In golf, "butter" describes the sensation of a perfectly struck iron shot that feels incredibly soft, smooth, and compressed, as if the club is gliding through butter, resulting in great control and feel, often with forged irons. It can also refer to a "butter cut," a controlled fade shot, or training aids like the "Butter Putter" or "ButterBlade" designed to promote smooth strokes and better contact, notes The Club Washer, Reddit users and MyGolfSpy.
A butter cut is essentially a smooth, controlled fade that golfers—especially the pros—use to keep their shots on track. This post will break down everything you need to know about executing a buttery cut, so you can impress your buddies and maybe even shave a stroke or two off your game.
The rarest shot in golf is the Condor, scoring four under par (e.g., a hole-in-one on a par-5 or a 2 on a par-6), with only a handful ever recorded, making it more mythical than the extremely rare Albatross (three under par, like a 2 on a par-5) which is often called the rarest by many. While an Albatross (or double eagle) is incredibly difficult (odds ~6 million to 1), the Condor is the ultimate golfing unicorn, typically requiring a hole-in-one on a very long hole.
A bad shot in golf is called a “mishit,” where the ball is improperly struck, resulting in poor trajectory or distance. Other terms include “duff” for a poor contact, “shank” for a severe mishit, and “whiff” for a complete miss of the ball.
Scores between 69-70 points are considered good for professionals playing 18 holes. They've a high level of skill and consistency, often making under 40 strokes on a 9-hole course. The PGA Tour is the premier professional golf tour, and the average score for players on this tour is around 71-72 for 18 holes.
Yelling “fore” has a very practical purpose: it's a universal signal to warn others that a golf ball is on its way, helping to protect players, caddies, and spectators alike. This quick call alerts everyone in range to watch out and possibly take cover.
Most people will be surprised to hear that a green side bunker shot is the easiest shot in golf. Why? Because you don't have to actually hit the golf ball. All you have to do is miss the ball and finish your swing.
Supposedly, this is the name assigned to completing a hole having struck the ball five fewer times than par. In other words, this is what happens when you hole-out a Par 7 with two strokes or shoot a Hole-In-One on a Par Six. Frankly, this is a case of folklore. I don't mean that making an ostrich is folklore.
The 90-degree rule in golf is a common golf cart regulation requiring players to stay on cart paths until they are even with their ball, then turn 90 degrees (a right angle) to drive straight to it, and return to the path the same way, minimizing fairway damage and preserving turf, especially after rain or during heavy play. It's a compromise between "cart path only" and free-range, helping keep courses in better condition by reducing tire tracks and soil compaction.
Cabbage is a slang term for very thick, deep, almost inescapable rough that golfers occasionally land their golf ball in.
Golf slang for a severely curved shot that hooks or slices dramatically, resembling the curved shape of a banana and typically resulting in significant distance loss and accuracy problems. Banana balls usually stem from extreme swing faults, improper grip, or poor club face control that creates excessive sidespin.
The "70/30 rule" in golf refers to two main concepts: a course management strategy where you only take on a shot if you're confident of success 70% of the time or more (avoiding risky plays) and a practice allocation where 70% of your time is spent on the short game (chipping, putting) and 30% on the long game (driving, irons) to improve scoring. Another tactical application involves going for a par 5 in two if there's a 70-yard wide safe area to land within 30 yards of the green.
Historically putters were known as "putting cleeks" and were made entirely from woods such as beech, ash and hazel. In the 1900s putters heads evolved, with iron club heads becoming a more popular design.
A skirt permits one male player from the team to hit from the Ladies tees, or one female player to hit from the 200 yard marker. Skirts cost $5, and there is a limit of one skirt per player. Teams are allowed to buy 2 mulligans per player. A mulligan is a shot not counted against the score.
[PLAT · I · PUHS] noun. When a player hits their golf ball out of bounds and still manages to make par. As Platypuses are a rare species, the name has been given to this rare event.
The rarest shot in golf is the Condor, scoring four under par (e.g., a hole-in-one on a par-5 or a 2 on a par-6), with only a handful ever recorded, making it more mythical than the extremely rare Albatross (three under par, like a 2 on a par-5) which is often called the rarest by many. While an Albatross (or double eagle) is incredibly difficult (odds ~6 million to 1), the Condor is the ultimate golfing unicorn, typically requiring a hole-in-one on a very long hole.
The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in golf suggests 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts, meaning you should focus practice on high-impact areas like wedges, short game, and putting, rather than low-yield areas. It also applies to shot execution, like a "20/80" chip (20% air, 80% roll), and strategy, emphasizing that consistency in your pre-shot routine yields most of your success, helping you achieve a natural, repeatable swing.
Gene Sarazen's "Shot Heard 'Round the World" during the 1935 Masters Tournament remains one of the most iconic moments in golf history. This legendary shot occurred on the par-5 15th hole, known as "Firethorn," where Sarazen holed a 235-yard 4-wood for a double eagle—one of the rarest feats in golf.
Yes, several golfers have shot a 59 on a par-72 course in PGA Tour history, notably Al Geiberger (the first in 1977), Chip Beck (1991), David Duval (1999), and Adam Hadwin (2017), all achieving this remarkable feat on par-72 layouts, often requiring 13-under-par scores.
Essentially, fore is a warning to everyone on the golf course that a ball has been hit and is coming their way instead of the intended area. Another way to define the golf term fore is by some synonyms such as “watch out” or “heads up”.
Duffer: A slang term for a bad golfer. Wormburner: When you hit the top of the ball and it just runs along the ground.
A year later, American spectator Andrew Widmar shouted it after another Woods tee shot at the Chevron World Challenge. The fan said he shouted it so his mother could spot him in the crowd on television. Since then, its popularity and use has significantly increased.