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Fairway Support›Glossary›The Turn

The Turn

The transition point between the front nine and back nine holes of an 18-hole round.

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The term comes from the layout of old Scottish links courses, which typically ran straight out from the clubhouse for nine holes before golfers literally turned around and played the second nine back in the opposite direction. That's also why scorecards still label the front nine "Out" and the back nine "In," a layout the Old Course at St Andrews still uses today.

More course & etiquette terms

Fore!

The traditional warning shout when a ball might be heading toward someone, always yell it, immediately, if there's any doubt.

Honor

The right to tee off first on a hole, traditionally earned by having the lowest score on the previous hole.

Ready Golf

An informal approach to pace of play where whoever is ready hits, instead of strictly playing in honor order, common (and encouraged) in casual rounds.

Out of Bounds (OB)

The area outside the legal boundaries of the course, marked with white stakes, hitting a ball there costs stroke and distance.

Penalty Area (Hazard)

Water or other marked areas (yellow or red stakes/lines) where a ball landing inside carries a one-stroke penalty and specific relief options.

Provisional Ball

A backup ball played when the original might be lost or out of bounds, to save time walking back if it is.