75 Golf Trivia Questions & Answers to Stump Your Friends

After running more golf-themed game nights than I can remember, I put together this set of 75 golf trivia questions and answers to keep every round lively.

75 golf trivia questions and answers for birdie enthusiasts

These 75 golf trivia questions and answers are ready to run whenever you need them. Pull them out at a post-round gathering, slot them into a company happy hour, or kick off a weekend with family when you want something fun that doesn't require an hour of setup.

Golf history (10 Q&A)

Q: Where did the modern game of golf originate?

A: Scotland

Q: When did Scottish records first mention people playing golf?

A: The 15th century

Q: Which golf course do historians consider the oldest in the world?

A: The Old Course at St. Andrews

Q: How many holes did players originally play at St. Andrews before golfers standardized the layout?

A: 22 holes

Q: When did St. Andrews reduce its layout to establish the modern 18-hole standard?

A: 1764

Q: Which ancient Roman sport may have influenced golf, where players used a bent stick to strike a leather ball?

A: Paganica

Q: When did golf return to the Olympic Games after a 112-year absence?

A: 2016

Q: How do Olympic golfers compete in terms of format?

A: 72-hole stroke play

Q: Which golfer won 11 consecutive PGA Tour events during his record-breaking 1945 season?

A: Byron Nelson

Q: Which female golfer became the first woman to make the cut at a PGA Tour event, and when?

A: Babe Zaharias, in 1945

Golf legends (10 Q&A)

Q: Tiger Woods turned professional in what year?

A: 1996

Q: How many PGA Tour wins does Tiger Woods have, and who shares that record with him?

A: 82 wins, shared with Sam Snead

Q: How old was Tiger Woods when he scored his first hole-in-one?

A: 8 years old

Q: Which golfer became the first Englishman to win the Masters?

A: Nick Faldo

Q: Phil Mickelson plays left-handed despite being naturally right-handed. How did he develop this habit?

A: By mirroring his father's right-handed swing as a child

Q: In the 16th century, which royal figure became the first woman recorded playing golf?

A: Mary Queen of Scots

Q: Who coined the term "birdie" and in what year?

A: Ab Smith, in 1899, after calling a shot "a bird of a shot"

Q: Who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest putt ever made, and how long was it?

A: Australian golfer Brett Stanford, at 395 feet

Q: What is the longest recorded drive in golf history?

A: 515 yards, by Mike Austin in 1974

Q: Which golfer is widely regarded as the greatest amateur golfer of all time, completing the Grand Slam in 1930?

A: Bobby Jones

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Golf rules and scoring (10 Q&A)

Q: What term describes scoring one stroke under par on a hole?

A: Birdie

Q: What does "albatross" (also known as a double eagle) mean in golf scoring?

A: Scoring three under par on a single hole, or holing out in two on a par 5

Q: How many strokes under par is an "eagle"?

A: Two strokes under par

Q: What is the term for scoring one stroke over par on a hole?

A: Bogey

Q: How many clubs is a golfer allowed to carry in their bag during a round?

A: 14 clubs

Q: What two categories of clubs does a golfer typically carry alongside a putter?

A: Woods and irons

Q: What is a "links" course most associated with in terms of playing conditions?

A: Coastal wind, firm turf, and bump-and-run shots

Q: In match play, what does it mean when a hole is "halved"?

A: Both players score the same on the hole, and neither wins it

Q: What are the two match formats most commonly used in team golf competitions like the Ryder Cup?

A: Foursomes and 4-ball

Q: What is the term for completing a hole in just one stroke?

A: A hole-in-one (or ace)

Famous golf courses and tournaments (10 Q&A)

Q: Which major championship does Augusta National Golf Club host every April?

A: The Masters

Q: What is the oldest major championship in golf?

A: The Open Championship (the British Open), first played at Prestwick in 1860

Q: Where was The Open Championship first held?

A: Prestwick, Scotland

Q: The Ryder Cup is a team competition between the United States and which other entity?

A: Europe

Q: What is the women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup called?

A: The Solheim Cup

Q: How many golf courses are there worldwide?

A: Over 38,000

Q: Which U.S. state has the most golf courses in the country, with 1,262?

A: Florida

Q: What is the longest golf course in the world, and where is it located?

A: Nullarbor Links, Australia, measuring 1,365 km

Q: The first hole at which famous major venue is a par 3; the only major rotation course to start with one?

A: Royal Lytham

Q: What are the 4 major championships in men's professional golf?

A: The Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship

Out-of-this-world golf facts (10 Q&A)

Q: Which astronaut famously played golf on the Moon in 1971?

A: Alan Shepard

Q: What club did Alan Shepard use to hit a shot on the Moon?

A: A 6-iron

Q: Golf is one of only two sports ever played on the Moon. What is the other?

A: The javelin throw

Q: What are the odds of making two holes-in-one in a single round of golf?

A: 64 million to one

Q: What is a typical golf ball's dimple count?

A: ~336 dimples 

Q: Do golf balls travel farther in hot or cold temperatures?

A: Hot temperatures

Q: What were the first golf balls made of, and until when were they used?

A: Feather-stuffed leather balls, used until 1848

Q: Despite a popular myth, what does the word "GOLF" actually stand for?

A: It simply stands for golf; it doesn’t stand for "Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden"

Q: Who is the youngest golfer on record to make a hole-in-one, and how old were they?

