four; three Grouping All Square Superintendent Championship Playing Golf Flagstick Hole Location Sheet Notice to Players, Local Rules Second Nine, Inward Nine First Nine, Outward Nine Hole Locations Bunker Teeing Ground Blue, Red Tee Final Match Four-Ball Hole-by-Hole Playoff Stroke Play Starting Time AVOID Playing partner, playing competitor Foursome; Threesome Pairing Even, tied Green Keeper Tournament Golfing Pin Pin Sheet Rules Sheet Back Side Front Side Pin Locations, Pin Placements Sand Trap Tee Boxes Men s, Women s Tee Finals Best Ball, Better Ball Sudden Death Playoff Medal Play Tee Time

CATEGORICAL BREAKDOWN Color Use Key: Green preferred term or usage Red term or usage to be avoided PLAYER/PERSONNEL caddie Not caddy. Caddieing, caddiemaster, caddies day. The movie, however, is Caddyshack. competitor Any player in a stroke-play competition. Player is also acceptable. fellow-competitor Rules of Golf term used during stroke play competitions to refer to any person with whom a competitor in a group of two, three or four plays. In match play, use opponent. Please do not use playing partner or playing competitor. foursome Do not use to refer to a group of four playing together. Please use group of four. green committee Not greens committee. grouping Use to refer to the two, three or four players playing together in a stroke play competition. Avoid pairing. opponent In match play, each member of the opposing side is an opponent. pairing Please avoid using this term. Grouping is the preferred term for two, three or four players playing together in a stroke play competition. partner Rules of Golf term used correctly only in four-ball, foursome (and obscurely in best-ball and threesome) play. A partner is a player associated with another player on the same side (see also side ). Teammates, such as in collegiate events and the Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, Ryder Cup, etc., are not partners unless they are playing in a four-ball or foursome match. Please do not use partner or playing partner to refer to the relationship between players in a grouping at the U.S. Open, U.S. Women s Open, etc. playing partner Do not use. A person playing in the same pairing of a stroke-play competition is a fellow competitor. side Rules of Golf term used to refer to two or more players who are partners in four-ball and foursome play (and obscurely also in best-ball and threesome play). In individual stroke play and single match play, the individual player is also correctly referred to as a side. superintendent The preferred term when discussing the person in charge of conditions at a club or course. Avoid greenkeeper in favor of superintendent. threesome Avoid when referring to three players playing together in a stroke play competition. Proper reference for this is a group of three. The Rules of Golf define Threesome as a form of match play in which one plays against two and each side plays one ball. SCORING all square Rules of Golf term used to refer to the status of a match in progress when neither player is leading. Please avoid using even or tied. even Please avoid when referring to the status of a match in progress when neither player is leading. Please use all square. dormie Rules of Golf term used in match play only to refer to the status of a match when a player is as many holes up as there are holes to play. In an 18-hole match, a player is 3 up and dormie, when he/she is 3 up after 15 holes. Used both when the match can end in a tie after 18 holes (as in the Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, Ryder Cup and Solheim) or when the match will be extended if all square after 18 hole in order to determine a winner (as in the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women s Amateur, etc.). greenkeeper Not greenskeeper. Superintendent is preferred when discussing the person in charge of conditions at a club or course. half, halve Rules of Golf term used in match play when each side holes out in the same number of strokes and therefore the players tie the hole. A player earns a half, but the players halve the hole. holed Rules of Golf term used when a player s ball is at rest within the circumference of the hole and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole.

