131 Fun Facts About Golf

How many holes are in a standard round of golf?

A standard round of golf consists of 18 holes. Many courses also offer 9-hole rounds, but 18 is the traditional full round.

What is the term for one stroke under par on a hole?

A birdie is one stroke under par. The term originated in the early 1900s from American slang where "bird" meant something excellent.

Which country is widely regarded as the birthplace of golf?

Scotland is widely regarded as the birthplace of golf. The game was first documented there in the 15th century, and the Old Course at St Andrews dates to the early 1400s.

What color jacket is awarded to the winner of the Masters Tournament?

The winner of the Masters receives a green jacket, one of the most iconic traditions in all of sports. The tradition began in 1949 when Sam Snead was the first champion to receive one.

How many major championships did Tiger Woods win between 1997 and 2019?

Tiger Woods won 15 major championships, from the 1997 Masters to the 2019 Masters, the latter a comeback win after multiple back surgeries.

What is the term for two strokes under par on a single hole?

An eagle is two strokes under par. The term follows the bird-themed scoring convention in golf, where bigger birds represent better scores.

What is the maximum number of clubs a golfer may carry in their bag during a round?

Under the Rules of Golf, a player may carry a maximum of 14 clubs in their bag. Carrying more results in a penalty of two strokes per hole where the violation occurred.

Which golf course hosts the Masters Tournament every year?

Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, has hosted every Masters Tournament since the event's inception in 1934. It is one of the most exclusive clubs in the world.

What is a "bogey" in golf?

A bogey is one stroke over par on a hole. The original meaning was the score a good golfer should take, based on the music-hall "Bogey Man": players competed against an imaginary Colonel Bogey.

What trophy does the Champion Golfer of the Year lift after The Open Championship?

The Claret Jug (officially the Golf Champion Trophy) is awarded to the winner of The Open Championship. The original jug was made in 1873 and is kept by the R&A, while a replica is given to the champion.

What does "par" mean in golf?

Par represents the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete a hole or course. Par values for individual holes typically range from 3 to 5.

Which famous golfer was known as "The King"?

Arnold Palmer was known as "The King" for his charismatic personality and massive fan following ("Arnie's Army"). He won 7 major championships and was instrumental in popularizing golf on television.

The Ryder Cup is a competition between teams from which two regions?

The Ryder Cup pits a team from the United States against a team from Europe. Originally it was USA vs Great Britain, but it expanded to include all of Europe in 1979 to make the competition more balanced.

What is an "albatross" (or "double eagle") in golf?

An albatross is three strokes under par on a single hole — for example, a 2 on a par 5. It is one of the rarest achievements in golf, also called a "double eagle" in North America.

Which golfer completed the career Grand Slam at the youngest age?

Tiger Woods completed the career Grand Slam (winning all four majors at least once) at age 24, the youngest ever to do so. He achieved it by winning the 2000 Open Championship at St Andrews.

What is a "mulligan" in golf?

A mulligan is an unofficial do-over shot: the player replays a stroke and does not count it, which the Rules of Golf never permit. One popular origin story credits Canadian golfer David Mulligan in the 1920s.

Which of these is NOT one of golf's four major championships?

The Players Championship, while prestigious and sometimes called the "fifth major," is not an official major. The four majors are the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship.

What is the small wooden or plastic peg called that holds the ball for the first shot on each hole?

A tee elevates the ball for the first stroke on each hole; the word also names the teeing ground where play begins. The first tee patent, in 1889, went to Scotsmen William Bloxsom and Arthur Douglas.

Which golfer was known as "The Black Knight"?

Gary Player of South Africa earned the nickname "The Black Knight" for his all-black wardrobe. He won nine majors and completed the career Grand Slam at the 1965 U.S. Open.

In match play, what does it mean when a match is "dormie"?

A match is dormie when one player leads by exactly as many holes as remain to be played. For example, 3 up with 3 to play. The leading player cannot lose in regulation — they can only win or halve.

At the 2019 Masters, Tiger Woods won his first major championship since which tournament?

Woods's 2019 Masters win was his first major since the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, where he beat Rocco Mediate in a playoff on a fractured leg; the gap was almost 11 years.

What penalty does a golfer usually incur when taking relief from a water hazard?

