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.
She also ordered the government to give three business days' notice before making any further "irreparable modification" to the East Potomac golf course and scheduled a follow-up hearing for October 19.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
Maguire can be seen pronouncing Ogunlesi and jewelry designer Meyer, 49, husband and wife as the newlyweds share a kiss in a photo from the luxury golf course wedding.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Nearby is the Black Desert Resort, which hosts an annual PGA Tour golf tournament.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
At odds with the county, Sramek found an ally in Bret Prebula, a former golf pro and restless dealmaker who is city manager of Suisun City, one of Solano County’s poorest communities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
They returned, and after Dasch changed into a pair of gray checkered golf pants, the men crouched down and waited.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
Jon Rahm will leave LIV Golf after deeming the proposed terms for LIV 2.0 "unacceptable", his lawyer has told a bankruptcy court hearing.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
In February, Mickelson announced that he would miss the first two LIV Golf events of the year because he and his wife, Amy Mickelson, “need to be present for a family health matter.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
The only tournament the golfer known as Lefty has competed in this year was LIV Golf South Africa, where he finished at 7-under par and tied for 48th place, in March.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
The crowd gathered at the Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg for the trophy presentation whistled and cheered at the news.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
Then what about a round of Electromagnetic Golf at St. Andrew’s?
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
She also golfs frequently and is reported to be playing off a handicap of low single figures.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 8, 2022
Ms. Benefield was diagnosed with asbestosis and has been on supplemental oxygen full-time since 2015, though she still golfs and bowls, she says.
From New York Times ● Feb. 25, 2022
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
During his time in the country, he golfed at President Donald Trump's Turnberry resort and also spent time in the Cotswolds in England, where he met foreign secretary, David Lammy.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2025
And with two outs, Jason Heyward golfed another long ball deep to right.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2024
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
To be sure, she had heard some one saying that he golfed extremely well; but as yet her social education was far too rudimentary to allow her mind to grasp all that that fact connoted.
From The Brentons by Wilson C. Dexter
Redick praised how Doncic planned a team minicamp in Slovenia where players and some assistant coaches participated in basketball practices while enjoying team-bonding activities such as golfing, rowing and sightseeing in Doncic’s hometown of Ljubljana.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
The golf-mad president -- whose relaxed relationship with the game's rules was documented by sports journalist Rick Reilly in the 2019 book "Commander in Cheat" -- has repeatedly boasted about his golfing talent.
From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026
Police released body camera footage in April that captured the aftermath of the incident, showing the golfing legend after his vehicle clipped a truck and rolled over.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
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 think he really thought if the boys wanted to go mini golfing, it was as simple as getting in a nice car and going.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
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.
