golf S2 W3 /ɡɒlf $ ɡɑːlf, ɡɒːlf/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: Perhaps from Middle Dutch colf 'stick for hitting a ball' ]
a game in which the players hit a small white ball into holes in the ground with a set of golf clubs, using as few hits as possible:
He plays golf on Sundays.
a round of golf (=complete game of golf)
—golfer noun [countable]
—golfing noun [uncountable]
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ play golf
I play golf at the weekends.
▪ take up golf (=start playing golf)
He took up golf as a way of getting more exercise.
■ phrases
▪ a game of golf
Anybody fancy a game of golf this afternoon?
▪ a round of golf (=a complete game of golf)
He invited me to join him for a round of golf.
■ golf + NOUN
▪ a golf course (=an area of land designed for playing golf)
an 18-hole golf course
▪ a golf club/Club (=an organization that you join in order to use its golf course, or the building where members meet)
the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
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a party at the golf club
▪ a golf club (=a long thin metal stick used to hit the ball in golf)
He spent $2000 on a new set of golf clubs.
▪ a golf tournament/championship
She decided to enter the golf tournament.
▪ somebody's golf swing (=the way someone moves a golf club when hitting the ball)
Keith's been working on improving his golf swing.
▪ a golf bag (=that holds the clubs)
I put the golf bag over my shoulder.
▪ a golf cart (=a small car used on golf courses)
He used a golf cart to get around the course.
▪ a golf professional
Jack's hoping to become a golf professional.
▪ a golf lesson
I'm thinking of taking golf lessons.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + golf
▪ 18-hole/9-hole golf
Facilities include an 18-hole golf course.
▪ amateur/professional golf
The standard of women's amateur golf is certainly improving.
▪ tournament/championship golf
The course is suitable for modern world-class championship golf.