Describing the Parts of a Golf Course

When talking about a golf course in French, start by identifying its main areas. Le parcours is the entire course. Each individual hole is called le trou, and it starts from le départ, which is where you make your first shot, usually from a raised area.

The short grass area between the start and the green is le fairway, and the area with the hole is le green, where you putt. Sometimes, you will encounter le bunker (sand trap), le lac (lake), or other obstacle. A patch of longer, thicker grass is called la grassière. Use these terms to give directions or describe the layout.

Examples:

• Le départ du deuxième trou est près du lac.
• Le green est entouré de bunkers.
• Il y a un obstacle d'eau avant le fairway.
• La grassière est difficile à jouer.

Describing Golf Equipment

The basic items you need in golf can be named with simple French nouns. You play with la balle (golf ball) and hit it using la canne (golf club). Golfers wear le gant (glove), usually on the opposite hand of their dominant hand. You carry your clubs in le sac, and place the ball on la tee for your first stroke at each hole.

You can specify your equipment:

• Mon sac contient plusieurs cannes différentes.
• J’utilise une tee au départ de chaque trou.
• Mon gant me donne une meilleure prise.

Describing Golf Shots

To talk about shots or playing techniques, use these key verbs and nouns:

• Le coup is any shot.
• Le drive is the powerful long-distance shot from the tee.
• Le chip is a short, lofted shot aimed to land on the green.
• Le coup d'approche is an approach shot intended to get the ball close to the hole.
• Le putt is the shot made with a putter on the green.
• Le swing is the overall swinging motion.
• La stratégie is your plan or strategy for playing a shot or a hole.

Examples:

• Son drive a traversé le fairway.
• J’ai réussi mon putt sur le green.
• Le chip a permis de sortir du bunker.
• Une bonne stratégie est essentielle pour ce parcours.
• Le swing de ce joueur est très puissant.