If you have ever stood on the range at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram or watched a Sunday charge at TPC Scottsdale, you have heard phrases that sound like a secret code. The good news is that this code is simple once someone translates it. That is my job. Use this cheat sheet to understand what commentators, playing partners and marshals really mean. If you want a deeper dive, bookmark this handy guide to golf slang.

Scoring words you will hear every round

Par The expected number of strokes on a hole or for the full course. If you match par, you did exactly what the course designer planned.

Birdie One under par on a single hole. If you make a three on a par four, that is a birdie. On TV you will hear “he needs a birdie to tie.”

Eagle Two under par on a single hole. Often a three on a par five. If someone holes a wedge from the fairway, the booth will shout “eagle.”

Albatross Also called a double eagle, it is three under par on one hole. Rare and very exciting.

Bogey One over par on a hole. Every golfer makes them. Smile, move on.

Double Two over par on a hole. The scoreboard will show “+2” for that hole.

Snowman An eight on any hole. The number looks like a snowman, so golfers use this playful name to soften the sting.

Ace A hole in one. If you hear a roar on a par three, it might be an ace.

Shouts and simple etiquette

Fore The universal warning cry when a ball might hit someone. If you hear it, cover your head and look down. If you hit a wild shot, shout it loudly. Safety first.

Gimme vs concession A “gimme” is a casual group practice where a very short putt is picked up without being holed. It is not part of the official Rules in stroke play. In match play, a player can concede a stroke, a hole or even the match. Once conceded, it is final and the other player does not need to putt.

Provisional A second ball you play when you think your first ball may be lost or out of bounds. Announce it as a provisional before you hit to save time.

Mulligan An informal do over that friends allow on the first tee. Fun in friendlies, not allowed in formal competition.

Shot shapes and mishits in plain English

Fade and draw A fade curves gently to the right for a right handed player. A draw curves gently to the left. Players shape shots to fit fairways and pins.

Slice and hook A slice is a big curve to the right for a right hander. A hook is a big curve to the left. These are often mistakes.

Shank or hosel rocket A dreaded strike out of the hosel that shoots the ball sideways. Every golfer fears it. It happens. Breathe.

Worm burner A very low shot that skims the grass. It can go far if hit well on a windy day, but most worm burners are mishits.

Stinger A low, piercing tee shot that keeps its line. Think of it as the superhero of windy day golf.

Around the green without the jargon

Up and down Get the ball up onto the green and down into the hole in two shots from off the green. Chip and a putt. Pitch and a putt. It is a key short game skill.

Sand save An up and down that starts from a bunker. One shot out, one putt in.

Fried egg When the ball plugs into soft bunker sand so only the top shows. It looks like a sunny side up egg and it makes the escape tougher.

Texas wedge Using a putter from off the green. Works on firm fairways where a chip might bounce.

Bump and run A low chip that lands short and rolls like a putt.

Flop A very high, soft shot that lands gently. Handy over a bunker to a tight pin, but risky.

Formats you will play and watch

Scramble A friendly team format used in charity days. Everyone tees off, the team picks the best ball, then all play from there. Repeat until holed. Great for mixed skill groups and fast play.

Texas Scramble A common scramble tweak where the team must use a minimum number of tee shots from each player. Smart captains plan this on the tee.

Shamble or bramble A hybrid. Everyone tees off and the team picks the best drive, then each golfer plays his or her own ball to the hole. One or more low scores count for the team.

Skins A betting game where each hole has a value. Win the hole outright and you win the skin. Ties carry over.

Shotgun start Used in big fields and charity events. Groups start on different holes at the same time so everyone finishes together.

Match play terms Match play is head to head where holes are won, lost or halved. You may still hear the old word dormie on broadcasts when a player leads by the same number of holes that remain. It is a handy idea even if modern rule books moved away from the term. You will also hear “one up,” “two down,” or “all square.”

Course lingo that pops up often

The tips The back tees. They make the course play its longest.

Links A firm, windy seaside style. Think pot bunkers, running shots and creative trajectories. Parkland is the lusher inland cousin with tree lined fairways and softer greens.

Pin high Your ball finished level with the flag but left or right. Distance was perfect.

Dogleg A hole that bends left or right like a dog’s hind leg.

Lip out A putt that catches the edge of the cup and spins away. Painful for all skill levels.

The turn After nine holes you reach the clubhouse or halfway hut. Grab a snack and reset.

Quick examples you can steal

On a breezy day in Bengaluru at KGA, your partner hits a low draw off the tenth tee. “Nice stinger,” you say. Her approach misses short right. “No stress, simple up and down from there.” She splashes out of a bunker and holes a short putt. “Great sand save.”

At a charity event in Mumbai, your team is in a scramble. You have used only one of Anil’s drives. On the fifteenth tee you say, “Let us use Anil here to meet our Texas Scramble requirement.” The group starts on different holes at the same time. “I love this shotgun start. We all finish together.”

Watching a broadcast from Scottsdale, the commentator says, “He needs a birdie to tie. The ball caught a fried egg in the bunker. Can he get up and down?” Now you know exactly what they mean.

Final swing thought

Golf has a rich language that sounds complex until someone translates it into everyday words. Keep this page handy, share it with your weekend foursome and listen with fresh ears the next time you tune into a major. That secret code will turn into clear, simple cues you can use to play better and enjoy the game more.