Water hazards were renamed penalty areas in the 2019 rules rewrite, and a ball lying in one may still be played as it lies without penalty. Relief outside the area normally costs one stroke.

Which Pebble Beach hole is famous for its dramatic cliffside green overlooking the Pacific Ocean?

The par-3 7th hole at Pebble Beach is one of the most photographed holes in golf. At just 106 yards, it features a tiny green perched on a rocky promontory jutting into Carmel Bay on the Pacific Ocean.

What golf term describes a ball curving gently right to left for a right-handed golfer?

A draw curves gently from right to left for a right-handed golfer; it comes from a clubface slightly closed to the swing path and is prized because it usually flies lower and rolls further.

Who became the first Japanese man to win a major at the 2021 Masters?

Hideki Matsuyama won the 2021 Masters by one stroke over Will Zalatoris, becoming the first Japanese man to win one of golf's major championships.

Which club is typically used for the longest shots from the fairway?

Woods are the long-distance clubs, and the fairway wood is typically numbered a 3-wood with about 15 degrees of loft. A 5-wood at around 18 degrees is the common second option.

What do golfers commonly call the flagstick marking the hole?

The flagstick is commonly called the pin; it marks the hole's position on the green and, since the 2019 rules, may be left in while putting.

Bobby Jones is famous for co-founding which prestigious golf club and tournament?

Bobby Jones founded Augusta National and the Masters with Clifford Roberts, first played in 1934, four years after he had retired at 28 with the Grand Slam done.

What is the name of the biennial team competition in women's golf, equivalent to the Ryder Cup?

The Solheim Cup is the women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup, pitting teams from the USA and Europe against each other. It was first held in 1990 and is named after Karsten Solheim, founder of PING golf equipment.

What is a "condor" in golf?

A condor is four strokes under par — essentially a hole-in-one on a par 5. It is the rarest score in golf, with only a handful ever recorded in history. Most have occurred on holes with doglegs that allow cutting the corner.

Which golfer is nicknamed "Lefty"?

Phil Mickelson is "Lefty": naturally right-handed, he learned the game mirroring his father's swing and plays left-handed, winning six majors including three Masters.

Under the Rules of Golf rewrite that took effect in 2019, how long may a player search for a lost ball?

The 2019 rewrite cut the search time from five minutes to three. The same overhaul let players putt with the flagstick left in and drop from knee height instead of shoulder height.

Which golfer won 11 consecutive PGA Tour events in 1945?

Byron Nelson won 18 PGA Tour events in 1945, including 11 in a row from March to August; the next-longest streak is Tiger Woods's seven straight wins in 2006-07.

What is "Amen Corner" at Augusta National?

Amen Corner refers to the stretch of holes 11, 12, and 13 at Augusta National. Named by Herbert Warren Wind in a 1958 Sports Illustrated article, these holes are among the most treacherous and dramatic in golf.

What is a "links" golf course?

A true links course is built on sandy, coastal terrain (the "link" land between the sea and more fertile ground). They feature few trees, natural undulations, deep bunkers, and firm turf. St Andrews and Royal Portrush are classic links courses.

Which format is decided by holes won rather than total strokes taken?

In match play, each hole is a separate contest won by the player with the lower score. The player who wins the most holes wins the match. Unlike stroke play, total strokes don't matter — only individual hole results.

What is the Stableford scoring system?

Stableford awards points hole by hole against a fixed score, usually par, so the highest total wins. Dr Frank Stableford devised it to stop golfers giving up after one bad hole.

Which female golfer has won the most major championships in LPGA history?

Patty Berg holds the record for the most major championship victories in women's golf with 15 titles. She was one of the founding members of the LPGA Tour in 1950 and is considered one of the greatest female golfers of all time.

What controversial golf league, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, launched in 2022?

LIV Golf launched in June 2022 as a rival to the PGA Tour, featuring 54-hole events (LIV is the Roman numeral for 54), shotgun starts, team formats, and massive guaranteed purses. It signed several top players including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka.

At which Augusta National par-3 do players skip balls across the water in practice rounds?

The par-3 16th hole at Augusta National is where players traditionally skip their ball across the pond toward the green during practice rounds. This crowd-pleasing tradition has become one of the most popular moments of Masters week.

