
Even beginner golfers know common terms such as âpar,â âbogeyâ and âfore!â But not everyone knows the etymology behind most golf terms. Here are a few terms of interest and their origins that Old Palmâs members can use to entertain the others in their foursome. Albatross. Scoring three under par on one hole (a 2 on a Par 5 for instance) is an albatross, which is a continuation of the birdie-eagle theme. An albatross is more commonly known as a double eagle. Old Palm member and resident Louis Oosthuizen made his most famous albatross on the Par 5 second hole in the 2012 Masters, after holing a 253-yard four iron. Bunker. Itâs a bunker not a sand trap. The term comes from the Scottish word âbonkar,â meaning âchestâ â the kind that holds something, like poorly struck golf balls. Raymond Floyd designed Old Palmâs golf course with dozens of strategically placed bunkers that are challenging yet fair. Caddy. The word derives from the French words âle cadet,â meaning âthe boy.â Military cadets were once used to carry the clubs for French royalty that played golf in the 1600s. Old Palm has one of the finest caddy programs in the Palm Beaches, allowing members to play at their very best. Fairway. This is the short grass between the tee and the green. âFairwayâ may derive from the term âfair green,â which first appeared in the 1744 edition of the Rules of Golf, meaning grass that isnât green or tee. Old Palmâs fairways are seeded with Paspalum grass so the ball sits up beautifully.