What does golfer mean?
A golfer is a person who plays golf, the club-and-ball sport in which players try to put a ball into a series of holes on a course. The term is standard in British and American English and applies whether the person plays recreationally or professionally. In a professional context, it can mean a player who competes in tournaments, while in general conversation it simply identifies someone whose hobby or sport is golf. The word carries no strong positive or negative connotation; its associations depend largely on the speaker and context, ranging from admiration for an accomplished competitor to the familiar jokes and minor injuries associated with the game. Collocations such as “professional golfer” and “golfer’s elbow” make its sporting meaning especially clear. For a general reader, golfer is useful because it names the person rather than the activity itself: golf is the game, and a golfer is one of its players.
nounA person who plays golf, whether recreationally or as a professional competitor.
- A person who plays golf, especially as a professional or competitive player.
"The golfer carefully studied the green before attempting her putt."
"Several local golfers joined the charity tournament."
"The magazine profiled a professional golfer who had returned to competition after an injury."
The regular plural is golfers, used for multiple people who play golf.
"The course is popular with golfers on weekends."
A golfer may aim for par, but the real challenge is the walk between shots.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does golfer come from?
The word golfer is an English agent noun formed from golf by adding the suffix -er, meaning “one who plays.” Golf was already in use in England by the late 16th century, although its ultimate origin is uncertain and has often been connected with a Dutch dialect word. Related English forms include golfing and the informal adjective golfy, while parallel sporting terms such as German Golfer and French Golfeur were formed on the same international vocabulary.
Related word forms
How golfer is actually used
The term is neutral and is used for players at every level. Professional contexts emphasize competitive status, while informal contexts often use it simply to identify a person whose hobby is golf.
Easily confused with golfer
Golf names the sport, while a golfer is a person who plays it.