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.
WSJ | Buy Side: See our guide to the best khakis for the office, the golf course or off-duty days.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
Garrett Clark and his buddies spent years building an ultra popular YouTube channel devoted to their love of golf.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
American golf brand Good Good has one of the most popular sport YouTube channels with 2.13m subscribers and had created and published the advert for Callaway last week.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
The brand, which has become one of the largest content creators in golf, launched its YouTube channel 2020.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
“You sure? In case they decide they want to go mini golf or something?”
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
Jon Rahm’s decision on where to play next season holds an outsize influence on the future of LIV Golf as the league scrambles for cash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
One sporting event which has reduced the opportunity for past champions to return is the Open Golf Championship.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 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
Good Good Golf, which centers its business around a successful YouTube channel aimed at bringing a younger audience to the sport, had already apologized for the controversial advert.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
Then what about a round of Electromagnetic Golf at St. Andrew’s?
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
He frequently golfs at his courses in Florida or Virginia on weekends, and he keeps in touch with golf personalities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 13, 2025
“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
He golfs, attends a men’s prayer group, plays the bagpipes, marches in parades and enjoys the company of his seven grandchildren, all boys.
From New York Times ● Feb. 26, 2023
Perdue often golfs with Trump and speaks with him frequently by phone.
From Reuters ● Jan. 5, 2021
Some parts, de wild golfs run 'roun' so thick a man hardly kin plough his fiel', 'thout carryin' six or eight shotguns on de plow.
From Lady Luck by Hugh Wiley
In March of this year, Trump golfed with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in West Palm Beach, partnering in a club tournament Trump said the two men won.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2025
He even golfed at Pebble Beach in May.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 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 Ryan McMahon golfed a cutter over the wall for a solo homer to make it 4-0.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 1, 2024
I golfed a lot. edward. How long were you with them? alice. Not a fortnight.
From Three Plays by Granville-Barker The Marrying of Ann Leete; The Voysey Inheritance; Waste by Harley Granville-Barker
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
“I’ve heard some creative excuses for blocking housing in Los Angeles, but golfing mountain lions may take the prize.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 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
A new PlayStation service lets members pay for rewards—such as a deal on an outfit for a golfing avatar—and in turn, CleanPlay commits to paying for renewable energy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
He was dressed in golfing clothes and looked slightly ill at ease.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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.
