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The ABC's of Golf
by PGA Professional, Mark Blakemore

Introduction
Part A - All About How to Get Started in Golf
Part B - Basic Fundamentals and Concepts in Golf Swing Technique
Part C - Common Golf Words and Phrases - Glossary
Conclusion

Glossary of Golf Terms and Phrases
 Golf Terminology - Definitions and Usages

Golf words or phrases beginning with the letter
N

Or enter the word in the form below. If the word you're looking for cannot be found it will automatically be suggested to the Glossarymaster (MB) for review and inclusion.

nassau

a type of wager in which the first nine holes, the last nine holes and the total for 18 holes are three separate bets
Example: Mary played a two-dollar nassau with Ingrid.

NC

scoreboard abbreviation for "No card", meaning that the player did not turn in a scorecard
Example: Tomas's scores were 72 and NC, so he did not make the cut.

nearest point of relief

the closest spot to where the ball lies, that is not closer to the hole, that allows relief from an immovable obstruction, abnormal ground condition or a wrong green (see the Rules of Golf for many details)
Example: The nearest point of relief for John, in his specific situation, actually put him behind a tree; so he decided not to take relief.

neck

(also "hosel") the part of the club into which the shaft is inserted
Example: When the ball ricochets off the neck/hosel before it hits the clubface it is called a shank. (Not recommended)

net

a players score after a handicap has been applied
Example: Trisha had a net 74 and a gross 82, which wasn't her best.

never up, never in

refers to the obvious fact that if a putt does not have enough speed to reach the hole it can't go in
Example: "Never up, never in," was Gertrude's favorite golf cliché.

niblick

archaic term for a 9 iron
Example: A niblick in today's terms might be more like a lofted wedge.

nine iron

(also "9 iron") a short iron with a typical loft of around 41-48 degrees (club specifications can vary between manufacturers)
Example: Everybody in the foursome used a nine iron/9 iron on the par three 13th hole.

nine wood

(also "9 wood") a fairway wood, sometimes called a utility wood, with a typical loft of around 23-26 degrees (club specifications can vary between manufacturers)
Example: A nine wood/9 wood seems to be a more popular club with women than with men.

nineteenth hole

(also "19th hole") the bar or lounge after a round of golf
Example: I played better on the nineteenth hole/19th hole than on any of the previous 18.

ninety degree rule

(also "90° rule, 90 degree rule") a practice where golf cars are allowed to drive on the fairway, or away from the cart paths, only perpendicularly (90°) to the hole being played, usually for the purpose of decreasing wear and tear on the turf or for the reason of fragile grass condition, etc.
Example: Ned's home course always puts the ninety degree/90°/90 degree rule in effect during the rainy season.

non-competitive marker

(also "non-competing marker, non-competitive playing marker") a person assigned by a tournament committee to record another player's score (usually in the case where there is only one player in a group after the cut)
Example: Having a non-competitive marker play along is usually at the discretion of the competitor.

nutted

(also "flushed") hitting it squarely and on the sweetspot
Example: Tom announced that he had nutted/flushed his tee shot even though, mysteriously, the ball was never found.

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