a game in which clubs with wooden or metal heads are used to hit a small, white ball into a number of holes, usually 9 or 18, in succession, situated at various distances over a course having natural or artificial obstacles, the object being to get the ball into each hole in as few strokes as possible.
a word used in communications to represent the letter G.
1425–75; late Middle English; of uncertain origin
Golf is a game that involves using a club to hit a small ball into a series of cups laid out on a course. If golf seems too difficult, you might try taking up miniature golf — with a short course and whimsical obstacles — instead. Scotland is famous for its golf courses, and in fact the game was invented there during the 15th century. Golf comes from the Scottish gouf, an alteration of the Middle Dutch colf, "bat or club." The first known printed use of the word golf was in a statute banning the game — King James II believed that archery was more important and that golf was a distraction. Later monarchs enjoyed the game and lifted the ban.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Last year, it launched Good Good Girls, which posts similar content starring several women who played collegiate golf.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
"At the moment, we're using world-class drinking water to cool data centres, to irrigate our golf courses," Daniel Johns says.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
It marks a notable pivot for the brothers, who for years were focused on their father’s turf of real estate, golf and branding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Luke works in golf and his role can require a lot of waiting around on courses, which can be painful.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
He’d been a competitive swimmer and boxer in school, too, and as an adult was a fan of every televised sport, from professional golf to the NHL.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
One sporting event which has reduced the opportunity for past champions to return is the Open Golf Championship.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
LIV Golf, the once-promising challenger to the PGA Tour, laid off most of its staff.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Earlier this week, the Golf Channel postponed the premiere of reality show “Big Break x Good Good” because one of the sponsors wanted out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
The PGA Tour also distanced itself from Good Good Golf, announcing the company would no longer serve as title sponsor of an upcoming tournament.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
The crowds that daily left London, left it only to play Electromagnetic Golf or Tennis.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
He now has a weekly lunch with single and retired male neighbors, golfs, and has taken up pickleball.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 25, 2026
“It’s still hard, but that’s natural because a lot of players like golfing on the weekend,” said Jongseo Joseph Lee, president of the SoCal Dream Golf Club, who golfs twice a month on city courses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2025
Perdue often golfs with Trump and speaks with him frequently by phone.
From Reuters ● Jan. 5, 2021
The other can’t be bothered to do his homework and golfs instead.
From New York Times ● Jul. 18, 2020
With a ten-mile spin she stretches her limbs, She golfs, she punts, she rows, she swims - She plays, she sings, she dances, too, From ten or eleven till all is blue!
From Songs of a Savoyard by Sir W. S. (William Schwenck) Gilbert
His visit came just weeks after Trump arrived in Scotland for a flying visit, where he too golfed at Turnberry and his course at Menie in Aberdeenshire.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2025
For years after the campaign, the two men golfed together, and as vice president Mr. Biden had Mr. Burris and his granddaughter into the White House.
From New York Times ● May 2, 2024
But his 0-1 curveball was golfed over the right-field fence.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2024
He golfed in Scotland, belonged to the Newport Beach Yacht Club, and flew his plane to tailgate at Notre Dame before football games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2023
Said she, 'You fancy you have seen the Deevil, And golfed and bargained wi' the Prince o' Evil; You've had the horrors, it would seem, And what you tell us was a drunkard's dream.'
From A Golfing Idyll or The Skipper's Round with the Deil On the Links of St. Andrews by Violet Flint
He could have spent his whole life doing nothing but golfing and hanging out with Jeffrey Epstein, and he would have ended up vastly more wealthy than he is today.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026
In one, apparently written during or after an overseas golfing trip, Harp apologizes for having sprinted after the president for lack of a golf cart.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
The Wrights have dinner together every night and go golfing or walking together a few times a month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
In addition to teaching and writing, he enjoyed golfing, horseback riding, fighting City Hall over an environmental issue, volunteering in soup kitchens and speaking to youth organizations, according to his bio.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
He was wearing what appeared to be a golfing sweater and a very old pair of jeans, slightly too big for him and held up with a thick leather belt.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
