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lag
(also "lag putt, approach putt") a putt that is intended to stop close to the hole but not presumed to be holed
Example: I was just lagging the putt, actually; I never thought it would go in.
laid off
when the hands have moved the club under the plane on the bacskwing (especially at the top of the swing)
Example: John's club was laid off at the top of his swing.
lateral
(also "shank") when the ball is contacted by, and ricochets off, the hosel or neck before it hits the clubface causing an errant direction and trajectory (low and to the right for a right-handed player) Note: not usually much fun
Example: His hacking style frequently resulted in an ugly lateral/shank.
lateral hazard
(also "lateral water hazard") a water hazard (whether filled with water or not) which is generally adjacent to, or to one side or another of, the line of play (usually marked with red stakes or lines)
Example: A lateral hazard/lateral water hazard has some additional options under the rules of golf.
launch angle
the initial trajectory of the ball relative to the ground
Example: Launch angle and spin rate are two of many variables that influence distance, but club head speed and square solid contact are far more fundamental.
lay up
(also "lay back, play for position", sometimes "transport shot") a shot played to a particular location to allow for an easier subsequent shot or to keep the ball from going too far (e.g., when the fairway ends in a deep canyon
and it is not possible to carry the canyon from the current position)
Example: I hit my tee shot too far to the right on the par 5, so I had to lay up/lay back/play for position, as I couldn't carry the water with my second shot.
laying the sod over it
another expression for hitting the ball fat (in the most amusing version of this the divot would actually cover the ball after the swing, with the ball having not moved at all -- see also "hairpiece")
Example: Laying the sod over it is a horrible feeling, when your intention is to hit the ball solidly.
lead tape
thin adhesive strips (also comes in rolls) of lead used to add weight to a club head
Example: Lead tape is easy to apply or remove to change a club's swing weight.
leader in the clubhouse
the player with the lowest score having completed regulation play
Example: Smith was the leader in the clubhouse at -9, but Jones was at -10 with the last two holes still to play.
leading edge
(also "blade") the lowest or forward-most edge of a club's head, where the sole and face meet
Example: Hitting the ball on the sweet spot is preferrable to hitting it with the the blade.
leak
(also "fade") a ball that moves somewhat from left to right for a right-handed player, usually used in reference to a ball that is moving away from the target rather than toward it
Example: Fred's ball started right at the pin but, disappointingly, began to leak to the right as it approached the green, and fell into the water hazard in the end.
left the headcover on it
another phrase for leaving a putt short
Example: Rupert was under tremendous pressure on the last hole, and with a 3-footer for the win he left the headcover on it to lose all his bets by one stroke...
and obviously the universe, as Rupert knew it, ended at that moment.
less club
(also "club down") using a shorter, more lofted club
Example: Apparently Josh needed less club, based on the fact that his ball sailed over the green and into someone's backyard.
let it go
free relaxed swinging through the ball, as opposed to attempting to guide or steer a shot
Example: Learning to let it go is not as easy as it sounds for some people.
let the big dog eat
use the driver or number 1 wood
Example: It was a very long hole so I let the big dog eat.
let the shaft out
to make an effort to hit the ball long
Example: Finally I got to a wide open par 5 where I could let the shaft out.
level
(also "level par, even, even par") anytime one's score is level with, or equivalent to, par during, or at the conclusion of, a round of golf
Example: Jill was at level/level par/even par/even/par with two holes still to play.
lie
1. the quality, manner, style, way, or position relative to level in which a ball rests on the ground (e.g., good lie, bad lie, downhill lie, uphill lie, sidehill lie, fluffy lie, flier lie, and so on) 2. can also refer to the number of
strokes taken up to the current moment on a given hole when the ball is at rest
Example: Typically a lie would be considered bad if it was not largely exposed or where clean contact would not be possible. 2. I was lying 3 after I
dropped out of the hazard.
lie angle
the angle between the sole of the club and the shaft from the face view (looking at the face of the club straight on)
Example: I had my lie angles adjusted because my divots were too deep in the toe.
lift, clean and place
(sometimes also "preferred lies, winter rules") a mode of play, usually because of muddy or poor course conditions, where through the green the ball may be picked up, cleaned off and replaced (within a pre-specified distance from the
ball's original location) in the position of the player's choice, if desired
Example: Conditions have to be pretty bad for the PGA Tour to go to lift, clean and place.