CHAMPIONSHIP/USGA Association Proper second reference to USGA. championship Uppercase when part of an event s official name, such as the U.S. Open Championship; lowercase elsewhere. All USGA championships are registered trademarks and should be labeled as such on first reference in legal usage (U.S. Open Championship ). Avoid using tournament when referring to USGA competitions. golf Please do not use as a verb. Golf Association Uppercase when part of an official name, such as Southern California Golf Association. May be abbreviated to G.A. on second and subsequent references. golfing Avoid using as a verb. Playing golf is preferred. Grand Slam When referring to the winning of or collection of the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship. Also refers to Bobby Jones s winning the Grand Slam of 1930, the U.S. and British Amateurs and Opens. green fee Not greens fee. Ladies Professional Golf Association LPGA is preferred in all references. LPGA Tour Okay for first reference for Ladies Professional Golf Association. National Open or National Open Championship Use only in reference to the U.S. Open. Trademarked terms for the U.S. Open. Rarely used. Open Capitalize and use alone only after first reference has been made to a specific event, such as U.S. Open, British Open. Do not capitalize when referring to open golf tournaments in general. PGA of America, The Takes a capital T when using organization name: The PGA of America PGA Tour Qualifying School - or qualifying school by itself. Q-school is an acceptable second reference. PGA Tour Okay on first reference, but use the tour on other references. Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Only to be used when referring to PGA of America. R&A, The Takes a capital T when using organization name: The R&A The Royal and Ancient of St. Andrews, Scotland The R&A is acceptable on second and subsequent references. Senior PGA Tour Now called the Champions Tour tournament Do not use tournament when referring to USGA competitions. Please use the term championship. United States Golf Association or USGA - Either acceptable on first reference. USGA always ALL CAPS, no spaces. Never use U.S. Golf Association. EQUIPMENT ball-marker Small coin or other similar object used to mark the position of a golf ball. A golf tee is also an acceptable object to use anywhere when marking a ball but most frequently will be used in places other than the putting green. cart As in golf cart, not golf car. British might refer to it as a buggy. flagstick Rules of Golf term. Avoid the use of pin. hole location sheet Preferred term for the document provided to players detailing the location of the hole on each putting green (hole locations are measured in yards from the forward most edge of the putting green and yards from the hole to the nearest side of the putting green in a perpendicular direction) and the overall depth of the putting green in yards. Avoid using pin sheet or pin location sheet. leader board Different from a scoreboard. Notice to Players A document containing championship specific information relating to the format of play, conditions of competition and local rules in effect. pin Never use. Please use flagstick. pin sheet Never use. Please use hole location sheet. rules sheet Avoid. Please use notice to players or local rules. COURSE/FACILITIES back side Avoid. The final nine holes of an 18-hole round. Back nine or inward nine are preferred.

back nine Avoid, use second or inward inward nine. The final nine holes an 18-hole round. Avoid back side. ball mark The mark made by the impact of a ball on the putting green. The impact mark of a ball elsewhere on the course should be referred to as a pitch-mark. bunker Rules of Golf term referring to a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground, often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like. Avoid the use of sand trap except when in quoted material. casual water Rules of Golf term referring to any temporary accumulation of water on the course that is not in a water hazard and is visible before or after the player takes his stance. companion course Correct term for the second stroke-play course for the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid- Amateur championships, with all match-play rounds contested on the host course. driving range Practice range is preferred. environmentally sensitive area Rules of Golf term. An environmentally-sensitive area (ESA) is an area so declared by an appropriate authority, entry into and/or play from which is prohibited for environmental reasons. Do not hyphenate. May also be referred to as an ESA. first nine -- The opening nine holes of an 18-hole round front nine Avoid, use outward nine. The first nine holes of an 18-hole round. Avoid use of front side. front side Avoid. The first nine holes of an 18-hole round. First nine or outward nine are preferred. golf shop Golf House Preferred rather than pro shop. The term applies to the USGA campus in its totality. It should not be used to refer to the Museum building. grass bunker Do not use. By definition, a bunker is a prepared area of ground from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like. When turf or soil has been not been removed and not been replaced with sand or the like, the Rules of Golf define such an area as through the green. ground under repair The Rules of Golf define ground under repair as, any part of the course so marked by order of the Committee or so declared by its authorized representative. Use GUR only in quoted material. hazard Rules of Golf term used to refer to both bunkers and water hazards. hole locations Do not use hole placements, pin placements or pin locations. inward nine The final nine holes of an 18-hole round. Avoid back nine or back side when possible. ladies tees A phrase to avoid. Forward tees or <insert color> tees, (i.e., red tees, green tees) is preferred. links Use only in connection with a true links golf course. lateral water hazard Rules of Golf term used for those water hazards marked with red stakes and/or lines. Players have four penalty relief options from lateral water hazards. pin position Never use. Please use hole location. pitch-mark Rules of Golf term used to refer to the mark made by the impact of a ball in the fairway or rough. A ball can be embedded in its own pitch-mark. The impact mark of a ball on the putting green is referred to as a ball mark. sand bunker Less desirable but acceptable alternative for bunker. Avoid sand trap. Bunker is the spike mark preferred term. An irregularity of surface on putting greens caused by foot traffic, especially when golfers drag or twist their feet. Spike marks may not be repaired if doing so changes for the better the position or lie of a player s ball, the area of his intended stance or swing, his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole so that the player gains a potential advantage. In practicing good etiquette, spike marks should be repaired upon completion of the hole (in the same manner that bunkers are raked once played from). tee boxes Avoid. Use teeing ground instead. teeing ground Rules of Golf term. The preferred term for starting place for the hole to be played. It is a rectangular area two club-lengths in depth, the front and the sides of which are defined by the outside limits of two tee-markers. Avoid using tee box. tee markers tees Objects used to define the teeing ground. Informally used to refer to sets of teeing grounds. Referring to by colors (such as blue tees or white tees) or by position (forward, middle, back tees) is preferred. Terms such as men s tee or women s tee are to be avoided.

