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Showing posts from 2024

The 'Cone Game' at Fund-Raising Golf Tournaments

If you play in a golf tournament that is a fund-raiser for a charity or cause, you might run into something called the Cone Game. It's a tournament add-on that is entirely optional for golfers, but that helps the tournament organizers increase the amount of money they can raise.

Golf Joke: Go Jump In a Lake

How do you sometimes feel at the end of a poor day of play on the golf course? Sometimes you just feel like packing it all in.

What Is the 'Circle Hole' at a Golf Tournament?

Some charity golf tournaments will include a "circle hole." What is that? The gist of it is this: On the one, designated hole, golfers will have a chance to buy extra strokes to try to get their ball within a circle drawn on the green around the flagstick.

WGC Match Play Championship

The WGC Match Play Championship was a professional golf tournament played on the PGA Tour from the late 1990s into the early 2020s. It was the only match-play tournament on the PGA Tour during those years. This tournament was part of the World Golf Championships (WGC) series of limited-field events, and went by many different names over its lifespan. Those included:

How to Play the Game Named Chairman (or In the Chair)

If you are the chairman of the golf hole, and you win that hole, you also win points from each of the other three players in your group. But before you can win those points, you first have to win the right to sit "in the chair."

Yearly Scrambling Leaders on Champions Tour

The Scrambling statistic in professional golf, also known as Scrambling Percentage, tells us how good golfers are at chipping it close and sinking the following putt. And the golfers on the following list are the ones who led the Champions Tour in Scrambling at the end of each season.

How the Bingle Bangle Bungle Golf Game Works

Bingle Bangle Bungle is the name of a popular golf game within a group of golfers, best for groups of four but playable by twosomes or groups of three, as well. On each hole, three points are at stake: the bingle point, bangle point and bungle point. So let's explain what those are and how to play the game.

Yearly Top 10 Leaders on Champions Tour

Posting Top 10 finishes throughout the year on any golf tour is a sign of a golfer who is playing consistently well. And it's a great way to fill up a bank account. Below is the list of senior (50-and-over) golfers who have led the Champions Tour in Top 10 finishes each year since that tour's founding in 1980.

Cesar Sanudo: First Mexican Winner on PGA Tour

Cesar Sanudo was a professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour from the late 1960s into the 1980s. His competitive career was nondescript except for one big distinction: Sanudo was the first golfer from Mexico to win on the PGA Tour.

BellSouth Senior Classic on Champions Tour

The BellSouth Senior Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour (Senior Tour) played from the mid-1990s into the mid-2000s. It was played in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Cut in Golf and Why Tournaments Have Them

A golf tournament's "cut" is the reduction in the number of players after (typically) two rounds of play. In other words, the golfers scoring worst after two rounds are cut from the tournament, with only the better-scorers to that point continuing to the tournament's finish.

How the Canadian Foursomes Format Works

Canadian Foursomes is the name of golf competition format for 2-person teams. It boils down to this: Canadian Foursomes is a scramble off the tee, then alternate shot into the hole.

What Does It Mean When the Cutline Moves?

We often, during broadcasts of professional golf tournaments, hear the announcers talk about "the cutline moving," or say that "the cutline just moved to ..." Do you understand what that means? We'll explain it here.

The Bus Driver Side Bet Explained

In the golf game called Bus Driver, the bus driver is the one you don't want to be. In this game, the "bus driver" is the golfer who tees off last on the ninth and 18th holes, and that is also the one who has to pay the other players in the group.

Jo Ann Prentice: LPGA Tour Winner in 1960s, '70s

Jo Ann Prentice was a winner on the LPGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s. One of her victories was in a tournament that later became a major championship. She was also involved in the longest sudden-death playoff in LPGA history.

Golf Courses With Most USGA Championships

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Being selected as the site of a USGA championship tournament is a major feather in the cap for any golf course. And the USGA has its favorites, certain clubs and courses to which the organization has returned many times. That's what this article is about: those golf courses that have hosted the most USGA championships.

How to Play a Box Tournament ('Man In the Box')

In the name of a "Box Tournament," also known as "Man In the Box," the box in question is the tee box. On every hole, one member of the four-person team is required to step up and provide one of the two scores on that hole that are combined for the team's score.

George Sargent: Won U.S. Open, Innovated Golf Instruction

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George Sargent was an English golfer whose greatest successes happened in America: He won the U.S. Open in 1909, and through the 1940s was the head pro at a succession of major American clubs. He also was an innovator in golf instruction who played a big part in popularizing the use of film to analyze golf swings.

The 'Battle Golf' Game Explained

Battle Golf is the name of a game in which the golfer who wins a hole gets to make it even harder for his opponent to come back in the match. That's because when you lose a hole in Battle Golf, you also lose a club.

Looking Back: Sea Island Open on LPGA Tour

The Sea Island Open (called the Sea Island Women's Invitational its final two years) was a professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from the mid-1950s into the 1960s. Five times it was won by Mickey Wright. It was played in Georgia.

How the Designated Hitter Golf Format Works

Designated Hitter, also known as 4-Player Baseball, is a golf tournament format for four-person teams. On each hole, the scores of two of those team members are combined for the team score. And one of those scores must come from the team's "designated hitter."

Explaining the Meaning of Numbers on a Golf Ball

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Do you know what the numbers on a golf ball mean? Do you know whether they even mean anything at all? The numbers that are most commonly stamped by manufacturers onto golf balls do not really having a meaning , but they certainly do have a purpose . We'll explain that, plus what other numbers golfers might see on a ball, and what those numbers mean.

The 'American Foursomes' Format Explained

American Foursomes is the name of a golf format that you might actually know under a different name. That's because American Foursomes is just another name for the format more commonly called Chapman System .

Gloria Ehret: Bio of LPGA Major Winner

Embed from Getty Images Gloria Ehret had a 15-year-career on the LPGA Tour that started in the mid-1960s. It included a couple victories, one of which was in a major championship. She had a knack for finishing second and also for getting into playoffs.

What It Means to Duff a Golf Shot

Golfers sometimes talk about "duffing" a shot. Do you know what it means to duff it on the golf course? It is a common type of mis-hit that goes by several other terms, too.

The 'Four Horsemen' Tournament Format Explained

"Four Horsemen" is the name of a golf tournament format for teams of four golfers. Each golfer in the game gets to play normal stroke play and post a score, but handicaps are applied at the end and scores are combined for the team score.

LPGA Tournament: The Office Depot

The LPGA Tour event known as The Office Depot was played only five times, but had an impressive roster of champions. It was played in Florida from the late 1990s into the early 2000s.

How to Play Four-Ball Aggregate

Four-Ball Aggregate is the name of a golf competition format played by teams of two golfers. It can be used as a tournament format, or a group of four golfers can pair off into two teams, two vs. two, and play for money or pride.

John Schlee: Bio of Pro Golfer

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John Schlee was a PGA Tour player in the 1960s and 1970s who won only one time on tour. But he is the answer to a couple trivia questions about the tour in those years, and later in life operated instructional schools where he taught what he himself had been taught by Ben Hogan.

How to Play the Flaggies Game

"Flaggies" is the name of a golf game in which golfers earn points by making putts beyond a certain length. Which length? The length of the flagstick.

What Is a Duffer in Golf?

A "duffer" is something that every golfer has been, but that no golfer wants to be. "Duffer" is a term that refers to a player who is bad at golf.

How to Play the Duffer's Defense Golf Game

Duffer's Defense is the name of a points game for groups of three or four golfers in which one golfer on each hole is the designated "duffer." The duffer's goal is to avoid losing the hole. And on each hole, only the designated "duffer" earns or loses points.

What Was the Golf Club Called the 'Driving Putter'?

