Golf Terminology - D

D

Dead

TV-broadcaster slang for a shot in which there is no favorable outcome possible. One variation includes, "Get the body bags!", which is a favorite of Gary McCord.

Dimples

The round indentations on a golf ball cover which are scientifically designed to enable the ball to make a steady and true flight. Dimples, by reducing drag, allow a golf ball to stay in the air for a longer flight than would be possible with a smooth ball.

Divot

(i) The chunk of grass and earth displaced during a stroke.
(ii) The indentation on the green caused by the ball on an approach shot; more properly called a pitch mark or ball mark.

Dog-balls

Scoring an 'eight' on any single golf hole. The origin of the term is in reference to what the number 'eight' looks like on its side.

Dogleg

A hole where the fairway is straight for some distance and then bends to the left or right. These holes are so-named because they resemble the shape of a dog's leg.

Dog licence

A defeat in matchplay by the margin of 7&6. Named because the cost of a dog license in the United Kingdom before decimalisation in 1971 was seven shillings and sixpence (written 7/6, 37½p in new money), commonly known as seven and six.

Dormie or Dormy

A situation in match play when a player leads by as many holes as there are holes left to play. For example, four up with four holes to play is called "dormie-four".

Dormie house

A building at a golf club providing overnight accommodation.

Double bogey

A hole played two strokes over par.

Double cross

A shot whereby a player intends for a fade and hits a hook, or conversely, intends to play a draw and hits a slice. So called because the player has aimed left (in the case of a slice) and compounds this with hitting a hook, which moves left as well.

Double eagle

A hole played three strokes under par. Also called an Albatross.

Downswing

A motion involving the body and golf-club used to move the club from the top of the swing to the point of impact.

Draw

A shot that, for a right-handed golfer, curves to the left; often played intentionally by skilled golfers. An overdone draw usually becomes a hook.

Drive

The first shot of each hole, made from an area called the tee box (see definition below), usually done with a driver (a type of golf club).

Duck-hook

A severe low hook that barely gets airborne.

Duff

Also known as Dub or Flub, but almost always denotes a horrible shot. Typically, this is a shot where very little or no contact is made between the club-face and golf-ball. Also, See Shank.