through the green Rules of Golf term used to refer to the whole area of the course EXCEPT the teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played, and all hazards on the course. Through the green includes both fairway and rough. trap Avoid when referring to a bunker. Never use unless in quoted material. water hazard Rules of Golf term used in two ways. 1) to refer to all water hazards, both yellow (or regular water hazards) and red (or lateral water hazards). 2) to refer just to yellow (or regular water hazards). Players have two penalty relief options from yellow / regular water hazards. (See also lateral water hazard.) RULES club-length Rules of Golf term used for measuring in relief scenarios and determining the depth of the teeing ground. When required to measure a club-length or club-lengths, a player may choose any of the clubs he has selected for the round but is then required to continue to use the selected club for all remaining measuring in a given situation Conforming Ball List the USGA periodically issues a List of Conforming Golf Balls that lists balls that have been tested and found to conform with the Rules of Golf. All USGA championships use the following condition of play: The ball the player plays must be named on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the USGA. (Not to be confused with the one-ball condition.) dormie final four-ball foursomes Rules of Golf term used in match play only to refer to the status of a match when a player is as many holes up as there are holes to play. In an 18-hole match, a player is 3 up and dormie, when he/she is 3 up after 15 holes. Used both when the match can end in a tie after 18 holes (as in the Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, Ryder Cup and Solheim) or when the match will be extended if all square after 18 hole in order to determine a winner (as in the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women s Amateur, etc.). The last two players reach the final match in a match play competition, not the finals (or finals match). Rules of Golf term used to refer to the format where two play against two and the best score from either player counts. Often incorrectly referred to as better-ball or best ball in the United States. Rules of Golf term used to refer to a match in which two players play as partners against two other players (partners), and each side plays one ball. The partners play alternately from the teeing grounds and alternately during the play of each hole. Often incorrectly referred to as alternate shot in the United States. Do not use to refer to a group of four people playing together. hole-by-hole playoff Preferred term. Please avoid using sudden-death playoff. honor Rules of Golf term used to refer to the player who is to play first from the teeing ground. Such a player is said to have the honor. Do not use honor during the remainder of the play of a hole to refer to the player whose turn it is to play next. Such a player should be referred to either as away or out. in bounds As opposed to out-of-bounds. local rules Information contained in the Notice to Players at all USGA championships relating to golf course specific local abnormal conditions. medal play Stroke play is the term used by the Rules of Golf and is preferred. one-ball rule More correctly, the one-ball condition. An optional condition of competition used in all USGA championships to prohibit players from changing brands and models of golf balls during the round. The condition is formally titled: Limitation on Balls Used During Round: (Note to Rule 5-1). (Not to be confused with the List of Conforming Balls condition. ) out of bounds Rules of Golf term used when a ball has come to rest beyond the boundaries of the course or in the case of an internal out of bounds beyond any part of the course so marked by the Committee. No hyphen unless it is out-of-bounds shot as an adjective. OB is also acceptable. playoff: When making reference to a playoff in a stroke play event, never use sudden-death. It is either an 18-hole playoff (U.S. Open), a three-hole aggregate playoff (U.S. Women s and U.S. Senior Opens) or a hole-by-hole playoff (most PGA Tour events). quarterfinals One word, no hyphen. Players involved in quarterfinal matches are quarterfinalists.

round of four Refers to the semifinal round of a match play championship. rub of the green Rules of Golf term. A rub of the green occurs when a ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by an outside agency. A common incorrect usage of this term is to equate it with bad luck or a bad break. rules Lowercase R is acceptable when used as a synonym for the word regulations. When referring to a specific item in the Rules of Golf, capitalize: Because he wasn t aware of Rule 6-6, he was disqualified. Also capitalize when referring to the Rules of Golf, see next entry. Rules, the An abbreviated way to refer to the Rules of Golf Rules book An informal way to refer to the Rules of Golf or the Rules of Golf booklet. Rules of Golf Refers to the official name of the publication. Use in quotations when referring to the book. starting time The time established by the Committee when each player is required to be at the starting point for their round (usually but not always the first tee) and must be ready to play. stroke play (n.); stroke-play (adj.) Rules of Golf term used to refer to the form of play in which competitors must hole out on each hole of a round or multiple rounds and, and for each round, each player returns a score card on which there is a gross score for each hole. In stroke play, each competitor is playing against every other competitor in the competition. Avoid the term medal play. sudden death (n.); sudden-death playoff Avoid. Please use hole-by-hole playoff. tee time Avoid. Starting time is preferred