The "driving putter" (often hyphenated as "driving-putter") was a golf club, long since gone from golf, that was sometimes used by pre-20th century golfers. But did they use it for driving, or for putting? Yes!

Felix Serafin: PGA Tour Golfer in 1930s

Felix Serafin was a golf pro who made about 100 starts on the PGA Tour, mostly in the 1930s. He was born in Pennsylvania, lived his whole life there, and all of his professional tournament wins happened in that state.

Suntory Open Winners, Records (Japan Golf Tour)

The Suntory Open was one of the highest-profile tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO) over four decades, from the early 1970s into the 2000s. Its roster of champions included the best of Japanese golfers, as well as a few big PGA Tour names.

How to Play the Crenshaws Golf Game

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"Crenshaws" is the name of a golf game that rewards players who one-putt. Hole your first putt once your ball is on the green, or, depending on the version you are playing, make a 1-putt par, and you earn a Crenshaw point.

What Is a Hole-in-One on a Par-4 Called?

A hole-in-one on a par-4 is called ... a hole-in-one. Or an ace. It can be called by a couple other terms. And we'll tell you what those other terms are. But we'll also explain why no golfers actually use those other terms.

Golf's 'Drop Out Game' Explained

The Drop Out Game is a golf format, or rather formats: the name is used for a couple different games. We'll explain them all below, and also tell you the other common names by which the Drop Out Game is known.

R.H. Sikes: Golfer Won on PGA Tour in 1960s

R.H. Sikes was a golfer on the PGA Tour who played in the 1960s and 1970s. Before that, as an amateur golfer, he won two USGA national championships as well as the NCAA Championship.

European Tour's Madrid Open: Winners, Records

The Madrid Open was a professional golf tournament played in Spain over the course of 40 years, from the late 1960s into the 2000-aughts. It predated the formation of the modern European Tour, but was part of the European Tour from that circuit's launch in 1972.

How to Play Dots ('the Dot Game')

Dots is the name of a golf game in which the players earn points (called dots) for each of a series of achievements made during the round. At the end of the round, the golfer with the most dots on her scorecard is the winner.

Presidents Cup Holes-in-One

How many holes-in-one have been made by golfers in the Presidents Cup? The answer might surprise you.

Most Presidents Cup Appearances and Matches Played

There are five golfers in Presidents Cup history who top the list of golfers with the most appearances in the tournament, and also the list of golfers who played the most matches in the competition. And they even appear in the same order on both lists.

Louis Tellier: Early Tour Golfer Killed Self on Course

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Louis Tellier was a French golfer who emigrated to the United States in the mid-1910s. Although he won no big tournaments in France, the French Golf Federation calls him "one of the most important French golfers of the early 20th century." That's because Tellier was the first golfer from France to win in America on the circuit that grew into the modern PGA Tour. Tragically, Tellier took his own life at age 35, dying on the Boston-area golf course where he was the head pro.

Looking Back: Scandinavian TPC Hosted By Annika

The Scandinavian TPC Hosted by Annika was a 72-hole, professional golf tournament played in Sweden. Part of the Ladies European Tour schedule, it was played from the mid-1990s until the late 2000-aughts, with Sorenstam's name added to the event title in the latter stages.

How to Play the '24-Second Clock' Game

"24-Second Clock" is the name of a game that, several times in a round, gives a golfer who hits a poor shot the opportunity to replay that shot without penalty. The catch? They have to retrieve their original shot, place it back where it was, and play the new stroke all within 24 seconds.

The Meaning of 'In Relation to Par' in Golf

The phrases "in relation to par," "scoring in relation to par," "relative to par," and "scoring relativeto par" pop up with regularity in the golf world. If you're not sure what they mean — or why it matters — read on for an explanation.

How to Play the Disaster Golf Game

"Disaster" is the name of a golf game or side wager within a group of golfers, in which the players "earn" points for doing things golfers try to avoid (for example, 3-putting). The goal is to end the round with the fewest "Disaster points" (just like in regular stroke play, in the Disaster game the low score wins).

Wally Ulrich: Golfer Won on PGA Tour in 1950s

Wally Ulrich was a pro golfer beginning in the late 1940s, but before that, as an amateur, he won the national collegiate championship. As a pro, he played on the PGA Tour full-time during a roughly 10-year stretch, his one tour victory happening in 1954.

How to Play the 'Irons Only' Game

The basics of the golf game named Irons Only are right there in the name of the game. This game requires the golfers playing to only use their irons to play shots from anywhere other than the putting green.

Kansas City Open (Former PGA Tour Event)

The Kansas City Open was a men's professional golf tournament played on the PGA Tour from the late 1940s to the late 1950s. It was a 72-hole, stroke-play tournament. It took place in the Greater Kansas City, Missouri, area, although several times on the Kansas side of the border.

Explaining the Hollywood Golf Format

Hollywood is the name of a game in which four golfers pair off into two sides (2-vs.-2), and then change partners after every six holes. That way, each golfer partners each other golfer for six holes over an 18-hole round: one round, three partners.

William (Bill) Hyndman III: Amateur Golf Star

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William (Bill) Hyndman III was a lifelong amateur golfer from Pennsylvania who once beat Jack Nicklaus in U.S. Amateur match play, but never actually won the U.S. or British Amateur titles. He did win dozens of other important amateur tournaments, represented the United States numerous times in international team events, and once hit what Bobby Jones said was "the greatest clutch shot" he ever saw. And when he finally did win a USGA championship, Hyndman set a record as oldest USGA champion.

Biggest Wins in Foursomes Matches at Solheim Cup

The largest margin of victory in any foursomes match played in the Solheim Cup is 6-and-5. And that score has been registered five times so far.

Biggest Wins in Fourball Matches at Solheim Cup

The largest winning margin in any fourball match at the Solheim Cup is 7-and-5. That score has been recorded twice. And it means that the winning side ended the match after just 13 holes.

Biggest Wins in Singles Matches at Solheim Cup

What are the biggest margins of victory in singles matches at the Solheim Cup? The largest winning margin in a Solheim Cup singles match is 8-and-7.

What Is a 'Gritty Par' in Golf?

"Gritty par" can be either a slang expression for a specific type of golf score, or it can refer to a type of side game (side bet) played by golfers. In either case, though, it is really just a synonym of sandie/sandy.

2026 Presidents Cup

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The 2026 Presidents Cup will be the 16th time this tournament is played. Played on an every-other-year basis, it was first contested in 1994. Today, it takes place in even-numbered years. The Presidents Cup is a team, match-play tournament, between two squads:

Helen Holm: Bio of Scottish Amateur Star

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Helen Holm was one of the top British golfers of her era, winning the British Women's Amateur twice in the 1930s. But she also reached the championship match of the Scottish Women's Amateur 10 times, winning half of them. Today, a major U.K. women's amateur tournament is named in her honor.

2026 Curtis Cup: Dates, Golf Course

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The 2026 Curtis Cup Match will be the 44th time this tournament is played. The Curtis Cup is a team, match-play tournament contested by two squads of amateur women golfers, one representing the United States (USA), one representing Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I).

Largest Margins of Victory in Curtis Cup

The Curtis Cup is one of the biggest events in women's amateur golf. Here, we'll list the largest margins of victory (which also means the worst losses) in the competition's history, for Team USA/Team GB&I, and also in the individual matches.

Solheim Cup Golf Courses: Where They've Played

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Which golf courses have played host to the Solheim Cup? The list of all Solheim Cup courses appears below. This event is played every two years between two squads of women professional golfers: One team represents Europe, the other the United States.

Explaining Gotchas on the Golf Course

Gotchas (got you's) is the name of a golf game that is best played only by friends — especially the second, more, um, personally invasive version of the game. Basically, Gotchas gives each golfer in your group the right to try to disrupt your swing once or twice during the round.

Golfer Jock Hutchison: 2-Time Major Champ, Hall of Famer

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Jock Hutchison was a two-time major championship winner in the first decade of the PGA Tour's existence. Born in Scotland, he was one of the best golfers in America in the 1910s and 1920s. And he became a naturalized citizen just in time to earn the distinction of first American winner of the British Open. Hutchison finished second in the first-ever PGA Championship, then a couple decades later won the first-ever Senior PGA Championship.

Most Career Wins in LIV Golf League

The LIV Golf League was launched in 2022 with eight tournaments. In seasons since, its schedule has included 14 tournaments. So the golfers who lead the tour in career wins so far are still on low numbers — they simply haven't had a lot of tournaments to play yet.

Looking Back: Eastern Open Invitational on PGA Tour

The Eastern Open Invitational was a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s. It was played annually in Maryland, for the first nine years and last two years at Mt. Pleasant Municipal in Baltimore, and for three years in-between at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Lutherville, near Towson.

2026 Solheim Cup: Dates, Golf Course

The 2026 Solheim Cup will be the 20th time this competition is played. It features two teams of women professional golfers from the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour, one representing the United States, the other Europe. The tournament is played every two years, currently in even-numbered years.

How the Low Ball-High Ball (or High-Low) Format Works

Low Ball-High Ball (also known as High-Low) is a golf format for groups of four golfers. It can played as a tournament format, but is more common as a 2-vs.-2 team game played within a quartet.

Most Wins in the Women's British Open

What is the tournament record for victories in the Women's British Open? Three. There are two golfers who share the record for most wins in this major championship with three victories each.

Longest Matches in U.S. Amateur History

Matches at the U.S. Amateur Championship are either 18 holes or 36 holes in scheduled length, depending on the round being played. But which matches in the tournament's history have extended beyond that, into "extra holes," by the largest amount?

What It Means to 'Square the Match'

What does it mean when a golfer "squares the match," or when someone refers to a golfer "squaring the match" or says something along the lines of "if he wins this hole, he will square the match"? "Square the match" is a match-play term that refers to a tie score, or the act of tying the score in a match.

How to Play the Low Ball/Low Total Format

Low Ball/Low Total is the name of a golf format for 4-person groups that pair off into 2-person teams. On each hole, two points are at stake: one for the lowest individual score among the four golfers, and another for the lowest total score of the two teams.

Largest Winning Margins in U.S. Amateur Matches

What are the biggest blowouts in U.S. Amateur Championship history? In an 18-hole match at the U.S. Amateur, 9-and-8 is the largest margin of victory. In a 36-hole match, 14-and-13 is the largest winning margin. And in a championship match, the biggest blowout is a 12-and-11 victory — in the very first U.S. Amateur ever played.

Willie Hunter: Beat Jones, Won on PGA Tour

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Willie Hunter first became famous as an amateur golfer in his native Great Britain in the 1920s. Then he emigrated to the United States, where he became an influential club pro, serving nearly 30 years at Riviera Country Club. He defeated Bobby Jones in match play and also won a handful of PGA Tour titles in the 1920s and 1930s.

That Time a Rules Loophole Made Some PGA Tour Pros Use 25-Year-Old Wedges

A funny thing happened on the PGA Tour in 2010: A loophole in the rules was discovered — remembered, actually — and a handful of golfers began using 25-year-old wedges in order to exploit it.

Marshmallow Long Drive: What It Is, How to Win

You've probably heard of the long-drive contest as a fund-raiser at charity golf events: Golfers buy the chance to take a swing or swings and the one who hits it the farthest is the winner. But those contests use golf balls. What would you call such a contest that substituted a marshmallow for the golf ball?

Looking Back: West Virginia LPGA Classic

The West Virginia LPGA Classic was a professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour in the 1970s and 1980s. Known as the Wheeling LPGA Classic in its early years, it was played 11 times.

How to Play the Legends Golf Game

You might have heard of golf games with names like Trash, Junk, Dots or Garbage. Those are catch-all games — games that combine many different side games, sometimes dozens of them, to be played simultaneously. Legends is a similar catch-all format, but one that is smaller in size: Legends combines side games that are named after golf greats.

Bio of British Golf Champion Bernard Hunt

Embed from Getty Images Bernard Hunt was one of the leading British pro golfers from the early 1950s through the early 1970s. He won dozens of tournaments, mostly in the U.K. but also in Continental Europe and elsewhere. And Hunt had a very good singles record in the Ryder Cup, which he played eight times as part of Team Great Britain & Ireland.

The 'Lagging' Golf Game Explained

"Lagging" is the name of a golf game in which every golfer playing, no matter how much better or worse one might be than another, has a real chance at winning. Lagging is all about being closest to the pin on each green — but only after all balls are on the green.

Most Points Won in the Walker Cup

Which golfers in the history of the Walker Cup won the most points for their team? Below is the list of all Walker Cup golfers with at least nine career points earned in the competition.

Most Career Points Won By a Curtis Cup Golfer

The Curtis Cup takes place every other year between teams of amateur women golfers, one representing the United States (Team USA) and one Great Britain & Ireland (Team GB&I). In the event's history, which dates to 1932, only four golfers have earned 10 or more points over their Curtis Cup careers. But just one of those has reached 20 points.

Is There a Golf Score Called the 'Triple Eagle'?

Golfers know about the scores called "eagle" and " double eagle ," and we use these terms all the time — even if most of us never score one ourselves. But what about a "triple eagle"? Is that a real score in golf? If so, what does the term mean?

Frances Stephens Smith: Bio of English Curtis Cup Hero

In the pre-professional days of women's golf in Great Britain, Frances Stephens Smith was one of the biggest names. Most of her victories happened in the first 10 years or so after the end of World War II. But her fame as a player extended into the 1960s thanks to a remarkable record in the Curtis Cup, including twice securing her side's clinching point while playing the last match on the course.

South African Masters (and Pro Match Play Championship)

The South African Masters was a golf tournament played for nearly 90 years, from the early 1920s into the 2010s. The biggest names in South African golf history were the tournament's biggest winners. It was a match play tournament for its first few decades, known as the South African Professional Match Play Championship. It switched to stroke play in the 1960s.

What 'Local Knowledge' Means in Golf

We often hear the term "local knowledge" used in golf, whether by players discussing their games and their favorite courses, or by journalists and broadcasters. Local knowledge is something that's good to have, and it can help a player who has it gain an advantage over one who doesn't.

Lowest 72-Hole Scores in Senior British Open

The record-low final score in the Senior British Open is 263. That score has, so far, been posted by two golfers in the tournament's history. Unfortunately for one of those golfers, he lost a playoff to the other one.

Explaining the Golf Score Called the Platypus

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If you make a score in golf known as a "platypus," well, you've earned it. A platypus is one of the rarer scores in golf for recreational players.

What Is the Length of a Pace (Golf Measurement)?

In golf, "paces" (or singular, pace) are sometimes used as measurements. If you are watching a golf tournament on television, for example, you might hear a commentator say that "the hole is cut just four paces from the left edge of the green." But what, exactly is a pace? Just how long are golf paces?

Simon Hobday: Quirky Character, Senior Major Winner

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Simon Hobday was a golfer who played on the African and European tours in the 1970s and 1980s, and those years included multiple tournament victories. But his greatest fame came on the Senior PGA Tour where, in the 1990s, he won a U.S. Senior Open. He was a very popular player with peers and fans alike for his wit and offbeat character.

Out-In-Total Golf Match Explained

"Out-In-Total" is the name for a type of golf match that is really three matches in one. It is usually played by two golfers going head-to-head, but it can also be played by a group of four golfers pairing off for 2-vs.-2 team play.

What Is the Golf Score Called a Dolly Parton?

Do you know what a "Dolly Parton" is in golf? It's a specific score on a hole. But, despite Parton herself being wonderful, a Dolly Parton golf score is one you don't want to make.

The Meaning of 'Off the Deck' in Golf

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"Off the deck" is a bit of golf slang that refers to hitting a golf ball off the ground, as opposed to off a tee. Since teeing the ball is only allowed on the teeing area, most shots in golf are played "off the deck." But this golf lingo is really only used in two specific instances:

Fizzo and FISA: Golfer's Slang Explained

"Fizzo" and "FISA" are two slang terms used by some golfers that mean the same thing. And that meaning implies that a golfer needs to work or her putting.

Jimmy Hitchcock: Profile of English Golfer

Jimmy Hitchcock was an English golfer who played on the British and European circuits from the mid-1950s into the early 1970s. Never a big winner, he did claim a couple of important titles. His biggest claim to fame is playing in the Ryder Cup.

Sextuple Bogey Golf Meaning and Example Scores

Have you ever made a score of a sextuple bogey? Chances are you have at some point in your golf journey, no matter how good a player you might be now. But, make no mistake, a sextuple bogey is a terrible score in golf.

Golfers Who Won British Amateur and British Open Championships

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (the R&A) stages both The Amateur Championship and The Open Championship, also known as the British Amateur and British Open. These are the two biggest R&A titles for amateur golfers and professional golfers, respectively. How many golfers have won them both?

What Is the Golf Score Called the 'Abominable Snowman'?

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Maybe you've heard of the Abominable Snowman , the mythical beast of Mount Everest and the Himalayas. Did you know there is also an "abominable snowman" in golf? And just like the Himalayan monster, the golf version is one you very much want to avoid.

The 'Odd Fellows' Golf Game Explained

Odd Fellows is the name of a golf game that can be played between two golfers, or between all the golfers in a group of three or four. In this game, the players get to toss out three of their worst scores.

Golfers Who Won British Open in 3 Different Decades

Winning the same tournament — any tournament — in three different decades is a sign not just of a great golfer, but of a golfer who maintained that greatness over a long period of time. In the history of The Open Championship, dating to 1860, only three golfers have won the Claret Jug in three separate decades.

Jimmy Hines: 1930s Tour Winner, Golf Cart Pioneer

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Jimmy Hines was a professional golfer who won nine times on the PGA Tour, mostly in the 1930s. After his tour career ended, he had a hand, as a club pro, investor and developer, in the popularizing of electric carts, the advent of the daily-fee model for American golf courses, and the growth of golf in the California desert.

What Is the Maxwell Format for Golf Tournaments?

A "Maxwell tournament" is a format for 5-golfer teams. And the key factor for this format is pretty simple: On each hole, the worst score among those five golfers is tossed out.

Do Golfers Need a Yardage Book?

(Affiliate links are used for products mentioned in this article; commissions may be earned) A yardage book can be very helpful to golfers of all playing abilities. But do casual golfers, weekend golfers, recreational golfers need one? No. What about top-flight golfers, golfers who take their games very seriously? Those golfers probably don't need a yardage book, but they might want one, and can benefit from having one.

Wire-to-Wire Winners of the British Open

How many golfers have won The Open Championship by leading after each of the four rounds? The number of wire-to-wire winners who had the solo lead after each round during this major's 72-hole era (1892 and forward) currently stands at just seven.

Russian Stableford Golf Format Explained

Russian Stableford is the name of a golf format for 2-person teams using, obviously, Stableford scoring. But the team score on each hole is not the one best score among the two partners but, rather, one partner's score multiplied by the other.

Harold Hilton: British Open and Amateur Champ

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English golfer Harold Hilton's competitive career stretched from the 1880s into the 1920s. As the winner of two British Opens, four British Amateurs and one U.S. Amateur, he was among the top handful of pre-World War I British golfers. He remains to this day the only British golfer win both the U.S. Amateur and British Amateur titles in the same year.

Playoff Results in the U.S. Senior Open

The U.S. Senior Open, the biggest tournament in men's 50-and-over professional golf, was first played in 1980. Since that time, seven tournaments have ended with a playoff.

18-Hole Scoring Record in U.S. Senior Open

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has a reputation for creating very difficult golf course setups for its national championships. And there have been many U.S. Senior Opens where scoring was tough. But in this senior major , the USGA has sometimes made the host courses "gettable." That's evident from all the 62s and 63s that make up the list of lowest 18-hole scores in U.S. Senior Open history.

Oldest to Make Cut in U.S. Senior Open

Who is the oldest golfer in U.S. Senior Open tournament history to make the cut? We'll give you the Top 3: Jerry Barber , Jerry Barber and, yes, Jerry Barber.

What Is the 'Flat Stick' in Golf?

"Flat stick," often spelled as one word ("flatstick") is a very commonly used slang term in golf. What is the flat stick? It's the putter.

Longest Gaps Between Wins at The Open Championship

Did you know that the longest time between any golfer's first and last wins in the British Open is nearly 20 years? Let's take a look at that mark, plus The Open record for longest gap between successive wins.

How to Play the Waltz Golf Game

Waltz is the name of a golf game for groups of three or four in which the number of team members' scores used on each hole changes throughout. The Waltz format is another version of a type of best-ball game commonly known as 1-2-3 Best Ball.

Lowest Winning Scores in Women's PGA Championship

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What is the 72-hole scoring record in the Women's PGA Championship? The lowest winning score in this major championship of women's professional golf is 266, and the currect record was set in 2020.

Explaining 'Pro for Hire' or 'Buy the Pro'

At charity fund-raising golf tournaments, golfers might sometimes learn that a feature named "Pro for Hire" or "Buy the Pro" (or similar) is in effect. What does it mean? It means that your group, if it wants to, can get assistance on certain holes from a professional golfer.

Who Is the 'Champion Golfer of the Year'?

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"Champion Golfer of the Year" is a phrase that golfers might hear any time of year, but particularly in the summer months, around the time of the British Open. Do you know to whom this term applies?

Wire-to-Wire Winners of Women's PGA Championship

The Women's PGA Championship (formerly known as the LPGA Championship) dates to 1955. In the many decades since, how many golfers have won the tournament wire-to-wire ?

Back-to-Back Winners of Women's PGA Championship

How many golfers in the history of the Women's PGA Championship have won this tournament two years consecutively? Not many: So far, this major championship has only five back-to-back winners. But two of those won the tournament three years in a row.

Donna White: Bio of LPGA Winner, Instructor

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Donna White won a U.S. Women's Amateur championship, then played on the LPGA Tour from the mid-1970s into the early 1990s. She had several victories, her best years being in the early 1980s. After leaving the tour, White became a well-known instructor and launched development programs for junior golfers.

2028 U.S. Open Dates, Golf Course

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The 2028 U.S. Open golf tournament will be the 128th time the tournament is played. Staged by the United States Golf Association and dating to 1895, the U.S. Open is the second-oldest tournament among the four "major championships." It is played annually in June and rotates to golf courses around the U.S.

Golf Joke: Gotcha!

Thaddeus was an 11-handicapper, but one day he walked up to his club pro, a professional who routinely broke par, and challenged him to a match. Thad even suggested they wager $100 on the outcome — and he didn't ask for any strokes.

Best Scores for First 3 Rounds in a U.S. Open

In the history of the U.S. Open, a golfer has played the first three rounds (54 holes) in fewer than 200 strokes exactly one time. The golfer who did it, the golfer who currently holds the record for lowest score after the first three rounds of a U.S. Open, is Rory McIlroy.

Lowest Score, First Two Rounds of U.S. Open

What is the lowest cumulative score any golfer has achieved over the first two rounds of a U.S. Open? That score is 130, and two golfers share the record.

