• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / What Does the Term “Duffer” Mean in Golf and Where Did the Word “Handicap” Come From?

What Does the Term “Duffer” Mean in Golf and Where Did the Word “Handicap” Come From?

February 6, 2020 by Karen Hill

The word duffer was once used to describe a counterfeit coin.

Its use evolved to include a worthless person, who, like the counterfeit coin, was only taking up space, such as a duffer on a golf course.

Because they are inferior, duffers need a handicap, or help, which is really a penalty against the superior players.

The word handicap came from drawing of lots for positions in a horse race, which literally required putting a hand in a cap.

A “duffer” often needs a “handicap” because they suck at golf.

Related Facts

  • History of Golf
  • How do so many Japanese play golf in a country with so few golf courses?
  • Where does the term “handicap” come from and What does handicap mean?
  • The Best 20 Inventions Ever Invented
  • How do golf ball manufacturers test golf balls before offering them for sale to the public?
  • How does a vending machine know that the coin you inserted is the correct value and not a slug?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Why Do Golfers Shout “Fore” As a Warning, What Does it Mean, and Where Did the Term Come From?
Next Post: How Did the Toronto Maple Leafs Get Their Name and How Did the Hockey Team Originate? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2020 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy