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What does Turkey mean in golf?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 08, 2026

Its origin is almost certainly American in nature. In ten-pin bowling, a trio of consecutive strikes is called a turkey, while six in a row is known as a wild, or golden, turkey. It wouldn't be the first time golf has borrowed from another sport to expand its lexicon.

Why are 3 birdies called a turkey?

During the late 1700s and into the early years of the 1800s, bowling tournaments were a popular diversion for all, from the working class to the aristocracy. The prizes typically awarded at these tournaments were gift baskets of food, often containing coveted items like a large ham or, you guessed it, a turkey!

What is a turkey trot in golf?

Usually a Turkey Trot was a game just before Xmas, for Club Members who played in a competition, with the usual nearest the pin and and longest drive and Stableford points. The winner's prize being a fresh farm turkey and the runners up ie. nearest the pin, a bottle of spirits and the longest drive a bottle of sherry.

What is 7 birdies in a row called?

6 = Sometimes referred to as a six pack or six bagger or wild turkey. 7 = Seven baggger. 8 = Eight bagger. 9 = Nine bagger or golden turkey. 10 = Ten bagger.

What is ostrich in golf?

The term "ostrich" is used to describe the completion of a hole using five fewer strokes than the par. Each hole is assigned a number of strokes that are considered to be par, otherwise known as average for the course.

44 related questions found

What is the golden rule of golf?

Play the ball as it lies. Don't move, bend, or break anything growing or fixed, except in fairly taking your stance or swing. Don't press anything down.

What is dormie in golf?

Definition of dormie

: being ahead by as many holes in golf as remain to be played in match play.

Why is golf named after birds?

A Bogey means one over par. Birdie: In the 19th century, the term "bird" was the equivalent of "cool" or "excellent" - golf scholars believe this is where the term came from. An Atlantic City, New Jersey, course claims that the term originated there in 1903. The meaning being a score of one under par.

Why is it called a bogey in golf?

The term 'bogey' comes from a song that was popular in the British Isles in the early 1890s, called "The Bogey Man" (later known as "The Colonel Bogey March"). The character of the song was an elusive figure who hid in the shadows: "I'm the Bogey Man, catch me if you can."

What's a golf albatross?

Albatross: This term means three under par, but the "double eagle" synonym is simply a continuation of the aviary theme of good scores. The albatross is rare, as is a three under par.

What does the Turkey Trot benefit?

Run a turkey trot to thank, challenge and celebrate your body for the incredible things it lets you do. Expressing gratitude is good for your health. Intentionally grateful people experience all kinds of benefits ranging from better sleep and higher self-esteem to fewer physical aches and pains.

What is a Texas Scramble golf game?

A Texas Scramble is a four-person team scramble, and this normally requires a minimum number of tee shots of each member of the team to be used during the round. Some forms of Texas Scramble require a player to play his or her own ball for the duration of each par 3 hole.

Are there any par 6 in golf?

If you have never heard of a par 6, you are not alone; there are very few of them in the U.S., but most courses with that kind of yardage take advantage of the extra swing (seven of our top ten are par 6), although some golfers don't need it.

What's below an albatross in golf?

An eagle is 2-under par on a hole. A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole. A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an "albatross"). A triple bogey is 3-over par.

What is your golf handicap if you shoot 90?

The lower the number, the better the golfer. For example, if you typically shoot around 90 on par 72 golf courses, your golf handicap would be around 18.

What is 3 shots under par called?

For hole completions three strokes under par is recognized in golf as Albatross. This is also known as “double eagle” in relation to the “birdie” and “eagle” theme. More on albatross in golf here. The reasoning for the name is that albatross is a very rare bird and so is scoring three under par.

What does par stand for in golf?

Golf Term explained: Par - (apocryphally an abbreviation for "professional average result"), standard score for a hole (defined by its length) or a course (sum of all the holes' pars).

What are the 7 golf scoring terms?

We've compiled a list of 100+ golf terms that are useful to know, but the golf scoring terms we'll cover in this guide are among the most essential when you're out on the course or watching televised golf.

What is the rarest shot in golf?

Scoring a condor is the rarest event in golf. This is normally a hole in one at a par five (a two at a par six would also count, but this has never been done). Only five condors have ever been recorded: The most recent was Kevin Pon, who made a 2 on a par 6 at Lake Chabot Golf Course on the 10th December 2020.

Whats a hole-in-one on a par 5 called?

A condor is also known as a double albatross, or a triple eagle. This is the lowest individual hole score ever made, relative to par. A condor would be a hole-in-one on a par-five (typically by cutting over a dogleg corner), a two on a par-six, or a three on a par-seven (which is not known to have been achieved).

Why do you yell fore on a golf course?

A possible origin of the word is the term "fore-caddie", a caddie waiting down range from the golfer to find where the ball lands. These caddies were often warned about oncoming golf balls by a shout of the term "fore-caddie" which was eventually shortened to just "fore!".

Why do golfers yell mashed potatoes?

Mashed potato came from one golfer wanting his mum to spot him on TV. Andrew Widmar first shouted it at the 2011 Chevron World Challenge after Tiger hit a stinger. His mum wanted to know how she could spot Widmar at the course. “What are you wearing?” she asked.

What is a scat in golf?

The USGA notes that “skins” are also known in various parts of the US as “scats”, “cats” or “syndicates” and suggests that the latter term is the likely origin of all these variations. But according to the Oxford English Dictionary, a “skin” is simply a slang term for a dollar.

Has anyone ever birdied all 18 holes?

No man or woman on any significant professional golf tour has birdied all 18 holes—in other words, scored a 54—in a single round. (Jim Furyk holds the PGA Tour record with a 58.)

Who goes first off the tee?

10-1. In match play, golfers play in this order: On the tee – On the first hole, the player listed first on the scorecard (as determined by the committee) tees off first; otherwise, the order is decided by lot or other fair means (e.g., a coin flip).