Golfer Dave Hill: PGA Tour Gadfly and Winner

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Dave Hill was a star on the PGA Tour in the late 1960s and 1970s, although known as much for his outspokenness and run-ins with fellow golfers and tour officials as for his golf. But he was a Vardon Trophy winner , finished as high as No. 2 on the season-ending money list, and played in three Ryder Cups. Hill also ranks high on the list of golfers who won the most on the PGA Tour without winning a major .

How to Play a Reverse Scramble

The "Reverse Scramble" format is sometimes played as a tournament. More often, golfers use it as a practice game to work on trouble shots.

Golf Courses That Hosted the Most U.S. Opens

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Which golf course holds the record for being the site of the most U.S. Open golf championships? That is Oakmont Country Club, where the U.S. Open has taken place nine times.

Golfers Who Won NCAA Championship, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open

Have any golfers won all three of the NCAA championship (individual trophy), U.S. Amateur Championship and U.S. Open? Yes, but so far only three golfers have pulled off this treble.

Explaining the 'Beat the Pro' Format

"Beat the Pro" is the name of a popular golf format in which, you guessed it, "regular" golfers attempt to better the performance of a professional golfer. Beat the Pro can take one of two forms, though: a Beat the Pro tournament, or a Beat the Pro contest.

Harold Henning: South African Golfer Won Around the World

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Harold Henning was a South African golfer who won around 50 tournaments all over the world, from the 1950s into the 1990s. He won national opens in Europe and Asia, and won tournaments on the PGA Tour. Then Henning enjoyed a long, successful second act as a Senior Tour mainstay.

2026 U.S. Women's Open Dates, Golf Course

The 2026 U.S. Women's Open will be the 81st time this pre-eminent major championship of women's professional golf is played. The tournament is run by the United States Golf Association and counts as an LPGA Tour event, as well.

1994 U.S. Women's Open Winner and Scores

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The 1994 U.S. Women's Open was the 49th time this major championship was played. The winner, one of the LPGA Tour's best, took advantage of another player's collapse.

1995 U.S. Women's Open Winner and Scores

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The U.S. Women's Open was played for the 50th time in 1995, and it was won for the first time by Annika Sorenstam. But Sorenstam, who had never before won on the LPGA Tour, had to come from five strokes back in the final round to get the win.

1996 U.S. Women's Open Winner and Scores

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The 1996 U.S. Women's Open was the 51st time this major championship was played. The winner was Annika Sorenstam, still early into her professional career but, with this win, a 2-time USWO champ.

1997 U.S. Women's Open Winners and Scores

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Alison Nicholas held off fan favorite Nancy Lopez to win this, the 52nd playing of the U.S. Women's Open. The 1997 tournament was Lopez's last charge at a trophy she never won.

Clayton Heafner: Golfer Won on Tour, Renowned for Temper

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Clayton Heafner was a PGA Tour player from the late 1930s into the early 1950s. A four-time winner on tour, he twice came close in U.S. Opens before settling for second. Many stories are told about his on-course temper. One of Heafner's sons also was a PGA Tour winner.

1998 U.S. Women's Open Winner and Scores

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The 1998 U.S. Women's Open was the 53rd edition of this major championship. Se Ri Pak was the winner but only after an epic showdown with a college amateur that ended with 20 playoff holes.

Golfers Who Won Both the PGA and Senior PGA Championships

The PGA of America's major championship is the PGA Championship, of course. And its major for golfers 50-and-over is the Senior PGA Championship, the oldest of all the senior majors . Have any golfers won both of those titles? Yes, but the number is still fewer than a dozen.

Largest Margins of Victory in Senior PGA Championship

Which golfer holds the record for largest winning margin in the Senior PGA Championship? One of the giants of the game: Sam Snead.

Lowest 18-Hole Scores in Senior PGA Championship

What is the best score any golfer has posted for one round in the Senior PGA Championship? The tournament's 18-hole scoring record is 62 and, so far, two golfers have achieved that record round.

72-Hole Scoring Record at Senior PGA Championship

What are the lowest total scores in the history of the Senior PGA Championship? The best 72-hole total any golfer has yet achieved in this oldest of the senior majors is 265. That's a record shared by two golfers.

Bio of Golfer Mark Hayes

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Mark Hayes was the first golfer to score lower than 65 in a British Open, and won a Players Championship title. Always associated with Oklahoma, Hayes played on the PGA Tour from the mid-1970s into the 1990s.

2028 PGA Championship Dates, Golf Course

The 2028 PGA Championship will be the 110th edition of this major championship, which is staged by the PGA of America. This is the third-oldest of the men's majors, dating to 1916.

2027 PGA Championship Dates, Golf Course

The 2027 PGA Championship will be the 109th time this golf tournament is played. Founded in 1916, the PGA Championship is run by the PGA of America. It the only one of the four major championships of men's professional golf that was once match play (it has used a stroke-play format since 1958).

22: Practice Game for Your Short Game

Does your short game need a little work? Whose doesn't? Grab nine golf balls and head to your favorite practice green to work on it with the practice game named 22 (or Twenty-Two).

Up-the-Hill Drill Fights Slice, Grooves Inside-to-Outside Swing Path

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Do you fight a slice in your golf game? Most recreational golfers do. Or, at least, they suffer from a weak fade they'd prefer to turn into a draw. A common cause of both issues is the over-the-top swing that produces an outside-to-inside swing path, leading your club to swipe across the face of the golf ball. The "Up the Hill Drill" can help correct these issues.

How to Play the Middle Twelves Golf Game

Middle Twelves (or Middle 12s) is the name of a side game for golfers to play within their quartet over a round of golf. It's actually two games, because there are two common ways to play it.

Profile of Golfer Fred Hawkins

Fred Hawkins was a solid competitor on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s whose talent never squared, his peers thought, with his number of victories: just one win on the tour. But he was on leaderboards often, came close in majors and did play in the Ryder Cup, and piled up a large number of second-place finishes. In fact, Hawkins was runner-up in Arnold Palmer's first major victory, in Ben Hogan's final win and in the first-ever win by a lefthander on the PGA Tour.

How to Play the Mix and Match (Ransom) Game

The golf game called Mix and Match is one in which four golfers, playing 2-vs.-2, change formats every six holes. Over the course of the 18-hole round, then, three different competition formats are in use.

23 Fun Facts About the Wanamaker Trophy (PGA Championship)

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Do you know the name of the PGA Championship trophy? It's right there in our headline: Wanamaker Trophy. Because of its very large size (and the fact it is awarded at a major championship), it is one of the better-known trophies in golf. And it has an amazing history, which we'll tell you about now — including how one of the biggest stars in golf history lost the trophy and kept that fact hidden from the PGA!

Golf Joke: Beware What You Ask

A wife and husband are sitting around one evening, just talking, when the wife suddenly asks, "If I died, would you re-marry?"

Golf Game: 'Random Club Challenge'

The golf game named Random Club Challenge requires golfers to play holes using only one golf club. And they don't even get to decide which club to use.

Golfer E.J. 'Dutch' Harrison Biography

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Dutch Harrison had a 19-year span of winning on the PGA Tour that stretched from 1939 to 1958. He won nearly 20 tour titles, nearly 30 pro tournaments total. But Harrison never won a major, and today is usually included high on rankings of golfers without a major championship title. He was famous in his time for his prowess in gambling matches.

LPGA Swinging Skirts Taiwan Championship

The LPGA Taiwan Championship was a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour and the first-ever LPGA tournament played in Taiwan. The term "Swinging Skirts" was part of the tournament's name for the second half of its run.

