Golf Spanish for Gringo Golfers

If you come to Acapulco to play golf and are ever paired up with a local golfer or Mexican tourist, you may need to have a little background on Mexican golfers and the Spanish of golf. Here is some quick assistance.

First, Lorena Ochoa is Mexico’s most noted golfer. In 2009 she was the number one-ranked female golfer in the world and a leader of the LPGA Tour. Lorena was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco in 1981. Many think that Lee Trevino (sometimes called “Supermex” by his fans) is Mexican, but that is only true by heritage. He was born in Dallas, and lives permanently in California. He has never lived in Mexico.  Do not imagine that Chi Chi Rodriguez, Seve Ballesteros and Sergio Garcia are Mexican because they have Hispanic surnames. Chi Chi is Puerto Rican and the latter two are from Spain.

Second, there is some good news for English speakers about playing golf in Mexico: As golf was invented in Scotland, almost all of the terminology of golf is either in English or (archaically) in Scots Gaelic. (For example, “niblick” is derived from Scots “nib” for nose). Words like “birdie” and “bogey” came in from slang usage in the US and England. Thus, your Mexican golf partners will probably use the same terminology as you do – most of the time. There are a few exceptions, of course, and you should be prepared for variations in the way the words are pronounced. For example, “green” will probably be pronounced more like “gring” and will rhyme with “swing.”

The club (a location) is a “Club de Golf.” The club (stick) itself is a “palo” or “palo de golf.”  Woods are called “maderas” and irons are called “hierros” (no “h” and trill the “rr”). Your wedge (sand, pitching or loft) is a “cucharilla,” which literally means a small spoon. The putter is a “puter.”  In Spanish this word has a comical and often ironical similarity to a coarse word for prostitute. All these items go into your golf bag, or “bolsa de golf.”

You may have a caddie to help you out on the course. He is called a “caddie” or sometimes by the more generic term, “ayudante” or helper. You may be riding around the course. This is a “carrito,” “carrillo” or “carro de golf.”

A golf ball is a “bola,” though every so often it is referred to ironically as a “pelotita” or little ball, particularly when it bounces in the wrong direction. (“Pelota” is usually reserved for inflatable balls and “bola” for hard spheres, but there’s no strict rule.)

The course itself – which you will call a “course” or “links” – is a “recorrido,” which means something close to a “round.” You probably will hear the course called a “campo” or “cancha,” which are more informal usages.

The terms for “handicap” (for either a hole or a player) and “scratch” (i.e., a zero handicap player) are the same as in English, but you may hear “golpes adjudicados” or “sin golpes adjudicados” respectively. These are more like definitions than fixed terms.

The hole is a “hoyo” (which means “hole” in Mexican Spanish). Once you leave the “salida” or “tee,” you are, we hope, in the fairway, or “calle.” This is the same word as “street” in Spanish. If you missed the fairway, you are probably in the “mato” or “matorral” – the rough -- if not in the "bosque," or woods! Your objective, of course, is the “green” (the same in Spanish as in English). Try to avoid the bunkers, which are called “bunkers” in Spanish, too, but are often referred to simply as “arena” – sand. Any other hazard – water or man-made obstacle – is either a “házar” or an “obstáculo.”

A stroke is a “golpe.” A drive is a “golpe largo.” It is usually made from the “salida” – the tee. (The actual ball support -- not the starting point of a hole -- is called a “tee” on Mexican courses.) Hooks (efecto a la izquierda) and Slices (efecto a la derecha) are usually called by their English terms or perhaps by appropriate, unprintable names, just as in the States.

The second shot from the fairway, is a “golpe de aproximación” but often called ”un aproach.”  A “pitch” (short and high) is the same as in English (often pronounced “peach”), but be aware that in some Spanish-speaking countries (not Mexico) the word sounds very close to a fairly coarse term, and therefore may generate some chuckles. A “chip” (usually pronounced “cheap”) is the same term as in English, but the verb for hitting a chip is “chipear.” "Patear" is used for putting, which is often written "put," but pronounced more like "paht". "Tirar al hoyo" is a more formal expression, and can cover puts as well as long, low chips.

Top spin is either some version of “top spin” or “avance” or “efecto de avance.” Back spin follows the same convention. In Spanish it might be called “retroceso” or “efecto de retroceso.”

To “top” a ball – hit it on top so as to crease or cut it – is “topar.” The swing itself is “balanceo.”

The types of golf competitions are much the same as in English, too, though some golfers will use Spanish versions like the following: A “major” tournament is sometimes called a “gran premio.” A “master” tournament is for pros only. “Medal Play” is a competition in which the lowest adjusted score wins. “Match Play” is a tourney in which the player winning the most holes takes first place. An “open” may be called a “torneo abierto” or “torneo libre.”

Good luck – “Buena suerte” – on you golf vacation in Acapulco.