golf

/gɑlf/

/gɒlf/

Other forms: golfing; golfed; golfs

Golf is a game that involves using a club to hit a small ball into a series of cups laid out on a course. If golf seems too difficult, you might try taking up miniature golf — with a short course and whimsical obstacles — instead.

Scotland is famous for its golf courses, and in fact the game was invented there during the 15th century. Golf comes from the Scottish gouf, an alteration of the Middle Dutch colf, "bat or club." The first known printed use of the word golf was in a statute banning the game — King James II believed that archery was more important and that golf was a distraction. Later monarchs enjoyed the game and lifted the ban.

Definitions of golf

1. noun

   a game played on a large open course with 9 or 18 holes; the object is use as few strokes as possible in playing all the holes
   synonyms: golf game

   types:

   professional golf

   playing golf for money

   round, round of golf

   the activity of playing 18 holes of golf

   medal play, stroke play

   golf scoring by total strokes taken

   match play

   golf scoring by holes won

   miniature golf

   a novelty version of golf played with golf balls and putters on a miniature course featuring many obstacles

   clock golf

   a form of golf in which you putt from positions arranged on the circumference of a circle around the hole

   type of:

   outdoor game

   an athletic game that is played outdoors
2. verb

   play golf
   type of:

   play

   participate in games or sport