| Non-golf players are constantly confused by the | | | | The term 'birdie' is quite easy to explain - if you have |
| strange selection of words that are of regular usage | | | | knowledge of 19th Century American slang words! In |
| in the game's lexicon and I have often been quizzed | | | | that era, the word "bird" was a way of describing |
| about the etymology of such terms whilst dealing in | | | | something particularly good - much in the way 'cool' |
| luxury golf holidays. The truth is that the language of | | | | was (and is) used more recently. Simply, a shot under |
| golf can be confusing and yet the majority of golfers | | | | par was 'bird', and this eventually transformed into |
| have no idea about how terms like 'birdie', 'bogey' and | | | | 'birdie', which was in worldwide use by 1910. |
| 'mulligan' became so intrinsically linked with the greens | | | | From there, "Eagle" was to follow, simply sticking to |
| and fairways. | | | | the ornithological theme. "Albatross" was a later |
| Some of these answers have been lost to history | | | | addition to the golfing vernacular. |
| but in their place a number of theories of the origins | | | | Mulligan |
| of golf words have sprung up; I shall expand upon | | | | Unfortunately, there's no straight answer to how the |
| these here. | | | | term Mulligan became a golfing term for retaking a |
| Golf | | | | shot. A number of theories have emerged: |
| First off, let's get one misconception out of the way | | | | The first is simply that it was named after someone |
| from the very start. Golf does not, and has never | | | | called Mulligan who took a 'correction shot', and had |
| been an acronym for 'Gentlemen Only, Ladies | | | | the do-over named after him. |
| Forbidden' even though some golf committees would | | | | A more interesting theory is that the term is actually |
| like it that way! | | | | an ethnic slur against Irish-Americans (Mulligan being a |
| One theory is that the term golf is derived from the | | | | common Irish name) trying to join top class golf |
| medieval Dutch word "kolve" meaning "club". From | | | | clubs, as they were often regarded as poor golfers. |
| there, we have Scottish dialect to thank for its | | | | A final suggestion is that the term is derived from old |
| transformation into "golve". Another theory is that | | | | saloons who would keep a free bottle of drink at the |
| the origins of the word golf are derived from the | | | | bar for customers to take shots from. Allegedly this |
| Scottish "goulf" - a verb which meant "to strike or | | | | bottle was called a 'mulligan', and it's possible that this |
| cuff", given the game involves a lot of striking the | | | | term took on a similar meaning as a 'freebie' in golf. |
| ball. | | | | Fore |
| Either way, by the 1500s, the term "golf" had | | | | The only thing that can be said with any certainty |
| developed from these routes. | | | | about the origin of this golf word is that it does |
| Par | | | | derive from the fact that 'fore' means 'ahead' (like a |
| Contrary to popular belief, the term "par" did not | | | | ship's fore and aft) - and it remains to this day a |
| originate on the golf course. It entered golf | | | | warning to those ahead of you on the course. |
| terminology in the 19th Century, and meant exactly | | | | There are two popular theories as to the specifics of |
| the same thing that it did (and does) outside of golf: | | | | the term's usage on the golf course: The first is that |
| average, standard, ordinary. | | | | the term has military routes. At the time golf was |
| Bogey | | | | properly taking off in Britain, infantry troops would |
| Perhaps one of the most bizarre terms in the golfing | | | | advance in formation while artillery was fired from |
| lexicon, this is a word that actually evolved right here | | | | behind. When the artillery fired, there would be a |
| in England. It relates to the Bogey Man who in the | | | | shout of "beware before", which would tell |
| 19th Century song said "I'm the Bogey Man, catch | | | | infantrymen to drop to the floor to avoid the shells |
| me if you can". According to the USGA, golfers at | | | | above. It's entirely possible that this advice applied to |
| the time pursued the Bogey Man on the golf course - | | | | the golf course - with shells being replaced by the |
| as in they were trying to 'catch' the perfect score. | | | | less dangerous golf ball! |
| This led to the term 'bogey score' meaning the | | | | The second is that it came from the term |
| perfect game. | | | | "forecaddie" - a person who accompanied groups |
| But now the term bogey denotes one over par, | | | | around golf courses. The idea behind this is that an |
| rather than the perfect score, so how did that | | | | errant ball would be accompanied by shouting out |
| happen? It came about with the split between | | | | "forecaddie" which would later be abbreviated to |
| professional and amateur golf - from both words | | | | 'fore', just like the other half has been shortened to |
| being initially interchangeable, par went on to become | | | | 'caddie'. |
| the term for an average professional score, while | | | | So, the next time the topic of strange words comes |
| bogey became the term for a total that amateur | | | | up on a luxury golf holiday, you can explain with |
| golfers could be pleased with. | | | | confidence that there is (some) method to the |
| Birdies and Eagles | | | | etymological madness! |