[Kim Maengnyeong's Golf English Conversation] "What Does Tough Shot Mean?"

Bunker shots that are difficult to play require a layup.

Golf often uses the term ‘tough.’

As an adjective, it means difficult, hard, strict, or harsh. Here are some examples of how 'tough' is used in practice: a tough hole where making par is difficult, a tough putt, the toughest lie in the rough, tough pin placement, a tough shot to play, tough luck, and the toughest six days in golf referring to the grueling Q-School tournament to secure a tour card.

As a noun, a ‘tough guy’ refers to a macho man, often a handsome man with a masculine appearance. Bryson DeChambeau and Bubba Watson (both from the USA), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) are representative examples. Among Korean players, Hong Sun-sang, Kim Tae-hoon, Kim Si-woo, and Bae Sang-moon are noted. In the COVID-19 era, expressions like "This is a tough year" and "Things have been tough" are commonly used.

Tough Hole

Golfer A: It’s a tough hole. From here it’s a blind green and it’s also guarded by three sand traps.

Golfer B: Yes, and it’s pretty tough for average golfers to hit onto the elevated green in regulation.

Tough Putt

Golfer A: That was a tough putt, wasn’t it?

Golfer B: Yes, it was a long downhill putt and broke to the left.

Tough Pin Placement

Golfer A: Where is the pin placement?

Golfer B: The pin placement is tough because it is cut very close to a sand trap.

Written and photographed by Kim Maeng-nyeong, Golf Columnist