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Glossary of Golfing Terms - D

This page of our glossary of golfing terms is for golfing terms which begin with the letter 'D'.

• Dead - A ball is dead when it is so close to the hole that it seems impossible to miss the putt.
• Dimples - The indentations on a golf ball which help to make it fly well, and improve its grip on the clubface.
• Direction posts - Posts set up to guide the player for blind shots, most often used in the case of tee shots.
• Divot - A piece of turf removed by the clubhead in the playing of a shot.
• Dog-leg - A hole where the fairway bends sharply left or right at driving distance. There is often a hazard, such as a bunker, bushes or rough at the angle of the dog-leg to discourage players from attempting to drive across it.
• Dormy - A player in matchplay is dormy when he has moved as many holes up as there remain to be played. He cannot be beaten unless the match goes to extra holes.
• Double bogey - A score of two over par for a hole.
• Double dog-leg - A hole, usually a par five, where the fairway bends sharply twice.
• Double eagle - A score of three under par on a par five hole. This is the American version of an albatross.
• Downhill lie - When the player has to strike his ball from a downslope.
• Downswing - The part of the golf swing from the top of the backswing to striking the ball.
• Draw - A gentle movement of the ball from right to left in the case of a righthanded player.
• Drive - A full shot played from the tee, usually but not necessarily with a driver.
• Driver - A wooden club with little loft used for getting maximum distance.
• Drive the green - To reach the green from a tee shot, usually at a short par four. The expression can be used for a par three of maximum length.
• Driving mashie - A club of similar loft to a No. one iron formerly used for accurracy from the tee.
• Driving range - Places where golfers may go to hit practice shots with all clubs, usually under cover and in bays.
• Drop - A player drops a ball when he has hit out-of-bounds or lost his original ball. He may also drop his ball back into play when given relief by the rules or under penalty if he thinks the ball unplayable. The player, standing erect, must hold the ball at arm's length and shoulder height and drop it making sure that it does not land any nearer the hole.
• Duck hook - A hook which bends sharply and flies low.
• Duff - To strike a very bad shot, usually by contacting the ground well before the ball.