GOLF 101

Yay! You’re here, which means you want to play golf or you are at least golf curious.

Awesome.

We like to think of the below as a bit of a Golf Guide 101, covering “Golf Lingo,” “What’s in the Bag?,” “How and Where to Practice,” and “When you are Ready for the Course.” It won’t (and can’t) cover everything, but it will hopefully get you closer to walking the walk and talking the talk!

First, a little

Golf Lingo

so you can impress your friends at the next happy hour with the definition of a worm-burner.

Beach Ball
A ball that has landed smack dab in a bunker.

Birdie
You probably know this one, but humor us. A birdie is a score of one under par.

Bogie
A score of one over par.

Breakfast Ball
Another term for a mulligan. Usually taken after the first tee shot of a round.

Bunker
A depression in the ground filled with sand. It can be a real pain to get out of.

Carry
The distance a golf ball flies or needs to fly, before hitting the ground and rolling.

Fairway

The closely mowed, grassy area of a hole that runs between the tee box and the green.

Fore!
A term used to warn one of an errant shot and incoming ball. Head on a swivel people.

Fringe
The short grass area immediately surrounding the green.

Gimme
A putt short enough to be conceded.

Good, Good

A situation where two players give each other their putts.

Green or Putting Green

The area at the far end of a hole where the grass is kept the shortest. This is where golfers use the putter and is the area that contains the actual hole.

Green in Regulation

Getting the ball on the putting green with enough strokes to spare to give yourself a shot at a birdie or better.

Ham-and-Egging

When golf partners balance each other out, alternating between good and bad play.

Handicap

The number that represents a golfer’s ability based on previous rounds played. This numerical level allows players of varying ability to compete against one another.

Lay Up

To play safely short of a hazard.

Lip Out

A putt that kisses the rim of a hole but chooses not to go in.

Loop

18 holes.

Mulligan

A penalty-free chance at a second shot. We take a lot of these around here.

Par

The number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to finish a hole. Each hole has its own par.

19th Hole

The bar in the clubhouse.

Ready Golf

Players should hit their ball whenever ready, rather than strictly following the rules of golf. Typically our style of play.

Rough

The areas on a golf course that are outside of the fairways. These areas typically feature higher, thicker grass.

Scratch

A zero-handicap golfer.

Snowman

A score of 8. We get a lot of those around here.

Swing Juice

The consumption of alcoholic beverages while golfing to improve performance. A common cure for fixing errors.

Tall Grass

An additional length of rough or beyond (i.e. in unmowed/native areas).

Tee Box

The starting point of every hole on the golf course.

The Turn

The transition between the front nine and the back nine

Three Jack

A three putt. And a really good reminder to have fun and not take it all so seriously. Aka, the genesis of our name.

Up and Down

Hitting the ball onto the green and into the hole in just two strokes.

Worm-Burner

A golf shot that barely gets off the ground.

Next,

What’s in the Bag?

Of course, we have to talk about the gear needed to actually hit the ball.

There are lots of clubs out there used for different distances and kinds of shots. And if you’ve never picked up a club before, the numbers, uses, and associated distances for each club can be confusing. But at the end of the day, all clubs can be put into the following main categories – woods, irons, hybrids, wedges, and putters.

 

Woods
(or metals now)

 

These clubs are the big ones in the bag. They have large, rounded heads and the smallest loft of all the clubs. Technically, loft is the angle created between the clubface and the ground. Each club in your bag will have a different loft and the loft has a direct impact on the distance a ball travels. The lower the loft, the further the ball will go. The higher the loft, the higher the ball will go.

The wood you probably know best is the Driver. The driver has the lowest loft in your bag and you’ll use the driver to tee off on almost all holes. You only use the driver at the tee box. The other woods, 3, 5, or 7 are commonly referred to as fairway woods. They are great clubs to use when your ball is in the fairway but you are still a good distance from the hole.

 

Hybrids

 

A hybrid club is a cross between an iron and a fairway wood. Hybrids are more forgiving clubs that typically perform better and are easier to hit than long irons, which is why you’ll sometime hear people call them rescue clubs. Hybrids can quickly become a beginner’s favorite club to hit. Lots of players skip the 3 and 4-iron in the bag in favor of a hybrid.

