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.
Winning a golf tournament is just really, really hard to do.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
It’s next to the waterpark, mini golf course and go-kart track.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
A division spokesperson confirmed an act of vandalism occurred on the golf course, but declined to share further details because of the open investigation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
To that point, he’d only made smaller contributions, primarily to the club hockey and golf teams.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
There is a pirate’s coin from Pirate’s Cove, the big mini golf place on 28.
From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
In 2019, he presented the BBC NI television documentary Links to the Past: Pioneers of Ulster Golf.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Golf courses have long been a focal point of protest and vandalism.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Englishman Tommy Fleetwood should know Royal Birkdale Golf Club better than just about anybody.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Chief executive Mark Darbon says the R&A is "getting pretty close" to staging an Open Championship outside of the United Kingdom for the first time, at Portmarnock Golf Club in Dublin.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
“Along with them all the old man’s mental peculiarities. Characters remain constant throughout a whole lifetime.” “. . . two rounds of Obstacle Golf to get through before dark. I must fly.”
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Trump regularly golfs at his courses in Florida and Virginia on weekends.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 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
Worse, he no longer golfs or snowmobiles —- including rides with his brother, friends and his 20-year-old son, Anthony.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 5, 2024
Perdue often golfs with Trump and speaks with him frequently by phone.
From Reuters ● Jan. 5, 2021
Mud Turtle, 'spec' dese gen'men gwine to give us fo' bits, mebbe, fo' he'pin 'em hunt dese golfs what we ain't seed.
From Lady Luck by Wiley, Hugh
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
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
Bichette golfed the low pitch over the wall for two-run homer.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 9, 2024
We had golfed until golfing was invisible; we had dined, and we were in that mood of tranquil kindliness when men will suffer a story.
From Twelve Stories and a Dream by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)
Scheffler's surprising soliloquy about the importance of chasing golfing greatness caused a stir at Portrush last year and the four-time major winner flirted with similar territory at Birkdale.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 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
As much as I enjoyed the golfing relationship, I’m grateful I never became a client because, in hindsight, I no longer believe the friendship was authentic.
From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026
Her father was golfing, and her mother was running errands.
From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech
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.
