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50 Golf Trivia Questions and Answers

Play 50 golf trivia questions and answers about rules, scoring, the men's majors, legendary golfers, famous courses, and global team events.

The Sportagories Team · July 12, 2026 · 6 min read

These golf trivia questions move from everyday scoring language to major-championship history, iconic players, and celebrated courses. There are 50 questions in five rounds of 10, with concise explanations that help occasional players and devoted golf historians compete in the same quiz.

Count one point for each correct answer, select a round for a clubhouse icebreaker, or play all five for a complete 50-point game. The final round broadens the field with women's golf, international team events, and the Olympic Games.

How to host a golf trivia game

Allow roughly 20 seconds for scoring terms and 30 seconds for championship history. State whether you need the full course or player name before each round. If teams are tied after 50, use a separate closest-to-the-pin question and keep its answer hidden until estimates are locked. For example: how many strokes did Tiger Woods take over 72 holes at the 2008 U.S. Open? The host's answer is 283.

  • Round 1 establishes the rules and scoring vocabulary.
  • Rounds 2 and 3 cover the men's majors and landmark careers.
  • Rounds 4 and 5 explore courses, championship history, women's golf, and team events.

How the golf facts were checked

Rules terminology was checked against the Rules of Golf jointly maintained by the USGA and The R&A. Championship history and records were cross-checked with the official Masters, U.S. Open, The Open, PGA Championship, LPGA, and PGA Tour archives. The set favors completed events and dated achievements rather than changing rankings or current-season leaders.

Round 1: Golf Rules and Scoring

What does par mean on a golf hole?

It is the score a skilled player is expected to make on that hole under normal conditions.

What is one stroke under par on a hole called?

A birdie.

What is two strokes over par on a hole called?

A double bogey.

What is three strokes under par on a hole commonly called?

An albatross, also known as a double eagle.

What is one stroke over par on a hole called?

A bogey.

How many clubs may a player normally carry during a round?

No more than 14 clubs under the Rules of Golf.

What is a provisional ball used for?

It can save time when the original ball may be lost outside a penalty area or may be out of bounds.

What is the usual penalty procedure for a ball hit out of bounds?

Stroke and distance: add one penalty stroke and play again from where the previous stroke was made.

How does match-play scoring differ from stroke play?

Match play is decided hole by hole, while stroke play totals strokes over the stipulated round or rounds.

How many penalty strokes are added when a player takes standard unplayable-ball relief?

One penalty stroke, followed by one of the relief options allowed by the Rules.

Round 2: The Four Men's Major Championships

Which men's major is played every year at Augusta National Golf Club?

The Masters Tournament.

What pre-tournament competition is traditionally played on Augusta National's short course?

The Masters Par 3 Contest.

Which organization conducts the U.S. Open?

The United States Golf Association, or USGA.

What trophy is presented to the winner of The Open?

The Claret Jug, formally the Golf Champion Trophy.

What trophy does the PGA Championship winner receive?

The Wanamaker Trophy.

Who won the first Masters Tournament in 1934?

Horton Smith won the event then called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament.

Who won the first U.S. Open in 1895?

English professional Horace Rawlins won at Newport Golf Club.

Who won the first Open Championship in 1860?

Willie Park Sr. won the eight-man event at Prestwick.

Who won the inaugural PGA Championship in 1916?

Jim Barnes won at Siwanoy Country Club in New York.

Which of the four men's majors is the only one played at the same course every year?

The Masters, held at Augusta National since the tournament began.

Round 3: Golf Legends and Records

Who won golf's celebrated Grand Slam of the era in 1930?

Bobby Jones won the U.S. and British amateur championships plus the U.S. Open and The Open.

Who completed the first modern career Grand Slam at the 1935 Masters?

Gene Sarazen, whose victory included the famous Shot Heard 'Round the World.

Which three majors did Ben Hogan win in 1953?

The Masters, U.S. Open, and The Open; scheduling prevented him from playing the PGA Championship.

How many men's major championships did Jack Nicklaus win?

Nicklaus won 18 professional majors from 1962 through 1986.

What is the Tiger Slam?

Tiger Woods's run of four consecutive major victories from the 2000 U.S. Open through the 2001 Masters.

Which three golfers were marketed as the Big Three in the 1960s?

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player.

Which South African became the third man to complete the modern career Grand Slam?

Gary Player completed it by winning the 1965 U.S. Open.

Who won 11 consecutive PGA Tour starts in 1945?

Byron Nelson set the remarkable winning streak during an 18-victory season.

Which golfer was nicknamed the Slammer?

Sam Snead, admired for one of the game's smoothest swings.

Who became the oldest winner of The Open in 1867?

Old Tom Morris was 46 years and 102 days old when he won at Prestwick.

Round 4: Famous Courses and Championship History

Which course is widely known as the Home of Golf?

The Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland.

Which three holes at Augusta National are called Amen Corner?

Holes 11, 12, and 13.

In which U.S. state is Oakmont Country Club?

Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh.

Pebble Beach Golf Links overlooks which California bay?

Carmel Bay on the Monterey Peninsula.

Carnoustie Golf Links is located in which country?

Scotland, on the coast of Angus.

Which club is often referred to by the name of the nearby town Hoylake?

Royal Liverpool Golf Club in England.

Which hole at TPC Sawgrass is famous for its island green?

The par-three 17th hole on the Stadium Course.

Which New York public course became the first publicly owned venue to host the U.S. Open in 2002?

Bethpage State Park's Black Course.

Which municipal course hosted Tiger Woods's 2008 U.S. Open playoff victory?

The South Course at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

Where was the first Ryder Cup played in 1927?

Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts, where the United States defeated Great Britain.

Round 5: Women's Golf, Team Events, and the Global Game

Who won the first U.S. Women's Open in 1946?

Patty Berg defeated Betty Jameson in the match-play final.

Which American won 13 women's major championships between 1958 and 1966?

Mickey Wright.

Who became the first woman to shoot 59 in an official LPGA Tour round?

Annika Sörenstam shot 59 at the 2001 Standard Register PING.

Which golfer recorded 88 official LPGA Tour victories during her career?

Kathy Whitworth won 88 times between 1962 and 1985.

Which South Korean star won the 1998 U.S. Women's Open in a 20-hole playoff?

Se Ri Pak, whose breakthrough inspired a generation of Korean golfers.

Which Mexican golfer spent 158 consecutive weeks at number one in the women's world ranking?

Lorena Ochoa held the top position from April 2007 until her retirement in May 2010.

Which teams contest the Ryder Cup?

The United States and Europe compete in the men's team event.

What is the women's team competition between the United States and Europe called?

The Solheim Cup.

Which sides compete in the Presidents Cup?

The United States faces an International Team representing eligible players from outside the United States and Europe.

Who won golf's individual gold medals when the sport returned to the Olympics in 2016?

Justin Rose won the men's event and Inbee Park won the women's event in Rio de Janeiro.

Finished all 18 holes and then some? See how many major champions you can identify.

Play Golf Major Champions →

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