In which state was the first U.S. Open played, in 1895?

The first U.S. Open was played in Rhode Island at Newport Golf Club in October 1895: 36 holes in one day on a nine-hole course, won by 21-year-old Englishman Horace Rawlins.

Which golfer sank "The Putt" on the 17th hole at the 1999 Ryder Cup, sparking a wild celebration?

Justin Leonard sank a 45-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole during his singles match against Jose Maria Olazabal at the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline. The premature celebration by the US team while Olazabal still had a putt remains controversial.

How many dimples does a typical golf ball have?

Most modern balls carry roughly 300 to 500 dimples, which reduce drag and add lift. The rules require the pattern to be symmetrical but set no limit on the count; one ball had 1,070.

What shot did Tiger Woods make on the 16th at the 2005 Masters, where the ball hung on the lip before dropping?

Tiger Woods' chip-in on the par-3 16th hole at the 2005 Masters is one of the most iconic shots in golf history. The ball slowly rolled toward the hole, paused on the lip with the Nike swoosh visible, then dropped in for birdie.

What is the term for the person who carries a golfer's bag and provides advice during a round?

A caddie carries the bag and advises on clubs and strategy. The Scots word came in the 17th century from the French "cadet", a student military officer, and later gave English the word "cad".

Which famously exclusive New Jersey course is often ranked the best in the world?

Pine Valley Golf Club in Pine Valley, New Jersey, is frequently ranked as the #1 golf course in the world. Founded in 1913, it is extremely exclusive and is known for its punishing difficulty, with every hole requiring precise shot-making.

Which men's golf major is the oldest, first held in 1860?

The Open Championship, often referred to as the British Open, was founded in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland, making it the oldest major golf tournament in the world.

Who won the first Augusta National Invitation Tournament in 1934, taking home a first prize of $1,500?

Horton Smith won the inaugural 1934 event by one stroke over Craig Wood and collected $1,500; the club, short of cash, had members chip in to cover the purse.

Who beat Jack Nicklaus by a shot in the 1977 Open's "Duel in the Sun"?

Tom Watson shot 65-65 over the weekend to edge Jack Nicklaus by one stroke at Turnberry in 1977, the "Duel in the Sun"; the rest of the field finished ten or more shots behind.

What is the golf slang term for scoring an eight on a single hole?

An 8 looks like a snowman's body, hence the name; two of them on one scorecard is a very bad day.

Which ten-time major winner played the PGA Tour's 2003 Colonial tournament?

Annika Sörenstam won ten majors among 72 LPGA titles and, at the 2003 Bank of America Colonial, became the first woman since Babe Zaharias in 1945 to play a PGA Tour event.

Who won the first Open Championship, at Prestwick in 1860?

Willie Park Sr. won the first Open Championship at Prestwick in 1860, beating Old Tom Morris by two strokes over three rounds of the 12-hole course; only eight players entered.

Who was the first European golfer to win the Masters?

Seve Ballesteros became the first European Masters champion in 1980 and, at 23, its youngest winner until Tiger Woods in 1997; he won a second green jacket in 1983.

A match-play win by 7 and 6 is nicknamed after which item that once cost seven and six?

A 7 and 6 win is called a "dog licence" because a British dog licence cost seven shillings and sixpence (written 7/6, later 37½p) for more than a century; the match ends after 12 holes.

If a player swings at the ball and misses it completely, how is the attempt counted?

A whiff, or air shot, counts as a stroke because the player intended to hit the ball. A practice swing away from the ball does not.

James II of Scotland banned golf in 1457 because young men were playing it instead of practising what?

Archery: the 1457 Act complained that golf and football kept men from practising with the bow. James III renewed the ban, and it faded after James IV took up golf himself around 1502.

Which prestigious trophy is awarded to the winner of the PGA Championship?

The Wanamaker Trophy is presented annually to the champion of the PGA Championship. It is named after Rodman Wanamaker, who was instrumental in the formation of the PGA of America.

What type of golf club is used for short, high-trajectory shots around the green or out of hazards?

Wedges are a specialized subset of irons, designed with high lofts and heavy clubheads to help players execute accurate short-distance shots, get the ball onto the green, or extract it from challenging lies like bunkers.

