A ball buried in the sand of a bunker is, in Italian, a \"fried egg\"; but almost everything else on an Italian course is said in English, and a glossary keeps you from falling silent on the first tee beside an Italian partner.
In Italy golf is played in an Italian full of English words. The Associated Press, in a glossary prepared for the 2023 Ryder Cup, noted that golf remains a niche sport and that Italian players borrow most of their terms from English. For the visitor the problem is twofold: understanding Italian playing partners and making yourself understood at the clubs. The definitions below come from the Federgolf glossary, the R&A Rules of Golf and the Treccani dictionary; where the English term is given in brackets, it is the one Federgolf reports as the equivalent.
The course
| Italian | English | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Campo | course | The area set aside for play |
| Buca | hole, cup | Both the hole in the ground and the route leading from the tee to the hole |
| Tee (piazzola di partenza) | tee, teeing area | The area from which a hole is started; the same word names the peg on which the ball is placed |
| Fairway | fairway | Carefully mown grass between tee and green, usually surrounded by the rough |
| Rough | rough | Long grass at the sides of the hole |
| Green | putting green | Finely mown grass where the flag is planted |
| Bunker | bunker | Sandy hazard, usually in a hollow of the ground |
| Asta, bandiera | flagstick, pin | Pole with a flag that marks the hole |
| Dog-leg | dogleg | A hole that bends, so that the green cannot be seen from the tee |
| Fuori limite | out of bounds (OB) | Area where play is forbidden, marked by white stakes |
| Campo pratica | driving range | Area set aside for practice; at Pelagone it is a Toptracer range |
| Executive | executive | Course made up solely of par 3s, mostly for teaching |
A couple of examples from our clubs: at the Golf Club Bormio the 3rd hole is, according to the club, a 330-metre dogleg with a large bunker on the right; at Tiber in Rome the eighteen holes measure between 40 and 90 metres, for a par of 54: a pitch and putt format, that is, played with short shots.
One note: the Federgolf glossary still speaks of the "ostacolo" (hazard), whereas the R&A Rules divide the course into five areas: general area, teeing area, penalty areas, bunkers and putting green.
The clubs
| Italian | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bastone, mazza | club | Three types: woods, irons and putters |
| Legno | wood | For the longest shots; the 1-wood is the driver |
| Ferro | iron | For medium and short distances, numbered 1 to 9 plus the wedges |
| Putt, putter | putter | Used on the green to roll the ball into the hole |
| Sacca | bag | Where the clubs are kept |
| Carrello | pull cart | So that you need not carry the bag on your shoulder |
| Cart | cart | For seniors or those with a medical certificate in club competitions |
A full bag may contain up to 14 clubs, Federgolf points out. Anyone hiring, as at Is Molas where a set costs 50 euros for 18 holes (2026 price list), must still reckon with this limit.
Scoring
Par is, for Federgolf, the ideal number of strokes to complete a hole; the par of the course is the sum of the pars of the holes and is normally 72. After that you reason by difference:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Birdie | One stroke under par (3 strokes on a par 4) |
| Eagle | Two strokes under par |
| Albatross (doppio eagle) | Three strokes under par (one stroke on a par 4) |
| Bogey | One stroke over par |
| Doppio bogey | Two strokes over par |
| Buca in uno (hole in one) | Hole completed in a single stroke, typically on a par 3 |
According to Treccani, "bogey" comes from an English proper name; handicap from "hand in cap", an old game in which coins were drawn from a hat. In golf it indicates the advantage each player has relative to par. The gross score is the one without handicap deduction; the net is the one from which the allowance has been subtracted; scratch is a player with a handicap of 0.
Competition formats
Stroke play (gara a colpi, medal): the player with the fewest strokes wins. Match play (gara a buche): the player who wins more holes wins. Stableford: a points competition. Foursome: pairs who play a single ball with alternate shots. Greensome: both hit from the tee, the better shot is chosen and play alternates. Louisiana (scramble): every shot is played from the position of the best previous shot by the team. Shotgun: simultaneous start from different holes.
On the tee and in the clubhouse
- Starter: the person who organises the tee times on the 1st tee.
- Honour (onore): the right to play first from the tee, which belongs to the player who took the fewest strokes on the previous hole.
- Playing through (passo): the right to overtake a slow group.
- Marker (marcatore): the person who records a partner's score.
- Caddie and caddie master: the club carrier, who also acts as a technical adviser, and the person in charge of the caddies and the bag store.
- Green fee: the daily fee due for playing at a club of which you are not a member.
- Pro shop: the shop, usually in the clubhouse, where equipment is bought or repaired.
The rules that keep coming up
A ball that is not found within three minutes of searching is lost; it is out of bounds when it lies entirely beyond the edge of the course. In both cases stroke-and-distance applies: one penalty stroke and you replay from the spot of the previous shot (Rule 18). To save time you may play a provisional ball, to be announced before the stroke with a clear expression such as "provisional". Etiquette, Federgolf reminds us, includes repairing pitch marks, raking bunkers, replacing divots and letting faster groups through when you are slowing play.
Frequently asked questions
What does "par" mean in golf?+
It is the ideal number of strokes to complete a hole, according to Federgolf; the par of the course, the sum of the pars of the individual holes, is normally 72 on an 18-hole course.
What is the difference between birdie, eagle and bogey?+
A birdie is one stroke under par, an eagle two strokes under, a bogey one stroke over.
How do you say "hole in one" in Italian?+
"Buca in uno". In the Federgolf glossary, "ace" also appears, more rarely.
What is a green fee?+
The daily fee paid by someone who plays at a club of which they are not a member.
What is "fuori limite"?+
It is out of bounds: an area of the course where play is forbidden, marked by white stakes. If the ball lies entirely beyond the edge, you replay with a penalty stroke.
How many clubs may you carry in the bag?+
At most 14, according to Rule 4.1b of the R&A.
