Mike from Philadelphia submitted this question (to me, not the Goose):
Someone was telling me that there are different types of golfers such as Golf freaks, trunk slammers, and club members. I was trying to get a good definition for each but I couldn’t find much on the internet because it appears some of these terms are slang. I was wondering if you’ve ever heard these terms used a lot and if you have an idea how you would define these terms.
Mike figured out that these terms are slang right away. Good job, Mike. Aside from “golf freak,” I have never actually heard these terms used, but I won’t let that stop me from answering the question and defining the terms here and now.
Golf Freak(g
lf fr
k), n.
1: A golfer that is markedly unusual or deformed; (see circus freak)
2: A person who is so utterly devoted or addicted to the game of golf that he or she plays as often as possible, can’t get enough gear or knowledge of all things golf, constantly talks about golf and proselytizes; (see Jesus freak, golf blogger)
3: A combination of 1 and 2 (see photo insert)
Mediaeagle, the golf freak
photo courtesy www.eatgolf.com
Trunk slammer (tr
ngk sl
m
r), n.
1: A person who slams the trunk of a car
2: An occasional golfer not overly concerned with rules, etiquette, or his or her equipment (they park their cars, grab their gear, slam their trunks and off they go)
Club member (klb m
mbr), n.
1: A member of a club
2: A golfer belonging to a private country club
3: slang A golfer of limited ability belonging to a private country club who looks down on non-members and trunk slammers (see pompous, snob, Judge Smails) and expects to get the “members bounce” even when playing an alternate course
Thanks for the question, Mike. I hope this helps.
August 3, 2006 at 1:56 pm
Hi Golfchick. I thought a trunk-slammer was someone who golfed Thursday and Friday in a tournament but didn’t make the cut. So they left Friday night after loading up the clubs and shoes and slamming the trunk. Anyone else think that?
Golfchickwannabe
August 3, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Hey, that makes sense too!
August 3, 2006 at 3:22 pm
A trunk slammer is someone who plays on a semi private or private course and is not a member. They generally are getting on the course by staying at a resort in the area. they arrive at the cours in groups (4 to a car) to play early in the morning 6-8 AM(members prefer to play at a more civilized time 8-10 AM) get the clubs out of the trunk and slam it shut waking up all the member for their later tee times.
August 3, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Are the members sleeping in the parking lot because they spent all their housing money on their memberships?
Sounds like the trunk slammers have the right idea getting out ahead of the members so they can have a speedier round.
August 3, 2006 at 5:05 pm
Isn’t a trunk slammer a door to door sales person – they keep their stock in the trunk of the car, and so keep slamming it when they get the stuff out.
As a sales person, they have lots of free time so hit the course often.
I have been known to be wrong…
August 5, 2006 at 10:16 pm
I’m going w/ golfchickwannabe on the “trunk-slammer” fransgolf sounds pretty confident, but even it is right, I like the other one better 😉
August 8, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Here is a blog I wrote on the other terms golfers use.
https://businessgolf.wordpress.com/2006/07/18/what-would-freddy-couples-do/
August 12, 2006 at 8:49 am
Yup you nailed me…
August 29, 2009 at 12:36 pm
a trunk-slammer is someone who misses the cut, loads his clubs into the car, slams the trunk and goes home.
‘how’d you get on?’
‘trunk-slammer’
I should know, I read it in Days and nights on the PGA Tour.
I also had one this morning! 12 over par :((((
August 31, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I’ve always considered a trunk slammer to be someone who gets to the course minutes before tee off time and just goes straight to the first tee without any warm up.