Young Tiger Woods became a scratch golfer at the age of 13 A scratch golfer is a golfer that has a handicap index of 0.0. Scratch players have the ability to consistently score within a small margin of the course rating, on any given day. For men, these golfers tend to be able to hit an average drive of 250 yards and can reach a 470-yard hole in 2 strokes. In women, scratch players can hit a drive of 210 yards and are able to reach a 400-yard hole in 2 strokes. It takes hard work, dedication, and a ton of practice to reach this level of play. Scratch golfers get no strokes from the course, in most situations, and may have to give the course strokes in some situations. Here are some of the most important things to know about scratch golfers How To Become a Scratch Golfer In my experience as a caddie, I’ve come across many scratch golfers. They each have different strengths and weaknesses but have certain qualities in common. The first is having good work ethics. It take...

The most common divot patterns: Scattered (left), Linear (center), Concentrated (right) For most of us to become really good at golf we have to practice. That usually means lots of time spent hitting balls at the range. If you're like me and like to practice on grass, that translates to lots (and lots) of divots . Golfers and caddies should do their absolute best to help keep the course in tip top shape and that starts with divot patterns at the range. Here's how to make the most of your practice space with efficient divot patterns. What Are the Different Types of Divot Patterns? There are three common types of patterns you can make on the range, scattered,  concentrated, and linear. Each of these patterns will impact your practice area differently and could have lasting implications on replacement of turf. A scattered pattern , to me, is really no pattern at all because the golfer if hitting a shot from a different  place with each swing. The recovery time fo...

Two eagles (double eagle) playing on tree branch (BBC) A double eagle, also called an “albatross” is when a golfer completes a hole with a score of 3 under par (-3).  This equate to one fewer stroke than an eagle (-2) . Of the many golfterms we’ve covered so far, this is the rarest. Not only does it require extreme precision and some serious skills but in many cases, it also requires a great deal of luck. There is some confusion about the correct name, and we’ll get into that a bit later. Here is all the information you need to know about a double eagle in golf. Is it Double Eagle or Albatross? It’s quite common for the terms “double bogey” and “albatross” to be used interchangeably in golf. Even though this naming is widely accepted, there some who believe that one is correct and the other isn’t. The truth is that both terms mean the exact same thing. One argument claims that applying logic would reveal that “double eagle” doesn’t make much sense, thus leaving “albatross...

The golf  term eagle was coined by a group of Americans at Atlantic Club  The Eagle in Golf Eagle in golf means scoring 2-under par on a single golf hole (one stroke better than a birdie). It’s one of the more elusive scores in the game of golf, which makes it extremely rare. We’ve covered all the common golf terms everyone should know and now it’s time to take a deep dive into why we use the term eagle in golf. Here is everything you need to know about the golf term "eagle." What is an Eagle in Golf? An eagle is a score of 2-under par, denoted as (-2). This means that a player completed a golf hole with 2 fewer strokes than is required for par. As a reminder, par is the number of strokes it should take an expert golfer, or scratch golfer, to complete a particular hole on the golf course. Par, on a regulation golf course can range from 3 to 7 so there are quite a few ways a player can make an eagle on a golf course. What Scores Result in an Eagle? With ...

The birdie is a sure sign of being better than old man par, one stroke better to be exact. (-1) What is a Birdie in Golf? In golf, “birdie” is the term used to indicate a score of 1-under par (-1). In other words, a birdie is what you get when you make one fewer stroke than is required to make par on a golf hole. It’s one of the most popular golf terms you’ll hear, even if you’ve never stepped foot on a golf course. There are several ways a player can record a birdie on the golf course, and we’ll cover a lot more on the scoring aspects as well as how to mark them on you r score cards. Here’s Everything Else You Need to Know About the Birdie in Golf According to Scottish Golf History , “birdie” comes from the early 20 th century slang term “bird.” The earliest recorded use of “birdie” dates back to 1903 at The Atlantic Club when AB Smith hit his second shot within inches of the hole. He very proudly called It “a bird of a shot” and request to be paid double if he holed ...

This golfer swinging while the sun is setting should use the golf term "fore" if others are playing in the dark     If you’re just starting to pick up the game of golf, there are some golf terms you need to familiarize yourself with in order to understand the game better, have more fun, and even ensure the safety of others. At first, that last reason may sound ridiculous but it's an important fact to remember when you are learning the game because people can  get   seriously hurt if we don’t use some of the golf terms we’ll be covering. Here is some basic golf terminology every golfer should know. Fore!     The first, and arguably the most important, golf term can save other golfers from getting hurt. “Fore!” From beginners to professionals, everyone will have to use this term at some point in the game. The term “fore!” is used to warn other players of the dangers of an errant golf shot. The way we use this term will tell other players how s...

Yoshi's reaction after earning a bogey in Mario Golf What is a Bogey in golf? Bogey is the golf term used to indicate a score of 1 over par, meaning that a player completed a golf hole with one stroke more than is expected of expert golfers .   If your scorecard were a picture of your golf game, then a bogey would be the blemish that cannot go unnoticed. To put it simply, no one wants a bogey but they are, in some sense, unavoidable. So where did this term come from anyway? And, why does it matter at all? These are a few of the questions we aim to answer that will help to take the some of frustration out of your golf game. Where the Term Bogey Came From It is said that the term bogey comes from a song that dates to the 16 th century. The Scots of those days would sing songs about a goblin or devil that people were afraid of. In the song, they referred to the sinister character as the ‘bogey man’. The original term for such a creature in those days was ‘bogle’. ...

Different types of divots in golf     When it comes to ball striking, divots are very important. If you want to compress the golf ball and get the optimal distance and ball flight for every shot, you need to make a divot and you need to make the right kind. As caddies, part of our job is to fix and replace divots made by our players. So, if you ever get involved with golf, one of the things you won’t be able to avoid is a divot. What is a Divot in Golf?     In golf, a divot is a piece of turf or sod cut from the ground by a golf club after a swing is made. Divots vary in size and can often be indicative of how good a shot was.  The type most widely associated with a good shot is the “dollar bill divot.” Much like the name suggests, this type of divot is shaped like a dollar bill, rectangular, and even throughout. This signifies that the golfer was able the keep the golf club on a leveled plain through contact, leading to more on-target shots. An...