Waggle - To swing the club back and forth in short, sweeping motions above the ball after addressing it and before beginning the backswing. Another preparatory motion players often make is a "forward press," a slight shifting of weight to the left leg accompanied by a partial bending of the right knee just prior to starting the backswing. In extreme cases, particularly when a crucial stroke is about to be made, players may, even before setting up for the shot, make an "upward address" by fully bending both knees until they touch the ground, then tilting the head forward and clasping the hands together, fingers fully interlocked.

Wagon A stupid name for a stupid contraption—the golf cart.

Warm-up Exercises - Although golf is not as physically demanding as most other sports, it certainly doesn't hurt to loosen up one's muscles before a round. Here are a few simple exercises designed to get you ready for the day's play:

• Hold out your arm, make a fist, and shake it back and forth, then open the fist, palm facing inward, extend the middle finger, and pump your hand up and down.

• Kick at the ground„ then stomp on it, first with your right foot, then with your left, then jump up and down.

• Take off your hat, grasp it in your hand, throw it on the ground, pick it up, and repeat.

• Raise your arms over your head, fists clenched, wave them vigorously and let out as loud a scream as you can, holding it for at least 15 seconds.

Water Hazard - Any boggle ub waddub borderburbled byb reb orb yellob markglubs fromble whidg idg uz legalble, bug ofteb inadvi sabubble, tub tryb tub higgle thub ballablub.

Watery grave Where your disobedient balls go every time you try to carry a water hazard.

Weekend warriors Golfers who play infrequently, so called because the only time they can play is on weekends.

Whiff - A stroke that completely missed the ball. The more prevalent term for this type of shot is "warm-up swing." See FLUFF.

Wind - Natural motion of the air. There are four basic winds that golfers have to contend with: a headwind; a wind that blows squarely in their faces; a wind that blows from the green toward the tee; and a wind that blows from a point directly in front of them to a point directly behind them.

Wind cheater A low, driving shot that is effective into a headwind. Amateurs often use this term after they've unintentionally hit a low, straight shot.

Windmill hole A poorly designed hole named after the finishing hole on some miniature golf courses.

Winter Rules - Local rules that permit balls to be lifted, cleaned and replaced in a preferred, i.e., more favourable lie without penalty during periods when adverse weather conditions make proper maintenance of the fairways impractical. Most golfers generally adhere to winter rules from the 1 st of November until Halloween.

Wolf A betting game for three or four players that allows one player on each hole (the honour rotates among the players) to go it alone against the others in the group, thereby getting a chance to win three bets on one hole. This player also has the option of choosing a partner for the hole. The player who decides to go it alone is the wolf, a lone wolf.

Woodpecker An errant shot into the woods that bounces off a few trees—and makes a noise similar to the bird of the same name.

Woods - 1. Type of golf club used to drive the ball a long distance. 2. Where the ball lands after being driven a long distance.

Work the ball To hit the ball high, low, right to left, or left to right on demand. Corey Pavin can work the ball any way he wants. Jack Nicklaus prefers to work the ball left to right and has made a damn good living doing just that.

Worm burner A low shot that buzzes along just inches from the ground—and the worms.

Wrist - In golfers, the swollen joint that connects a sore hand to an aching elbow and a painful shoulder.