A: Coby Orr, at age 5, in Littleton, Colorado, in 1975

Q: How many calories do you approximately burn walking 18 holes of golf?

A: Around 1,000 to 1,500 calories

Looking for quick competition for game days? Check out Weekend and jump into trivia with Jeopardy! and Song Quiz, or solve word puzzles together with Wheel of Fortune!

Golf equipment and gear (10 Q&A)

Q: What type of club is typically used to hit the ball off a tee on a par 4 or par 5?

A: A driver (or 1-wood)

Q: What club do golfers reach for when hitting short, high-lofted shots around the green?

A: A wedge

Q: What is the name of the scoring card a golfer fills in during a round?

A: A scorecard

Q: What is the purpose of the dimples on a golf ball?

A: They reduce drag and create lift, helping the ball travel farther and more accurately

Q: What material replaced feather-stuffed leather golf balls in 1848?

A: Gutta-percha (a natural rubber material)

Q: What is the name of the area where players practice their swings before a round?

A: The driving range or practice range

Q: What is the maximum length allowed for a driver shaft on the PGA Tour?

A: 46 inches

Q: What are "spikes" on golf shoes designed to do?

A: Provide grip and stability on the turf during a swing

Q: What is the term for the grip at the end of a golf club?

A: The grip

Q: What is a "caddie" responsible for on the golf course?

A: Carrying a golfer's bag and providing advice on club selection and course strategy

Golf for families and beginners (15 Q&A)

Q: How many holes make up a standard round of golf?

A: 18 holes

Q: What is the term for the recommended number of strokes to complete a hole?

A: Par

Q: What do golfers shout to warn others when a ball is heading their way?

A: "Fore!"

Q: What is a "handicap" in golf?

A: A numerical measure of a golfer's ability that allows players of different skill levels to compete fairly

Q: What is the name of the closely mown area surrounding the hole?

A: The green

Q: What is the sandy hollow area on a golf course called?

A: A bunker (or sand trap)

Q: What is the term for a ball that lands in the water on a golf course?

A: A water hazard (or penalty area)

Q: What term describes the first stroke played on each hole?

A: The tee shot (or drive)

Q: What is "mini golf" also commonly called?

A: Miniature golf or putt-putt

Q: What is the area of rough, long grass around the fairway called?

A: The rough

Q: How does the flag in the hole help golfers navigate?

A: It marks the location of the hole on the green from a distance

Q: What is it called when a golfer sinks the ball on the green in one putt?

A: A 1-putt

Q: What is the term for when a ball goes out of the designated playing area?

A: Out of bounds (OB)

Q: How many players typically make up a group (called a "flight") on a golf course?

A: 2–4 players

Q: What is the name of the shot used to get out of a bunker?

A: A bunker shot (or sand shot)

Why golf trivia questions work so well

When I run a golf trivia night, the magic comes from the mix of people in the room. The scratch golfer who can name every major winner since 1980 somehow blanks on who coined the word "birdie," while the person who has never held a club absolutely crushes the Moon-golf question.

Golf trivia also opens up the sport to people who don't play. Once someone hears that Phil Mickelson plays left-handed because he mirrored his father's right-handed swing as a child, or that a golf ball has exactly 336 dimples, they're pulled in.

I like mixing easy questions with deep cuts.

Start with "how many holes are in a round?" to warm up the table, then hit them with "who holds the record for the longest putt ever made?" and watch the confident ones squirm. Sports trivia keeps energy high throughout the whole night, so try to mix other things in to spice it up.

Get more out of trivia with Weekend

All you need is a good set of questions, a competitive crowd, and someone willing to call out the person who insists Byron Nelson only won "a few" events in 1945.

These golf trivia questions work best when you group them into themed rounds, keep each round at 10–15 questions, and mix the easy ones in with the deep cuts. Weekend’s app offers an assortment of trivia and puzzle games sure to be the hit at your next get-together.

Here is how our most popular titles fit different types of players:

• Jeopardy! for players who crave fast clues across a wide mix of categories
• Song Quiz for music fans who guess tracks by year, genre, or decade in seconds
• Wheel of Fortune (on Roku) for puzzle solvers who love watching points rack up on screen
• 20 Questions (on Roku) for quick thinkers racing the clock to guess a hidden person, place, or thing

If you want a trivia night that runs from your couch, we built the Weekend app for smart TVs just for you. Start a 7-day free trial, load up your favorite title, and let Weekend be your game night's main event.

FAQs

Do you need to know golf to enjoy these golf trivia questions?

No, you do not need to know golf to enjoy these trivia questions. Many questions cover wild facts, history, and surprising moments that anyone can enjoy.

How many golf trivia questions should I use per round?

I recommend using 10–15 golf trivia questions per themed round. It keeps energy up and gives every player a chance to shine without dragging into the second hour.

Can I mix golf trivia questions with other sports trivia?

Yes, you can absolutely mix golf trivia questions with other sports trivia. Golf pairs especially well with general sports history questions, which helps balance the table if some guests aren't golf fans.

Can anyone enjoy trivia questions with Weekend?

Yes, anyone can enjoy trivia with Weekend because the games span ages and skill levels. Jeopardy!, Song Quiz, and 20 Questions all give every player a real chance to score.

How can I get Weekend on my smart TV?

You can get Weekend on your smart TV by downloading it directly on Roku, Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, or LG Smart TVs. Open your TV's app store, search for Weekend, and start a 7-day free trial to get your first game night running in minutes.