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Glossary of Golfing Terms - G

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

• Gamesmanship - A word coined by Stephen Potter to mean the art of winnning games - not only golf - by talk or conduct aimed at putting, off the opponent.
• Gate money - The first time money was charged to watch golf was in 1892 for a match between two well-known British professionals. More than 30 years passed before spectators at the Open Championship paid to watch.
• Gimme - A putt short enough to be conceded.
• Give - To give a putt is the same as to concede one.
• Go down the shaft - To grip lower to improve control of the club, or someetimes to reduce the distance obtained from a particular club.
• Golf widow - A wife whose husband is very often away from home playing golf.
• Good bounce - A bounce of the ball which favours the player, perhaps taking it nearer the hole than expected. Also used of a drive that lands on a down slope or hard area, causing the balI to run further.
• Gooseneck - A twist or curve in the neck of a putter.
• Grain - Grass on a green where the blades are not vertical but lie horizonntal in some direction. This is sometimes natural but usualIy caused by cutting. A putt with the grain travels further than one against it.
• Grand slam - A term used in 1930 of Bobby Jones's success in winning the Open and Amateur Championships of both the USA and Britain in the same year. Today's equivalent would be the winning of the four majors in one year. In 1953, Hogan made the nearest approach, winning the Masters, the US and the British Opens, but he did not compete in the US PGA.
• Great Triumvirate - A phrase used to describe Harry Vardon, J H Tay,lor and James Braid, three great players during the 20 years immediately preceding World War I.
• Green fee - A playing charge paid by visitors to a golf club.
• Greensome - A variation of foursomes play where both players in a team of two hit from the tee and then select the best shot. Alternate shot play then continues.
• Grip - The way a golf club is held by a player. It is also the part of the club which is held.
• Groove - Used of a swing which seems to repeat identicalIy.
• Gross score - A player's score before his handicap is deducted.
• Ground the club - To place the sole of the club behind the balI prior to swinging. The club may not be grounded in a water hazard or bunker.
• Ground under repair - Any part of the course so marked as unfit for play. Also material piled for eventual removal.
• Guide post - A post erected to indicate the line a blind shot should be played.
• Gutta percha - A substance like rubber from the latex of Malaysian trees, used from 1848 for making golf balIs.
• Guttie - A balI made from gutta percha which lost popularity quite rapidly with the introduction of the wound ball early this century.