What is the slang term for three consecutive birdies during one round?

The bird theme runs through golf scoring: birdie, eagle, albatross, and a turkey for three birdies in a row.

In golf slang, what is the "nineteenth hole"?

The clubhouse bar is the nineteenth hole: with the eighteen played, the round continues over a drink, by analogy with a watering hole.

Which putter did Karsten Solheim design in 1966, sketching it on a record sleeve?

Karsten Solheim designed the PING Anser putter in 1966, sketching it on the sleeve of a record; its heel-toe weighting became the template for most modern blade putters.

What is another name for a hole-in-one?

An ace is a hole-in-one: the tee shot finishes in the cup. Nearly all aces come on par 3s, though a few have been recorded on short par 4s.

What nickname is given to the 17th hole of the Old Course at St Andrews?

The 17th at St Andrews is the Road Hole, named for the road and stone wall behind the green; the deep Road Hole bunker in front has wrecked many Open challenges.

Which course architect did Bobby Jones bring in to co-design Augusta National, laid out on a former plant nursery?

Alister MacKenzie, who also designed Cypress Point, laid out Augusta with Jones after the 1930 Grand Slam winner bought a former plant nursery in Georgia.

What golf term describes holing out in two strokes from off the green, a chip or pitch followed by a single putt?

'Up and down' is literal: the chip or pitch gets the ball up onto the green and the putt gets it down into the hole; do it from a bunker and it is also a sandy.

Which type of golf club is typically used for the longest shots from the teeing ground?

The driver is the largest-headed and lowest-lofted club in a golfer's bag, designed to hit the ball the furthest distance from the tee at the start of a hole.

Which body governs golf for most of the world outside the United States and Mexico?

The R&A, based in St Andrews, Scotland, governs the game of golf worldwide, except in the United States and Mexico, where the United States Golf Association (USGA) is the governing body.

What is the standard diameter of a golf hole on the green?

The official diameter of a golf hole, or cup, is 4.25 inches (10.8 cm). This standard size has been in place since 1891.

In which year was the first official Ryder Cup played?

The first Ryder Cup was played in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts, where the United States beat Great Britain 9½-2½; the home side won each of the first five contests.

What is the term for the closely mown area of grass between the tee box and the green?

The fairway is the area of a golf course that is meticulously maintained with short grass, designed for players to hit their shots towards the green with relative ease.

What term describes an area of long grass or natural vegetation bordering the fairway and green?

The 'rough' refers to the areas of longer grass or unkempt natural terrain that line the fairways and surround the greens, making it more challenging to hit a ball from there.

What is the collar of slightly longer grass ringing the putting green called?

The fringe is the collar of slightly longer grass ringing the putting green, mown shorter than the fairway but longer than the green itself; it is also called the apron.

What is a sand-filled depression on a golf course, considered a hazard?

A 'bunker' is a hazard on a golf course, typically a depression filled with sand, strategically placed to challenge golfers and penalize errant shots.

What is a golf hole whose fairway runs straight and then bends sharply called?

A dogleg is named for its shape: the fairway runs straight from the tee, then bends left or right like a dog's hind leg, so the tee shot has to be placed.

What is the short, low golf shot from just off the green that rolls most of the way to the hole?

A chip stays low and runs: played from just off the green, usually with a less-lofted club, it spends little time in the air and rolls most of the way to the hole.

What is the term for a golf shot played with a high loft, designed to stop quickly on the green?

A pitch flies high and lands soft: played with a wedge lofted from about 49° to 62°, it drops onto the green and stops quickly, often with backspin.

In golf, what is the informal concession of a very short putt, counted as holed without being struck, called?

A gimme is never allowed in stroke play: the putt counts only because opponents or partners agree it would not be missed, which is why friendly rounds are full of them.

Which shot comes off the hosel and squirts sharply right, for a right-handed golfer?

A shank is struck on the hosel, where the clubface meets the shaft, so the ball squirts sharply right for a right-hander and left for a left-hander; it is the most feared mishit in golf.

What do golfers call a shot that drifts gently left to right for a right-hander?

