golf
C1Neutral. Common in formal sports reporting, business contexts (golf as networking), leisure, and everyday conversation.
Definition
Meaning
A sport in which players use various clubs to hit a small ball into a series of holes on a course, aiming to complete each hole in the fewest strokes possible.
Also refers to the activity of playing this sport ('to play golf'), as well as things related to it (golf club, golf course). Verb form: to play golf.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun referring to the sport. Can be used attributively (golf shoes, golf pro). The verb 'to golf' (US) or 'to play golf' (UK/US) is derived from the noun.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Verb usage: 'to golf' is more common and acceptable in American English. British English typically prefers 'to play golf'. The word itself is identical in spelling and core meaning.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. Often associated with business, leisure, middle/upper class, and a certain lifestyle. Can carry connotations of exclusivity due to cost and club membership.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both varieties due to the global nature of the sport.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[play] + golf[go for] + a + round of golf[be] + keen on + golfVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “golf widow (a person whose spouse spends excessive time playing golf)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically for networking and deal-making ('We sealed the deal on the golf course').
Academic
Rare, except in sports science, leisure studies, or sociology of sport.
Everyday
Common in discussions of hobbies, weekend plans, holidays, and sports news.
Technical
Specific in sports coaching (swing mechanics, club fitting, course management).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He plays golf every Saturday.
- They are planning to go golfing in Scotland next summer.
American English
- He golfs every weekend.
- She golfs a 15 handicap.
adjective
British English
- He bought a new golf umbrella.
- She works at the golf club.
American English
- He's wearing his golf shoes.
- They live on a golf course.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I play golf with my father.
- He has a new golf ball.
- We're going for a round of golf this afternoon.
- She's watching a golf tournament on TV.
- Negotiations often take place in informal settings like the golf course.
- His passion for golf borders on the obsessive.
- The merger was effectively concluded during a four-hour round of golf.
- Golf course management requires significant ecological consideration regarding water usage.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GOLF: Game Of Looking For (the ball).
Conceptual Metaphor
BUSINESS IS GOLF (negotiating a deal is like playing a round), LIFE IS A GOLF COURSE (with hazards and goals).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'golf' meaning a type of sweater (гольф). The sport is 'гольф' in Russian but pronounced differently. The sweater is 'водолазка' or 'свитер с высоким воротом'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect pluralisation ('golfs' for multiple games – use 'rounds of golf'). Incorrect article ('play the golf' – omit the article).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT a typical collocation with 'golf'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As the name of the sport, it is generally uncountable. You play 'golf', not 'a golf'. However, you can have 'a round of golf'.
'Golf' refers to the traditional sport played on large, landscaped courses. 'Mini-golf' (also called 'crazy golf' in the UK or 'putt-putt' in the US) is a putting-only game on small, artificial obstacle courses.
Yes, particularly in American English ('Let's golf on Saturday'). In British English, 'play golf' is more common, but 'golfing' as a gerund/participle is widely used ('He went golfing').
It's a humorous or slightly critical term for a person (often a spouse) whose partner spends so much time playing golf that they are often left alone.