From Augusta’s fairways to your next metaphorical mulligan, the language of golf has reached far beyond the course. In this witty and word-rich episode of Lexiconned, we explore the origins, myths, and double meanings behind 18 iconic golf terms—from par and birdie to duff, shank, and mulligan.
Whether you're a scratch golfer or a vocabulary duffer, this episode tees up the surprising ways golf talk has made its way into everyday speech—and culture at large.
Warning: May cause spontaneous whispering and sudden urges to wear pastel.
#podcast #language #golf #Masters
Sources
- Oxford English Dictionary – Entries for “par,” “bogey,” “mulligan,” “fore,” and more
- Online Etymology Dictionary – Golf term origins, including “hook,” “slice,” “duff,” and “drive”
- The USGA and R&A – Official rules and definitions of golf terms
- “The Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms” by Peter Davies
- Atlantic City Country Club Archives – Birdie origin story
- The New York Times & Maclean’s Magazine – First printed use of “eagle”
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge – The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (re: albatross)
- BBC Sports History Archives – Bogeyman and Colonel Bogey references
- Golf Digest & Golf.com – Cultural references and Masters history
- The Simpsons, Season 1–34 – Honorary source for “Duff”
Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Boysober
Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you stopped worrying about being wanted, and focused on understanding what you actually want? That was the question Hope Woodard asked herself after a string of situationships inspired her to take a break from sex and dating. She went "boysober," a personal concept that sparked a global movement among women looking to prioritize themselves over men. Now, Hope is looking to expand the ways we explore our relationship to relationships. Taking a bold, unfiltered look into modern love, romance, and self-discovery, Boysober will dive into messy stories about dating, sex, love, friendship, and breaking generational patterns—all with humor, vulnerability, and a fresh perspective.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com