A fade drifts gently from left to right for a right-handed golfer; it comes from a clubface slightly open to the swing path and is favoured by many pros because it lands softly.

In an Ambrose, or Texas Scramble, what happens after every player on a team has teed off?

Everyone then plays from the chosen spot, and the process repeats until the ball is holed. It is popular for charity days because weak players never sink a team.

What is the term for a golf shot that curves severely from left to right for a right-handed golfer?

A slice curves hard from left to right for a right-hander, caused by a clubface open to an out-to-in swing path; it is the most common fault among amateurs and bleeds distance.

What is the term for a golf shot that curves severely from right to left for a right-handed golfer?

A hook curves sharply from right to left for a right-handed golfer, caused by a clubface closed to the swing path; it usually flies low and runs, often into trouble on the left.

A "Nassau" wager between golfers is essentially how many separate bets?

A Nassau is three bets: the front nine, the back nine and the full 18, each usually for the same stake; side "presses" can multiply them quickly.

What is the numerical measure of a golfer's ability, in strokes, that lets players of different standards compete fairly?

A handicap lets a weekend hacker play a scratch golfer on level terms: it measures demonstrated ability in strokes, and those strokes come off the weaker player's score.

What term describes leading a tournament after every single round?

Wire-to-wire, borrowed from horse racing, means leading after every round; it is one of the harder ways to win, since the leader plays in the final group and absorbs the pressure all week.

What warning is shouted if a golf ball is heading towards other players or spectators?

The shout may come from "fore-caddie", the caddie stationed down range to spot balls, who was warned with a shortened cry of "fore!". The term was in use by at least 1881.

Who won the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush, the first held in Northern Ireland since 1951?

Shane Lowry of Ireland won the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush by six strokes over Tommy Fleetwood; the previous Open in Northern Ireland was Max Faulkner's 1951 win on the same course.

Which team event pits the United States against an International Team with no Europeans?

The Presidents Cup is a biennial men's golf competition between a team representing the United States and an International Team, composed of non-European players.

What is the format where two players on a team alternate hitting the same ball?

Foursomes, also known as 'alternate shot,' is a golf format where two players compete as a team, taking turns to hit the same golf ball until it is holed.

In which golf format do two teammates each play their own ball, with the lower score counting on each hole?

Fourball is a golf format where two players form a team, each playing their own ball throughout the hole. The team's score for the hole is the lower score of the two partners.

Which Scottish golfer became the youngest major champion by winning the 1868 Open at age 17?

Young Tom Morris won the 1868 Open at 17 years and five months, took four straight Opens by age 21 and died in St Andrews on Christmas Day 1875, aged 24.

Old Tom Morris held which job at St Andrews for 39 years, until 1903?

Old Tom Morris was the greenkeeper — formally Keeper of the Green — at St Andrews until he retired in 1903, while also working as a clubmaker, ballmaker, instructor and course designer; the R&A kept him on full salary afterwards.

The overlapping grip Harry Vardon popularised was actually originated by which golfer?

Johnny Laidlay, a Scottish amateur who won the Amateur Championship in 1889 and 1891, used the overlapping grip before Harry Vardon made it famous; it is usually called the Vardon grip.

How old was Eddie Lowery, Francis Ouimet's caddie, when the amateur won the 1913 U.S. Open?

Eddie Lowery was 10, a schoolboy who skipped class to caddie for Francis Ouimet at The Country Club in Brookline; the 20-year-old amateur beat Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff.

What did Ben Hogan collide with in the 1949 crash that nearly killed him?

Ben Hogan's Cadillac hit a Greyhound bus head-on in fog near Van Horn, Texas, in February 1949; he threw himself across his wife Valerie and survived, returning to win the 1953 Masters, U.S. Open and Open.

Bobby Jones's 1930 Grand Slam consisted of the open and amateur championships of which two countries?

Jones's 1930 Grand Slam was the Open and Amateur championships of the U.S. and the U.K.: the British Amateur at St Andrews, the Open at Hoylake, the U.S. Open at Interlachen and the U.S. Amateur at Merion.

What did Gene Sarazen score with his 'shot heard round the world' at the 1935 Masters?

Sarazen's double eagle — a 2 on the par-5 15th — came from holing a 4-wood ("spoon") from about 235 yards in the final round, tying Craig Wood; he won the 36-hole playoff the next day.