Golfers Who Won PGA Championship in First Attempt

The PGA Championship, one of the four major championships of men's professional golf, has been played since 1916. Over the tournament's history, how many golfers have won it when playing this major for the very first time? Debut victories aren't common, but they do happen. And in the PGA Championship, these are the players who won in their inaugural appearance:

Best Match Play Records in the PGA Championship

Once upon a time, the PGA Championship was a match play tournament. From the year it was first played, 1916, through the 1957 tournament, this major championship used a match-play format. Which golfers during that era of the tournament were the best match players?

The 'Foot Wedges' Golf Game (Portuguese Caddie)

There is a class of side game in golf in which golfers are given permission to relocate their golf ball a certain number of times per round. The game that goes by the name Foot Wedges is one of those games. And as you might guess, in Foot Wedges golfers are allowed to kick their ball out of trouble a few times per round.

Dan Halldorson: Profile of Canadian PGA Tour Winner

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Dan Halldorson was a professional golfer from Canada who played on the PGA Tour from the mid-1970s into the mid-1990s. Although he won only once on the PGA Tour, he was an important player in the development of Canadian golf at the time. He also led Team Canada to two victories in the World Cup.

The Two Clubs and a Putter Game Explained

There are many golf games that limit the number of clubs a golfer can use during a round. The game named Two Clubs and a Putter is one of them, but with a twist: Players are limited to using just two clubs plus their putter, but get to pick different clubs on each hole.

Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn (Champions Tour)

The Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn, sponsored in its last couple years by carmaker Kia, was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour (senior tour) in the early 2000s. It was three rounds (54 holes) in length and was staged for 12 years.

How to Play Twelves (the 12-Point Game)

There is a golf format for groups of four golfers named Twelves, and it also goes by the name 12-Point Game. And the names give away the key to this game: On each hole, 12 points are at stake to be split amongst the four golfers.

Lowest 9-Hole Scores in the PGA Championship

What is the lowest score for a front nine or a back nine during the PGA Championship? Since 9-hole scoring has been tracked in this major, only seven golfers have broken 30 for one nine during PGA Championship play. But only one of those scored a 28.

Bio of Pro Golfer Clarence Hackney

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Clarence Hackney was a Scotland-born golf pro who worked — and won tournaments — in America in the 1910s into the 1930s. He was the pro at a prominent club in the Northeast for nearly 30s years. Hackney's biggest tournament win was the Canadian Open, and he also took part in one of the foundational competitions that led to the Ryder Cup.

How to Play the Splix Sixes Golf Game

Split Sixes is the name of a game specifically for three golfers. On each hole, those golfers' scores determine how they split the six points that are at stake.

Scoring Records at the Chevron Championship

What is the lowest winning score in the history of the Chevron Championship, one of the majors of women's professional golf? How about the 18-, 36- and 54-hole tournament scoring records? Let's find out.

Most Chevron Championship Wins: All the Multiple Champs

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Which golfer holds the record for most wins in the Chevron Championship? There are actually three golfers who share this record. Each won this LPGA major championship three times.

The Shark (Sharkies) Side Game Explained

"Shark" is the name of a golf side game in which golfers are wagering they can make par on a hole even after hitting their golf ball into water. Of course, avoiding water is something golfers very much want to do. But if you do find water on a shot, Shark rewards a great recovery.

What Is 'the S Word' in Golf?

There is a word in golf that most golfers are scared of. That most consider very bad luck to use. That most of us try to avoid uttering. What is that word? The s-word. And what is "the s-word"? It's sh— shhhhhhh! don't say that word!

PGA Tour Winner Fred Haas: The Streak-Buster

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Fred Haas wasn't just the golfer who ended Byron Nelson's 11-tournament win streak in 1945. He won that tournament while still an amateur. Haas went on to a productive PGA Tour career. He won four more tournaments in the 1940s and 1950s, and also had success in senior golf before the Champions Tour existed. Haas was also the first golfer to play in both the Walker Cup and Ryder Cup.

Charlotte Open Tournament on the PGA Tour

The Charlotte Open was a professional golf tournament played in North Carolina for a few years in the 1940s. Part of the PGA Tour circuit of the time, it was born in the war years and its history includes a couple significant events.

Tiger Woods' Professional Tournament Wins

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Tiger Woods has won a lot of pro golf tournaments. Most of those wins happened on the world's biggest tour, the PGA Tour. But Woods also ranks highly in career European Tour victories, and recorded wins on several other world golf tours, too.

How to Play Golf Tic-Tac-Toe

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The children's game tic-tac-toe has been around for a very long time. And almost everyone knows how to play it: Draw a grid to create nine squares; two players alternate placing X's and O's in those squares trying to get three across, three up-and-down, or three diagonally. In the golf version of tic-tac-toe, two golfers are putting or chipping to those nine squares, trying to place balls into three boxes across, up-and-down or diagonally.

What It Means to Bone a Golf Shot

Perhaps our title should have been "what it meant " to bone a shot, because "bone" is an archaic bit of golf lingo. The term is rarely used in golf today. But it was once (and, you never know, could be again) a synonym for a bladed or thinned shot.

Sherri Turner: Long LPGA Career, One Great Year

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Sherri Turner, born October 4, 1956, in Greenville, South Carolina, played on the LPGA Tour from the early 1980s into the 2000s. Her long career produced only three victories. But Turner did have one big year in which she not only won a major championship, but some Player of the Year awards, too.

How to Play the Golf Game Named Savies

In the betting game known as Savies, the goal is saving par after you've missed the green. Do that and you'll earn points. Do it enough, and you could earn some of your opponents' money.

Golfers With Most Wins on the Japan Tour

Which golfer has the most wins over his career on the Japan Tour? You might say that golfer is a "big" name, because he is best-known by his nickname, "Jumbo." And he won nearly 100 tournaments on the Japan Tour.

Most Career Wins on the LPGA of Japan (JLPGA) Tour

The LPGA of Japan Tour (JLPGA) was founded in 1968, making it the second-oldest women's professional golf tour, behind only the LPGA Tour. The golfer who has the most career wins on the JLPGA is a Hall-of-Famer who later became commissioner of the tour.

Explaining the Meaning of Medal Play in Golf

Do you know what stroke play is? Then you also know what "medal play" is. Because stroke play and medal play mean the exact same thing — they are synonyms for determing the outcome of a golf competition based on the total number of strokes used over a round or series of rounds.

Ralph Guldahl: Bio of Golf Giant of 1930s

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Ralph Guldahl was one of the greatest golfers of the 1930s. But his peak lasted only four years. In those four years, though, he won three majors and he totaled 16 PGA Tour wins for his career. Guldahl once simultaneously held the scoring records of the U.S. Open and The Masters, and still appears on lists today of the tour's youngest winners. But he stopped playing the tour shortly after turning 30. According to popular legend (emphasis on legend), Guldahl once quit the tour in frustration and later quit the tour after the sudden collapse of his game.

Looking Back: Ube Kosan Open (Japan Pepsi Tournament)

The Ube Kosan Open, which, for many years, had Pepsi as a title sponsor, was a men's professional golf tournament in Japan. Part of the Japan Golf Tour, it was played for 40 years. Among its winners were Hall of Famers and two pairs of brothers. The tournament is most-famous for being the site of the longest sudden-death playoff in pro tour history .

The Longest Playoffs in Golf History

What is the longest playoff in the history of professional tournament golf? When golf fans talk about playoffs, we are mostly thinking of sudden-death playoffs. And the longest "sudden"-death playoff on any of the world's top golf tourns lasted a whopping 14 holes.

What It Means to Overcook a Golf Shot

Did you just "overcook" a shot? Overcooking is something golfers sometimes do on the course, and, just like in the kitchen, it's not a good thing.

The Umbriago Golf Game Explained

In the golf game known as Umbriago, a group of four golfers divides into two teams of two golfers each. Then they play stroke play, 2-vs.-2, with six points at stake on each hole.

