When a player gives his opponent 'half-one,' he gives him a handicap of a stroke at every second hole - that is to say, he must, to halve these holes, do each of them in one stroke less than his opponent to whom half-one is conceded.

Half shot

A stroke of less distance than a full shot. and played with a half swing; less than a three-quarter shot and more than a wrist or quarter shot

Halved

A hole is 'halved' when each side takes the same number of strokes. A match is halved when both sides have won the same number of holes, or have proved equal.

Hanging ball

A hanging ball is one which lies on ground sloping downward in the direction in which it is to be driven.

Hazard

A general term for bunkers, water, sand, loose earth, mole-hills, paths, roads or railways, whins, bushes, rushes, rabbit-scrapes, fences, ditches, or anything which is not the green of the course, except sand blown on to the grass by wind, or sprinkled on grass for preservation of the links, or snow or ice, or bare patches on the course. Sec Rule 15.

Head

The lowest part of a golf-club. See page 18.

Heel

First, that part of the club-head nearest the shaft (see page 18); second, to hit the ball with the heel of the club, which has the effect of driving the ball to the right hand.

Hole

First, the hole in the putting-green into which the ball is played; second, the whole space between any teeing-ground and the actual hole.

Honour

The right to play oft* first from the tee.

Hook

See Draw. Hook on a club refers to the face, when the head is placed flat on the ground, lying in to the ball, and thus having a tendency to 'pull' the strokes.

Horn

See Bone.

Hose

The socket of iron-headed clubs into which the shaft is fitted.

Iron

A club with an iron head considerably lofted, to raise the ball. See page 25.

Jerk

When a stroke is played with a 'jerk' the club-head, after striking the ball, digs into the ground. See page 95.

Lie

First, the lie of a club refers to the angle of the head to the shaft. A club is said to have a flat lie when the angle is very obtuse, and to have an upright lie when the angle is less. Second, the lie of the ball refers to its position on the links, a good lie signifying that the ball lies clear so that it can easily be struck, and a bad lie signifying that the ball lies in a hole or in heavy grass, etc., and difficult to play.

Lift

To lift a ball is to take it out of a hazard and drop or tee it in conformity with the Rules.

Like

The like is the stroke which equalises the number played by the other side. Thus, after the tee-shots have been driven, the player furthest from the hole plays the 'odds,' and, if be places his ball nearer the hole than his opponent, his opponent then plays the 'like,' and the players (or balls) are said to be 'like as they lie.'

Like as we lie

When both sides have played the same number of strokes. See Like.

Links

The ground on which golf is played. See page 2. Loft. - To drive the ball into the air in playing a stroke.

Lofter

A lofting-iron.

Long game

Driving and play through the green.

Long odds

A golfer plays the long odds when he has to play a stroke more than his opponent who is much nearer the hole.

Mashie

An iron club with a deep short blade. See page 26.

Match

First, the sides playing against each other: second, the game itself.

Match play

Golf played by counting holes lost or won on either side. See pages 6 et seq. Medal play. - Golf played by counting the total number of strokes taken to complete the game. See page 13.

Miss the globe

To fail to strike the ball, as by swinging the club over the top of it, or by hitting the ground behind. This counts a stroke.

Neck

The neck of the club is the bent part of the head where it is connected with the shaft. See page 18. Niblick. - An iron club with a small, heavy round head.

used to play the ball out of bunkers, hazards, and bad lies. See page 26. Nose. - The nose of the club is the pointed part of the head opposite the neck. See page 18.

Odds

To play the odds is to play one stroke more than one's opponent. See page 9.

One off two, one off three, etc

When your opponent has played three strokes more, your next stroke is 'one off three.' When he has played 'two more,' your next stroke is ' one off two,' and so on. See page 9.

Play-club

See Driver.

Press

To strive to hit the ball harder than usual, with the object of getting a longer stroke.

Pull

See Draw.

Putt

(The u is pronounced as in bat). To play strokes near the hole on the putting-green.

Putter

An upright club used for putting. See page 25.

Putty

A golf-ball made of composition, as opposed to the gutty or gutta-percha ball.

Quarter or wrist shot

A stroke less than a half stroke. Generally played with an iron from the wrists.

Rub of the green

Whatever happens to a ball in motion, such as its being deflected or stopped by any agency outside the match, or by the fore-caddie, is a rub of the green, and the ball must be played from where it lies. See Rule 22.

Ran

First, to run the ball along the ground instead of lofting it: second, the run of a drive is the distance the ball runs after alighting on the ground.

Scare

The part of the club where the head and shaft are spliced together. See page 18.

Sclaff

See Baff. The distinction between the two words is somewhat subtle. In baffing a ball the stroke is played with the intention of lofting it high in the air, whereas a sclafted ball is not necessarily lofted high. See also Duff.

Scratch player

One who does not receive any handicap allowance.

Screamer

A very long stroke, so called from the whistling noise made by the ball.

Screw

To put spin on a ball either by ' pulling' it or 'slicing' it.

Set of clubs

The complement of clubs carried by a player.

Shaft

The stick or handle of the club. See page 18.

Short game

Approaching and putting.

Slice

To draw the face of the club across the ball from right to left in the act of hitting it, the result being that it will travel with a curve towards the right.

Socket

The part of the head of iron clubs into which the shaft is fitted. See page 20.

Sole - The flat bottom part, of the club-head which rests on the ground. See page 18.

Spoons

Clubs having wooden heads, lofted or grassed.

so as to loft the ball. See page 20. Spring. - The degree of suppleness of the club shaft.

Square

Said of a game when it stands level, neither party being any holes ahead.

Stance

The position of the player's feet when addressing himself to the ball.

Steal

To hole a long unlikely putt by a stroke which rolls the ball up to the hole so that it just drops in.

Stroke

Any movement of the club which is intended to strike the ball. See Rule 4.

Stymie

The position of the balls near the hole when one lies directly in the line of putt of the other.

Swing

The mode in which the club is swung when in the act of hitting the ball.

Swipe

A full stroke. Tee. - The elevation, generally a small pinch of sand, on which the ball is placed for the first stroke to each hole.

Teeing-ground

The space marked out within the limits of which the ball must be teed.

Third

A handicap of one stroke allowed at every third hole.

Three-quarter stroke

A stroke of less distance than a full stroke, but more than a half stroke.

Toe

See Nose.

Top

To top the ball is to hit it above its centre.

Two more, three more, etc

To play two more is to play two strokes more than one's opponent.

Similarly with three more, etc. See page 9.

Undercut

To hit the ball, by baffing or otherwise, so that it rises high in the air, and will not, owing to the spin on the ball, roll far after alighting. See Bottom.

Upright

See Lie.

Whins

Furze or gorse.

Whipping

The twine with which the club head and shaft are bound together.

Wrist shot

See Quarter shot.