Which club did Gene Sarazen claim to have invented, debuting it secretly at the 1932 Open?

Sarazen said he built the sand wedge by soldering a flange onto a niblick after watching aircraft flaps; he hid it from officials at the 1932 Open at Prince's and won, then took the U.S. Open too.

Before winning 10 golf majors, Babe Didrikson Zaharias won Olympic medals in which sport?

Babe Didrikson won track and field gold in the javelin and 80-metre hurdles and silver in the high jump at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, then helped found the LPGA in 1950.

Which golfer won five consecutive LPGA starts in 2024, capped by the Chevron Championship?

Nelly Korda won five straight LPGA starts in 2024, from January's Drive On Championship to the Chevron Championship in April, matching the tour record set by Nancy Lopez in 1978 and equalled by Annika Sörenstam.

Where did Seve Ballesteros hit his tee shot on the 16th, yet still make birdie, en route to the 1979 Open?

Seve's drive on the 16th at Royal Lytham finished in a temporary car park; he took a free drop, hit to the green and holed for birdie, winning the first of his five majors.

Which golfer won the Masters in 1989, 1990 and 1996?

Nick Faldo won the Masters in 1989, 1990 and 1996, the last after Greg Norman squandered a six-shot final-round lead; Faldo also won three Opens for six majors in all.

Greg Norman earned his 'Great White Shark' nickname after his play at which tournament?

The nickname came at the 1981 Masters, Norman's Augusta debut, where the Australian's blond hair, aggressive play and talk of shark hunting led the press to dub him the Great White Shark; he finished fourth.

How old was Phil Mickelson when he became the oldest major winner at the 2021 PGA Championship?

He was exactly 50 years, 11 months and 7 days old.

Rory McIlroy became the first golfer from which continent to complete the modern career grand slam?

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland became the first European to hold the modern career Grand Slam when he won the 2025 Masters in a playoff over Justin Rose, joining Sarazen, Hogan, Player, Nicklaus and Woods.

Which golfer won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024 after taking the Masters that April?

Scottie Scheffler won the 2024 Masters in April and Olympic gold at Le Golf National in August, closing with a 62 to overtake Tommy Fleetwood.

The 2023 Ryder Cup was held at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near which city?

Marco Simone lies in Guidonia Montecelio, just outside Rome; Europe won 16½-11½, and Tommy Fleetwood's singles win over Rickie Fowler clinched the cup.

Who won the men's gold medal when golf returned to the Olympics in Rio in 2016?

Justin Rose of Great Britain won the 2016 Rio gold by two shots over Henrik Stenson, with Matt Kuchar taking bronze after a closing 63.

Guinness certifies Musselburgh Links as the oldest golf course; play there is documented from which year?

Golf at Musselburgh Links is documented from 2 March 1672, in the account book of Sir John Foulis of Ravelston; Mary, Queen of Scots, is said to have played there in 1567.

What was the Swilcan Bridge on the Old Course at St Andrews originally built to help do?

The Swilcan Bridge was built to let shepherds move livestock across the Swilcan Burn, centuries before golf; the small stone bridge, about 30 feet long, is reputed to be at least 700 years old.

How many double greens does the Old Course at St Andrews have?

The Old Course has seven double greens, shared by holes whose numbers add up to 18 (2 and 16, 3 and 15, and so on); only the 1st, 9th, 17th and 18th have greens of their own.

What is the minimum diameter of a golf ball under the rules?

The rules set a minimum diameter of 1.680 inches (42.67 mm) and a maximum mass of 1.620 oz (45.93 g); the smaller 1.62-inch "British ball" was phased out by the R&A in 1990.

The 19th-century 'guttie' ball was made from the dried sap of which tree?

Gutta-percha is the dried sap of the Malaysian sapodilla tree; Robert Adams Paterson of St Andrews moulded the first guttie in 1848, and it soon replaced the feather-stuffed featherie.

Which club head did Alan Shepard use to hit golf balls on the Moon during Apollo 14?

Shepard smuggled a Wilson six-iron head aboard, fixed it to the handle of a lunar sample scoop and hit two balls one-handed in his pressure suit in February 1971; the club is in the USGA Museum.

