Golf Terminology

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  • make - Hole a shot.
  • makeable - Shot with a good chance of being holed.
  • mallet - Putter with a wide head.
  • mark - To indicate the position of the ball with a small, round, flat object, such as a coin, usually on the green.
  • marker - Small, round object, such as a coin, placed behind the ball to indicate its position when you lift it. Or the person keeping score.
  • marshal - Person controlling the crowd at a tournament.
  • mashie - Old term for a 5-iron.
  • mashie-niblick - Old term for a 7-iron.
  • Masters - First major tournament of each calendar year. Always played over the Augusta National course in Georgia. The one tournament I can’t go to.
  • match of cards - Comparing your scorecard to your opponent’s to see who won.
  • match play - Game played between two sides. The side that wins the most holes wins the match.
  • matched set - Clubs designed to look and feel the same.
  • medal play - Game played between any number of players. The player with the lowest score wins (can also be called stroke play).
  • metal wood - Wooden club made of metal.
  • mid-iron - Old term for a 2-iron.
  • miniature course - Putting course.
  • misclub - To use the wrong club for the distance.
  • misread - To take the wrong line on a putt.
  • miss the cut - To take too many strokes for the first 36 holes of 72-hole event and be eliminated. I did this once or twice.
  • mixed foursome - Two men, two women.
  • model swing - Perfect motion.
  • mulligan - Second attempt at a shot, usually played on the first tee. This is illegal.
  • municipal course - A course owned by the local government and thus open to the public. Generally has lower greens fees than a privately owned public course.


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