Ralph Guldahl's Tour Wins and Record in Majors

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Ralph Guldahl was one of the best golfers of the 1930s. He won 16 times total (including a couple wins in the 1940s), and three of those victories were in major championships. On this page we'll take a closer look at those wins, plus his other close calls in majors.

Looking Back: Lawrence Batley Seniors Tournament

The Lawrence Batley Seniors was a golf tournament for 50-and-over golfers on the European Senior Tour. It was part of that tour's very first schedule when the tour launched in 1992 and was a mainstay event for 11 years.

Arnie, Jack and Tiger Before God

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are standing at the throne of heaven. God looks at them and says, "Before granting you a place at my side, I must ask you what you have learned, what you believe in."

What Is a Double Hit and Is There a Penalty?

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A "double hit" is an embarrassing thing that rarely happens at the top levels of the game, and isn't all that common for recreational golfers either. But it happens. And when a double hit does happen, what, exactly, is taking place? And is there a penalty?

The Meaning of Golf Term 'Par-In'

As golf fans we sometimes hear that a golfer needs to "par-in" or that another has already "parred-in." What do these golf expressions mean? Let's define the terms.

Hubert Green: Major Champion With Quirky Swing

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Hubert Green was one of the stars of the 1970s, with all but three of his 19 career PGA Tour wins happening during that decade. He even once won three tournaments in three weeks. Green was a two-time major championship winner, a three-time Ryder Cup player, and a World Golf Hall of Fame inductee. And he did it all with a homemade and unorthodox swing.

Hubert Green's Career Wins, Major Championship Victories

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Hubert Green was a force on the PGA Tour in the 1970s, and he kept winning into the 1980s. Then he won a few more times in senior golf.

All Double Eagles in The Players Championship

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Double eagles ( also called albatrosses ) are rarer scores than holes-in-one. In the history of The Players Championship, there have only been six double eagles so far — far fewer than the number of aces scored in the tournament .

Scoring Records for The Players Championship

What are the lowest scores recorded in The Players Championship for nine holes, 18 holes, 36 holes, 54 holes and 72 holes? All those tournament scoring records follow.

Golf Balls Stamped 'Practice': What You Need to Know

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Have you ever seen a brand-name golf ball — say, a Titleist or TaylorMade ball — that had the word "Practice" stamped on it? What does it mean when a manufacturer does that? Are "Practice" balls just as good as "regular" balls? Let's answer these and other questions.

How to Play the Zookeeper Golf Game

Are you an animal lover? The golf game called Zookeeper (also known as Zoo, Dr. Doolittle, Animals or "the animal game") might make you question just how much you love those cuddly and not-so-cuddly critters. Because in this game "winning" an animal is a bad thing.

Malcolm Gregson: British PGA Champ, Ryder Cupper

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Malcolm Gregson was an English golfer who turned pro in the early 1960s and had one glory year: From 1967 into 1968, he won four times and played in the Ryder Cup and World Cup. Gregson later went on to record multiple victories in senior golf.

Golf Definition: 'Closed Out'

Sometimes in golf we hear that one golfer "closed out" another, or closed out a match. What does that mean? Simple: "Closed out" means beat or won. But when the expression closed out is used, it is almost always accompanyied by information about how a match was won.

Epson Grand Prix of Europe Golf Tournament

The Epson Grand Prix of Europe was a golf tournament on the European Tour during parts of the 1980s and 1990s. It began as a match-play tournament but ended as a stroke-play event.

What Is a Closed Golf Tournament?

We hear about golf tournaments called Opens (e.g., U.S. Open, The Open Championship) all the time. But what about the rarer tournament that has Closed (or Close) in its name? What does the "closed" mean?

Ugo Grappasonni: Profile of Italian Golf 'Musketeer'

Ugo Grappasonni was one of the leading Italian golfers in the 1940s and 1950s, and a prominent player in the post-war European professional circuit. He won multiple national opens in those decades prior to the existence of today's European Tour, including his home Italian Open twice, plus the French, Dutch and Swiss opens.

Champions Dinner Menus: 40+ Years of What Masters Champs Served

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Every year since 1952, former Masters Tournament winners who are in attendance at Augusta National Golf Club gather for the "Champions Dinner." It takes place on the Tuesday evening of tournament week, and the defending champion decides what the menu will be.

Golf Joke: The Mermaid

Benjamin the golfer sets off on an around-the-world trip in his new boat, but he winds up veering off course and gets lost. He drifts onto a deserted island, where he is stranded, all alone.

Lowest Score for First Two Rounds in The Masters

Which golfers have posted the lowest scores for the first two rounds (36 holes) of The Masters? And who holds the record? The record-holder is Jordan Spieth. And the fact is that only a handful of golfers in Masters Tournament history have posted scores lower than 135 following the second round of play.

Explaining the 'Sidehill Lie' in Golf

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What is a "sidehill lie" in golf, and what is the best way of playing a golf shot from such a lie? Let's define the term, and then we'll let Jack Nicklaus explain what adjustments to make in order to pull off a good shot from such a position.

Biography of Golfer Willie Goggin

Willie Goggin never won on the PGA Tour. But he was a tour player for many years in the 1930s and 1940s and racked up a good number of second-place finishes. Among those was finishing runner-up in the PGA Championship when that tournament was match-play. He was the second golfer to make an ace in The Masters, and had one great year as a senior golfer long before the Champions Tour existed.

Has a Teen-Ager Ever Won on the PGA Tour?

Yes, the PGA Tour, whose history traces back to 1916, has had a handful of teen-aged champions. So far, five golfers still in their teens have recorded wins in official PGA Tour tournaments. The youngest of them was only 18.

The 'Cutoff' (or 'Cutoff Number') in Golf Tournaments

Any golf tournament, professional or otherwise, that includes a cut will also have a "cutoff number." And what is that number? It is the score a golfer must match or beat to make the cut and continue playing.

X-Out Golf Balls: What You Need to Know

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What are X-out golf balls? They are golf balls that have some kind of small defect — in some cases, just a cosmetic defect — that the manufacturer doesn't want to trash but can't sell at regular prices because of the defect(s). So the manufacturer labels them X-outs and offers them at a discount, usually a steep discount.

Looking Back: LPGA's Pacific Ladies Classic/Eugene Open

The Pacific Ladies Classic, also known as the Eugene Open, was a professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour during the 1960s. It took place in Oregon in the first or second week of September.

Larry Gilbert: Golfer Blossomed on Champions Tour

Larry Gilbert was in the forefront of a new type of professional golfer: The one who works as a club pro rather than chasing the PGA Tour, but then wins big on the senior tour after turning 50. Gilbert won a senior major along with a couple other Champions Tour titles in the 1990s. But he died about six months after winning that major.

Can You Use 'Practice' Balls in Competition? Are They Conforming?

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Sometimes golfers buy golf balls whose manufacturer has stamped the word "Practice" on them, and priced them at a discount. It's a way to save a little money. But what is the status of such "Practice" balls under the rules: Are they "legal"? Can they be used in tournament play?

The 4-Putt (Four-Putt) in Golf

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What is a 4-putt in golf? Something you want to avoid, because it is 33-percent worse than a 3-putt — but feels about 100-percent worse.

Are X-Out Golf Balls Allowed Under the Rules?

Golfers who want to save a few bucks sometimes buy a type of golf ball known as an X-out . These are balls deemed by the manufacturer to have some kind of small defect. But are X-outs considered in the Rules of Golf? Are they "legal" for tournament play? Sometimes, yes! But in high-level competitions, almost certainly not.

Golf Joke: Worst Caddie of All-Time?

