# golf

/ˈɡɑɫf/ (US) · /ɡˈɒlf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/golf
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the sport

noun · CEFR A2

a game played on a large grass course where you hit a small ball into 9 or 18 holes using long metal sticks called clubs.

For teachers: an outdoor game in which a small hard ball is struck with various clubs into a series of small holes in the ground, the object being to use the fewest possible strokes.

- My grandfather spends every Saturday morning playing golf with his friends at the local club.
- The professional golf circuit requires players to maintain intense focus over four days of competition, often in unpredictable weather conditions.

### 2. the letter G

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the word used for the letter 'G' when speaking over the radio to avoid mistakes.

For teachers: the standard code word for the letter G in the NATO phonetic alphabet, used to ensure clarity in voice communication.

- The pilot confirmed the tail number as Alpha Bravo Golf.
- To prevent any ambiguity during the emergency broadcast, the operator spelled out the coordinates using the phonetic alphabet, starting with Golf.

### 4. to shorten code

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Technical

to write computer code using as few characters as possible.

For teachers: to reduce the character count of a source code file to the absolute minimum, typically as a competitive exercise.

- The programmers tried to golf their solutions to see who could write the shortest script.
- While golfing a script can be a fun intellectual challenge, the resulting code is often nearly impossible for other developers to read or maintain.

## Examples

- He plays golf with his friends every Sunday morning.
- The local business leaders often meet at the golf course to discuss deals while playing eighteen holes.
- While often perceived as a leisurely pastime, professional golf requires immense psychological focus and precise mechanical consistency to navigate the hazards of a championship-level course.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.