lights-out
playing excellently
Example: Jan shot lights-out in the 3rd round and coasted to an easy victory in the final round.
line
1. ("target line, intended line") direction, as indicated by a vertical plane 2. ("line, line of a putt, putting line") the path on which the ball rolls, or will roll, enroute to the hole
Example: My intended line was right over the big oak tree. 2. It is common courtesy to avoid stepping in someone's line, as a fresh footprint on the green
could alter the ball's course and/or speed.
line up
1. ( also "align") position/direct/orient the body and/or club 2. assessing the direction of a shot or putt
Example: She was lined up to the right even though she felt like she was square to the target. 2. The gallery was quiet as Carmichael lined up his eagle
putt.
links
1. originally referred to seaside courses on "links land" (seaside grassy area), now used loosely to mean any golf course 2. ("links style course, links course") an exposed, windswept (sometimes seaside) course
characterized by gently rolling mounds/dunes and very few (if any) trees
Example: Hey, let's hit the links after work. 2. There are even linksstyle courses inland nowdays.
lip
(also "rim") the top edge of the hole, above the cup
Example: My putt hit the left lip and tried to spin out but ended up falling in.
lip out
when the ball hits the edge of the hole and spins out instead of dropping
Example: Except for that lip out on hole number 14, she made every putt inside of 5 feet today.
lob
(also "lob shot") a relatively vertical (steep arced) shot, usually played with a lofted wedge, intended to land softly and not roll far
Example: My lob shot stopped quickly, as I'd hoped.
lob wedge
a very lofted wedge, usually 59 or 60 degrees (more sometimes), designed for playing high, soft shots from short distances
Example: The pin was so close to the edge of the green that I needed to use my lob wedge to get the ball to stop close to the hole.
local knowledge
awareness of a course's idiosyncratic playing characteristics from having played it many times
Example: Jim had the advantage of local knowledge at the course where the tournament would be held, as he had played there countless times.
loft
1. the angle/cant/slope/pitch/grade of the clubface relative to the shaft of the club from the frontal plane 2. hoist or lift
Example: Putters usually have anywhere from 4 to 7 degrees of loft, whereas lob wedges may have as much as 65 degrees. 2. She needed to loft the ball over
a tree.
long game
the part of golf played with full, or substantial, swings where the ball is intended to cover relatively longer distances (usually thought of in terms of woods, long irons and middle irons)
Example: Ted was a master of the long game and his short game was pretty good, too.
long iron
the longer-shafted, steeper-faced, (and hopefully) longer distance irons, generally numbers 1 through 4
Example: Hitting long irons solidly takes precision.
loop
1. (mainly used by caddies) another term for a round of golf (also might refer to the player a caddie is working for or the job of caddying itself) 2. (also "reroute") a noticeable difference in the path of the club head between
the backswing and downswing
Example: 1. The caddie manged to get a loop even though it was raining. 2. Jim's swing had a funny hitch at the top and a dramatic loop -- coincidentally
he was very inconsistent.
looper
caddy
Example: Being a looper does not appear to be casual or easy work.
loose impediment
any natural object that is not fixed or growing (e.g., rocks, twigs, leaves, etc.)
Example: Loose impediments may be removed at the player's discretion, without penalty, anywhere except in a hazard.
lost ball
any ball that cannot be found within five minutes of beginning a search for it (see also "provisional ball")
Example: A lost ball will cost you a two stroke penalty (i.e., the shot itself, an additional stroke, and the ball must be replayed from the original position).
low side
the downhill edge of the cup when it is on any slant
Example: Bill missed his putt on the low side of the hole.
LPGA
(Ladies Professional Golf Association) formed to organize and promote women in professional golf
Example: The LPGA was established in 1950.
lunch ball
(also "Muligan, Sunday ball") taking a second attempt (replay, "do over") at a shot when one doesn't like the result of the first
Example: Taking a lunch ball/Mulligan/Sunday ball is not allowed in the rules of golf, but is usually tolerated (only if time allows) in casual play.
The ABC's of Golf 