Pedro was looking forward all week to his Saturday round of golf. He was heading to a fancy resort — the type of golf course he didn't normally play. And when the day arrived, he couldn't wait to get there. It also marked a first for Pedro: He'd be using a caddie for the very first time.

What's the Difference Between X-Outs and Practice Balls?

There are a couple types of discount golf balls that golfers sometimes run across, either online or in physical stores: X-outs and "practice" balls. In both cases, these are golf balls whose manufacturer has decided it can't market and sell them at regular price due to some kind of quality-control issue. But is there any difference between an X-out and a ball stamped "practice"?

Golfer Robert Gardner: U.S. Amateur Champ, Multi-Sport Star

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Robert Gardner was an American amateur golf champion whose biggest titles came in the first 15 years of the 20th century. He won two U.S. Amateur Championships. In the first of those, he set a record that stood for nearly 90 years, until it was finally broken by Tiger Woods. A multisport star, Gardner once held the world record in pole vault and won national championships in a sport similar to squash.

Youngest Golfers to Win 3 Major Championships

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Only around 50 golfers in the history of men's pro golf have won three or more major championships. (See the list of golfers with the most wins in majors .) Of those golfers that have won at least three majors, who were the youngest golfers to do it?

18-Hole Scoring Record on Korn Ferry Tour

What is the lowest round of golf ever scored on the Korn Ferry Tour? There have been multiple rounds of 59 and lower on the Korn Ferry Tour. But the all-time 18-hole scoring record for this tour is an eye-popping 57.

The Ambrose Scramble Format Explained

You've signed up to play in a charity golf tournament that is using a format called Ambrose. Do you know what you've gotten yourself into?

How to Use an On-Course Golf Ball Washer

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Many golf courses provide on-course ball washers to golfers. They can often be found atop a post near the teeing area of each hole: A plastic or metal box or other container that holds water and, often, some type of detergent. Inside the box, there are also bristles for scrubbing. If you are a newcomer to the game, you might now know how to use one. So read on.

Bio of Pro Golfer Marty Furgol

Marty Furgol was a PGA Tour golfer from the late 1940s into the mid-1960s. He won five times on the tour during that span. He was known during his career for his eccentrities and, sometimes, gamesmanship.

Definition: The 'Rota' in Golf

In golf, "rota" is a term that is simply short for "rotation." But rotation of what? "Rota" specifically refers to a regular rotation of golf courses being used for tournament play.

Most Consecutive Birdies in The Masters

What is The Masters Tournament all-time record for consecutive birdies — the longest birdie streak in tournament history? Two golfers share the record with streaks of seven birdies in a row.

Definition: Emergency Nine (or E9)

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Have you ever played an "emergency nine" at the golf course? That is a term that originated in the world of golf gambling, but has come more generally to refer to an extra nine holes, or a squeezed-in nine holes, or any 9-hole round that you play because you just couldn't stand another day without golf.

Ed Furgol: U.S. Open Champ, PGA Tour Victor

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Ed Furgol was a PGA Tour golfer from the 1940s into the 1960s, winning a half-dozen times. And one of those wins was a U.S. Open. To have his successful golf career, he had to overcome the permanent and shattering effects of a childhood accident that left one of his arms withered, crooked and shorter than the other.

Denver Open Invitational Golf Tournament (Ex-PGA Tour)

The Denver Open Invitational was a pro golf tournament on the PGA Tour that was played six times over a 16-year period from the 1940s to the 1960s. Although sporadically played, and played over three time periods, those tournaments are considered one continuous event in PGA Tour recordkeeping. The Denver Open is best-remembered as the site of Chi Chi Rodriguez's first tour victory.

U.S. Amateur Future Sites and Dates

The U.S. Amateur is the national championship of amateur golf in the United States. It rotates each year to a different golf course and its current spot on the calendar is mid-August.

Consecutive Birdies in a Round: PGA Tour Record

What is the PGA Tour's all-time record for most consecutive birdies during a round in an official tournament? Nine birdies in a row is that record. Two golfers share the record.

U.S. Women's Open Future Sites and Dates

The U.S. Women's Open is one of the five major championships in women's professional golf , and is the biggest tournament in women's pro golf. Below is a list of golf courses that are already scheduled as the future sites of this major.

Have Any Amateur Golfers Won on the PGA Tour?

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Has an amateur golfer ever won a tournament on the PGA Tour against the world's best professionals? Yes! It hasn't happened very often since 1945, but it has happened very recently.

Val Skinner: Profile of LPGA Golfer

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Val Skinner was an LPGA Tour golfer whose biggest successes happened during a three-year stretch in the 1980s and another three-year stretch in the 1990s. After her playing days ended, she had a career as a broadcaster. Skinner also, in memory of a fallen friend and through charitable efforts, raised millions of dollars to support breast cancer research organizations.

Senior Tour's NFL Golf Classic Tournament

The NFL Golf Classic was a professional golf tournament on the Champions Tour played from the early 1990s into the early 2000s. Its field included, competing along with the senior golfers, professional football players, hence the tournament name.

U.S. Senior Open Future Sites

The U.S. Senior Open is the biggest tournament in senior (ages 50 and over) professional golf. Played annually, it is staged by the United States Golf Association. But where and when are future U.S. Senior Opens scheduled?

Defining the 'Chip-In' in Golf

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The "chip-in" is type of golf shot that sometimes results purely from luck, but the odds of scoring a chip-in increase dramatically as one's short game improves. A golfer makes a "chip-in" by, natch, chipping the golf ball into the hole; by playing a chip shot that ends with the ball in the cup.

British Open Future Sites and Dates

When and where will the British Open golf tournament be played in coming years? Future dates and golf courses are listed below for this event, which is formally named The Open Championship (often shortened to The Open).

Rod Funseth: Golfer Who Won After He Was Supposed to Be Dead

Rod Funseth was a PGA Tour golfer from the early 1960s into the late 1970s, winning three times and coming close at The Masters. Then he burst onto the senior circuit in his 50s. But in his early 50s, Funseth succumbed to an asbestos-caused cancer. He still managed to win a senior tournament, though, after doctors had already predicted he'd be dead.

PGA Championship Future Sites (Courses) and Dates

When and where are future PGA Championships going to be played? Below is the list of those coming PGA Championship tournaments for which the site (golf course) has been announced and, in most instances, also the future dates.

Old Golf Lingo: 'Bolt' and 'Bolt the Hole'

Once upon a time, it was common in golf (at least in the U.K.) to hear golfers talking about needing to "bolt" a stroke, or to brag about "bolting the hole." The old golf lingo is mostly gone from the game, but let's find out what it meant. Maybe you'd like to bring it back to your group of golf buddies.

The Bird's-Nest Lie Explained

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Golfers have lots of different terms to describe lots of different ways the golf ball sits on the ground (the ball's "lie"). One of those terms is "bird's-nest lie." Do you know what it means?

U.S. Open Future Sites (Golf Courses) and Dates

When and where will future U.S. Open golf tournaments be played? The "when" is known for future U.S. Opens a few years in advance; there "where" is known for U.S. Open several decades into the future.

Profile of Golfer Emmet French

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Emmet French was an American professional golfer who played during the early years of the PGA Tour, from the 1910s into the 1930s. He lost to Gene Sarazen in the finals of a PGA Championship, but won several tour tournaments. French also was the captain of an American team in one of the events that inspired the Ryder Cup.

Golf Joke: Small World

Manny and Darvin were two singles who showed up at the golf course on a slow day and were paired together in a twosome. It was the favorite golf course for both, and they were enjoying the round. There was only one problem:

LPGA Tour's ADT Championship Tournament

The ADT Championship was a high-dollar, season-ending "tour championship" golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from the mid-1990s into the late 2000-aughts. For its final three years, it boasted the first "playoff format" in professional golf and the highest first-place prize money in women's golf history to that point.