Join 4.8M+ golfers worldwide today. Download now!
Hole19 is the leading golf app for tracking scores, navigating courses with GPS precision, and unlocking performance insights.
What does "lay up" mean in golf?
Strategic golf shot played intentionally short of a hazard, green, or trouble area to ensure a safe position for the subsequent shot.
Definition
A strategic golf shot played intentionally short of a hazard, green, or trouble area to ensure a safe position for the subsequent shot. Lay-up shots represent conservative course management that prioritizes avoiding big numbers over aggressive scoring attempts. Professional golfers frequently use lay-up strategies on challenging par-5s, over water hazards, or when pins are positioned in dangerous locations. Effective lay-up play requires understanding carry distances, identifying safe landing areas, and accepting occasional bogeys to avoid double bogeys or worse. This strategy is crucial for consistent scoring and competitive golf.
List of pages that link to this term
the-19th-hole
Golf Course Management: Your Pre-Round Game Plan | Hole19
the-19th-hole
Golf Slang and Terms: Complete Dictionary for 2026
the-19th-hole
How the Hole19 App Can Improve Your Game and Save You Time
the-19th-hole
Top 15 Golf Courses in Asia-Pacific: Championship Destinations in Thailand, Japan, and Australia
Glossary terms
Join 4.8M+ golfers worldwide today. Download now!
Hole19 is the leading golf app for tracking scores, navigating courses with GPS precision, and unlocking performance insights.