 

Irons

 

Irons have a higher degree of loft than woods, and a traditional complete set of irons includes the 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9-iron. The lower numbered irons are typically harder to hit that the higher numbered irons.

The lower the iron, the less loft and more distance. In other words, a 6-iron has less loft and will give you more distance than the 7-iron. And the 7-iron has less loft and will give you more distance than the 8-iron. And so on . . .

The typical yardage distance between irons is 10-15 yards. Knowing which iron to use and when comes with learning how far you hit each club. Figuring out distances for each club is something you’ll learn as you start to practice.

 

Wedges

 

Wedges have a higher loft than woods and irons and are great for short shots and chipping around the green (the putting surface). A full set of clubs typically includes at least two wedges - a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. The pitching wedge is used when you are fairly close to the green and a sand wedge is used to get you out of, you guessed it, the sand (aka bunker).

 

Putter

 

Finally, you need to get the ball in the hole and this is the one to do it. Putters are used once you are on the green to gently move the ball into the hole. The ball should stay on the green and roll when you hit it. Drive for show, putt for dough!

 

Suggested Bag Makeup

 

Technically, you can carry up to 14 clubs in your bag, but if you ask us, that’s typically overkill. Especially for a beginner. If you’re just starting out, we suggest the following:

  • Driver

  • 5 Wood

  • 5 Hybrid

  • 7 Iron

  • 9 Iron

  • Sand Wedge

  • Putter

Now, let’s touch on actually hitting the ball with a bit on

How and Where to Practice.

You gotta start somewhere, right? And lucky you, as a beginner, you can start without any of the bad habits the rest of us have.

 

We think one of the best ways to pick up the game, is by starting out with a lesson from a pro. They can walk you through basic swing fundamentals and etiquette. Even one session will set you on a good path. We have a few pros at Thr3 Jack available for lessons, but you can get lessons at most public courses in the area.

Of course, lessons aren’t required. And while they’ll help jumpstart your game you can certainly head to the range without a ton of golf knowledge. Start simply by trying to make contact with the ball. It doesn’t matter where it goes or how far it goes – contact is key at the beginning. You can slowly add in swing mechanics and more technical instruction as your swing comfortability and confidence grows. Check out some of our video tips and tricks for some swing basics you can practice at the range.

Practice ranges - both outdoor or indoor at a spot like Thr3 Jack - are all over the city. You can show up, buy a bucket of balls or rent a bay, and start making full swings.

You can even practice putting on your carpet at home. Sure, it’s not the green and won’t roll the same, but it will help you understand aim, speed, and gain some club comfortability.

And finally,

When You Are Ready for the Course.

Grab a friend, ditch the scorecard, and swing easy.

 

Really, there are no rules here. If you feel up for it, we say go for it! With that said, we think you can maximize your level of fun and minimize the amount of frustration by keeping a few things in mind:

  • If you can get your 7-iron airborne off a tee with some degree of consistency, then let’s give it a go!

  • If you want to go play and you’re still just starting out, try skipping the tee box and tee up your shots in the fairway. If you’re with a group of ladies, let them tee off and when you are about 50 yards in to the green, grab a 7-iron and tee it up in the fairway. Focus on trying to get the tee out of the ground and making contact with the ball. Once you’ve mastered 50 yards, move back to 75, then 100, and so on. This makes the first tee shot less intimidating and less like you have to “perform” right away.

  • Go with a friend! Even better if they have some golf experience, so they can offer positive advice and help with any questions.

  • Don’t worry about what you shoot – in fact, don’t even keep score your first handful of rounds. Instead, keep track of the times you make solid contact. As you improve, you can keep score, or not!

  • Par 3 courses are also a great place to start. Par 3 courses are typically made up of nine, par 3 holes. Holes typically range between about 100 and 200 yards. They are usually less demanding and quicker than a regular course making them more relaxed and inclusive. They are a great way to gain confidence and build comfort on the course. If you have one in your area, it’s a great option. Check out these local spots when the snow melts: Theodore Wirth Par 3 Golf Club, Brookview Par 3 Course, Braemar Academy 9 Course.

  • Be kind to yourself. Golf is a really hard sport. It’s a whole lot more fun at the beginning if you slow down and enjoy the walk!

Did we miss something big? Do you have an unanswered question? Hit us up!