GOLFSelect - Golf Glossary

Lateral: Type of water hazard, defined by red boundary stakes, that often runs parallel to the line of play on a hole. The penalty for hitting into a lateral hazard is one stroke. The term "lateral" may also describe a "Shank". (See "Shank.")

Lay Up: To play a shorter shot than normally might be attempted. Would be done to achieve a good lie short of a hazard rather than trying to hit the green in one less shot.

Layout: The manner in which the holes are placed on the golf course when designed.

Lead: Clubhead lead is the amount the shaft is deflected in the lead direction at impact.

Leader Board: The place where the scores in a tournament are posted.

Let Through: When one game on a course waves another through, usually because of slower play or a lost ball.

Lie: How your ball has finished after you hit it. If it is sitting up beautifully in the middle of the fairway, you have a good lie. If it is in the rough or half buried in a bunker, you have a bad lie. It also has another meaning. If your partner asks you how you lie he/she wants to know how many shots you've taken.

Lie Angle: The angle formed between the centre line of the shaft and the sole of the club measured in degrees.

Line: The path the ball takes, whether on the green or the fairway.

Line Up: To study the green in order to determine how the putt should be played.

Links: Specifically the label given to golf courses constructed in which the 1st hole begins at the clubhouse and the 18th ends there, with no holes except those returning to the clubhouse. Links courses are often built near water. Links is also a generic slang term given to any golf course having 18 holes.

Linksman: A golfer.

Lip: The edge (or rim) of the hole.

Lip Out: A ball as it is rolling on a putting green, that hits the edge of the hole and does not go in.

Lob Shot: A high, soft shot, generally played near the green with a high-lofted wedge of some type (i.e., a lob wedge.)

Local Rules: Rules that are determined by the local folks.

Loft Angle: The angle of the club's face. The wider or more "open" the face, the higher the ball will be lofted on contact . . . and the higher the number of the club.

Lofter: An obsolete highly-lofted club that was the predecessor of the Niblick.

Long Game: Shots hit with the woods and long irons.

Long Irons: The relatively straight-face and longer hitting irons.

Loose Impediments: Any natural object that is not fixed or growing. This can include loose stones, twigs, branches, molehills, dung, worms and insects.

Lost Ball: A ball is deemed lost if the player or caddie cannot find it in the specified time, usually 5 minutes.

Lost Ball: A ball is considered to be lost if it cannot be located or identified after 5 minutes of searching for it.

Low Ball and Total: A four-ball team bet in which the best ball of each team wins a point and the lowest total of the partners wins another point

Low Riser: Slang term given to a shot, intentionally played, that starts low and ends at a "normal" trajectory. Generally a player must have some degree of skill to play these shots.

LPGA: The Ladies' Professional Golf Association

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