Aboard
an approach shot which stops safely on the green (also "dancing, on the dance floor")
Ace
a score of 1 on a hole -- holing the first shot, or tee shot, on a hole (also called a "hole-in-one")
Across the line
when the club head is more above the plane than the grip end (mainly used in reference to the top of the backswing), for a right-handed golfer the club would point to the right of (or be "crossed over") a line parallel to the target line in a parallel-to-the-ground shaft position at the top of the swing (also "crossed over, crossing the line")
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Address
the position that the player assumes when preparing to make a stroke (also called "set up" or "address position")
Aerate
a machine is used to punch small diameter holes in ground that has been compacted over time to loosen soil and allow oxygen and nutrients to get to the roots of the grass (usually thought of with respect to putting greens, but all grass areas can be done) ("aeration, aerify, aerification, punch")
Aggregate
Refers to the total score of a player made over more than one round of play, or by two or more players playing as partners.
Aim
the direction you place your clubface 2. the direction in which your target lies. 3. the direction you intend for your ball to go.
Airmail
a shot that carries completely over and beyond something in the air (i.e. green, hazard, bunker, trees)
Albatross
a score of 3 under (less than) par for a single hole (also called a "double eagle")
Alignment
the position of a player's body (feet, knees, hips, shoulders, forearms, eyes) relative to the target line of the ball.
All square
term used in match play scoring to indicate that the match is even at present (abbreviated as "AS" on scoreboard) a match is all square (tied) when both players or teams have won the same number of holes.
Alternate shot
tournament format where teammates take turns playing each subsequent stroke (many variations with different names and procedures -
Angle of approach
the angle formed by the arc of the clubhead in relation to the slope of the ground This affects the trajectory/direction the ball will travel as well as the spin rate of the ball.
Approach putt
a long putt that is not expected to go in, but hopefully will finish close to hole (sometimes they do go in, though) (also called a "lag" putt)
Approach shot
a shot intended to reach the green
Apron
the short grass that separates the putting green from rough or fairway (also called "collar, fringe, frog hair")
Army golf
the unfortunate tendency to play wildly from one side of a hole to the other (rather than relatively straight or more directly the green) enroute to the cup, taken from military marching call "left, right, left, right," etc.
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Attend the flag
holding and then removing the flagstick after a player has made a stroke (also "tend" the flag, flagstick or pin)
Automatic two-putt
when a golf course declares that players may consider the ball to be holed in no more than two putts once their ball is on the putting surface (most commonly because of aeration or temporary greens in course maintenance or repair situations)
Away
farthest from the hole, which by the Rules of Golf dictate honors/or order of play