The 1980 comedy Caddyshack is set at which fictional golf course?

Caddyshack is set at the fictional Bushwood Country Club; Harold Ramis directed, and Bill Murray's greenskeeper Carl Spackler wages war on a gopher in a running subplot.

Happy Gilmore is a failed player of which sport before he takes up golf?

Happy Gilmore is a failed ice hockey player whose slapshot-style drive powers a quest to save his grandmother's house; Adam Sandler's 1996 comedy got a Netflix sequel in 2025.

How long is the par-3 17th 'Island Green' at TPC Sawgrass, home of The Players Championship?

At 137 yards the Island Green needs only a short iron, which is why Pete and Alice Dye's water-ringed target is so humbling when it swallows a ball.

By how many strokes did Tiger Woods win his first Masters in 1997?

Woods beat Tom Kite by 12 strokes, a Masters record margin; at 21 he was also the youngest champion and the first non-White winner at Augusta.

How old was Jack Nicklaus when he won his 18th major at the 1986 Masters?

Nicklaus was 46 when he shot a final-round 65, with a back nine of 30, to win the 1986 Masters by one from Greg Norman and Tom Kite — his 18th and last major.

What did Jean van de Velde score on the final hole to blow a three-shot lead at the 1999 Open?

Van de Velde needed only a double bogey but made a triple-bogey seven on Carnoustie's 18th, visiting the rough, a grandstand, the Barry Burn and a bunker, then lost a three-way playoff to Paul Lawrie.

How old was Tom Watson when he led the 2009 Open through three rounds before losing a playoff?

Watson, 59, led the 2009 Open at Turnberry after 54 holes and needed a par at the last to win, but bogeyed and lost a four-hole playoff to Stewart Cink; his last major win had come in 1983.

How many PGA Tour wins did Sam Snead record, a total later tied by Tiger Woods?

Sam Snead's 82 PGA Tour wins, including seven majors, came between 1936 and 1965; Tiger Woods tied the total at the 2019 Zozo Championship in Japan.

How many LPGA Tour events did Kathy Whitworth win, more than anyone on either major tour?

Kathy Whitworth won 88 LPGA Tour events between 1962 and 1985, more than any golfer on the LPGA or PGA Tour; she was LPGA Player of the Year seven times.

Which country does Lydia Ko, the 2024 Olympic women's golf champion, represent?

New Zealand's Lydia Ko was born in South Korea; her Paris gold completed the points for the LPGA Hall of Fame at 27, its youngest inductee.

Which golfer was struck by lightning at the 1975 Western Open, injuring his spine?

Lee Trevino was hit by lightning while sheltering beside a lake at Butler National during the 1975 Western Open; the strike damaged his spine and led to back surgery, though he won the 1984 PGA afterwards.

The FedEx Cup, introduced in 2007, gave men's professional golf its first what?

The FedEx Cup brought golf its first playoff system in 2007: a season-long points race feeds a series of playoff events that ends with the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta.

Who inaugurated the Masters Champions Dinner in 1952?

Ben Hogan, the 1951 champion, hosted the first Champions Dinner in 1952; it is held on the Tuesday of Masters week, the reigning champion picks the menu, and only past winners and the club chairman attend.

Where do amateurs in the Masters field traditionally get to stay during the tournament?

The Crow's Nest is a small room atop the Augusta National clubhouse, under the cupola, where amateurs in the field can lodge during Masters week; Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods both stayed there as amateurs.

The 'Arnold Palmer' drink named after the golfer combines lemonade with what?

Sweetened iced tea plus lemonade became the Arnold Palmer, mass-produced under his name since 2001; his galleries were known as Arnie's Army.

Which PGA Tour career-earnings mark did Arnold Palmer become the first to pass in 1968?

Palmer crossed $1 million in official PGA Tour earnings at the 1968 PGA Championship, the first golfer to do so; he grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where his father was the club's greenskeeper and pro.

Under what birth name was Gene Sarazen, winner of the career Grand Slam, born in 1902?

Born Eugenio Saraceni in Harrison, New York, he changed his name because "Saraceni" sounded like a violinist's; the Italian-American won seven majors and played on six Ryder Cup teams.