# What does golf clap mean on this board? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 14, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820 "2017-02-14T15:24:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/1 "2017-02-14T15:24:39Z")
I’ve seen _golf clap_ as a response to a post several times over the many years I’ve been here but never thought to ask about it till now. I had assumed it was an expression of appreciation but checking with [Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/golf_clap) leaves me confused. > [@](#): > > A sarcastic or humorous form of applause performed by lightly and rapidly clapping the fingers of one hand against the palm of the other, **used to show indifference or disdain, or to show polite or quiet appreciation**. Bolding mine. So which is it here? Polite appreciation or sarcastic indifference/disdain? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/2 "2017-02-14T15:39:19Z")
Polite appreciation. It’s in subsection 247.3(d) of the bylaws. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/3 "2017-02-14T16:45:18Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Polite appreciation. > > It’s in subsection 247.3(d) of the bylaws. /golfclap I like that World of Warcraft uses that emote command to convey a “golfclap” of the type specified in the Wiktionary entry: [Quote=World of Warcraft chat] \ claps for \, clearly unimpressed. [/quote] Great for riling up a PvP opponent who just isn’t getting the job done, just before firing up your “I win” button and squashing him. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/4 "2017-02-14T17:01:56Z")
Whoa … so that doesn’t mean a higher class social disease … ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/5 "2017-02-14T17:11:24Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Whoa … so that doesn’t mean a higher class social disease … Only if you get dimples in your balls. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/6 "2017-02-14T17:20:07Z")
I’ve always thought that it could be used to show grudging or unexpected approval. Wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/7 "2017-02-14T17:47:09Z")
[Golf clap](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh4jLrZ2IK4). The actual golf clap happens around 1:35 but the whole clip kind of sets up the context. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/8 "2017-02-14T17:49:11Z")
It’s polite or quiet appreciation. If you’ve ever been to a golf tournament or watched one on TV, when a player makes a difficult shot, the spectators will applaud, but quietly, so as not to disturb other players who may be about to hit the ball. ETA: Ninja’d! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/9 "2017-02-14T17:59:30Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Whoa … so that doesn’t mean a higher class social disease … > [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Only if you get dimples in your balls. Or a split club head or rusty shaft. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/10 "2017-02-14T18:04:05Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > [Golf clap](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh4jLrZ2IK4). The actual golf clap happens around 1:35 but the whole clip kind of sets up the context. > [@cochrane](#): > > It’s polite or quiet appreciation. If you’ve ever been to a golf tournament or watched one on TV, when a player makes a difficult shot, the spectators will applaud, but quietly, so as not to disturb other players who may be about to hit the ball. > > ETA: Ninja’d! :smack: Well, sure, if you’re going to be all literal about it. It does mean honest approval, just very quiet, for reasons of context. But humans being humans, it didn’t take long to take on the sarcastic tack. A form of damning with faint praise, in as sardonic a manner as possible. I visualize it as being the “applause” equivalent of a condescendingly insulting pat on the head. Add to this the “not quite a sport” status of golf itself among a lot of non-players. Golf clapping is good enough for golf, but not good enough for a “real competitive” endeavor. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/11 "2017-02-14T18:20:52Z")
I always took it to mean, “well played.” Which works in golf as well as when someone delivers a particularly fine zinger. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/12 "2017-02-14T18:56:11Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Well, sure, if you’re going to be all literal about it. > > It does mean honest approval, just very quiet, for reasons of context. But humans being humans, it didn’t take long to take on the sarcastic tack. A form of damning with faint praise, in as sardonic a manner as possible. I visualize it as being the “applause” equivalent of a condescendingly insulting pat on the head. > > Add to this the “not quite a sport” status of golf itself among a lot of non-players. Golf clapping is good enough for golf, but not good enough for a “real competitive” endeavor. Ah, ignorance fought. So there’s no question of the ‘insulting pat on the head’ here then. I was about to use it earlier but was concerned about any ambiguity. Thanks to all for the informative replies. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/13 "2017-02-14T23:25:13Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Only if you get dimples in your balls. Or a hole in one. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/14 "2017-02-15T18:53:54Z")
More of a Café Society entry than a GD one, but in the musical Rent it’s used in the sarcastic “damning with faint praise” sense. (Benny is the sometimes friend and current landlord of Mark and Roger. Angel is not impressed by Benny’s sudden and suspicious show of generosity.) > [@](#): > > Benny > I couldn’t stop thinking about the whole mess > Mark - you’ll want to get this on film > > Mark > I guess > > Benny > I regret the unlucky circumstances of the past seven days > > Roger > Circumstances? > You padlocked our door > > Benny > And it’s with great pleasure on behalf of Cyberarts that I hand you this key > > Angel > Golf claps ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/15 "2017-02-16T13:13:02Z")
Thanks for all clarification here ! Since first discovering the Straight Dope, I’ve been puzzling somewhat over the expression “golf clap”, which I’d never previously encountered. Had pretty much worked out from context – correctly as it happened – that it seemed to imply polite appreciation as opposed to sarcastic indifference / disdain; but – especially with my being very much not into sports – was baffled as to what golf had to do with the whole thing. It now makes sense to me ! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/16 "2017-02-16T14:44:14Z")
I think of it like the traditional groan for a good pun. It’s a bit of “I saw what you did there.” with a pinch of “That was a good one!” and a healthy dose of " . . .and aren’t we a couple of twits for finding this sort of thing funny?" So yeah, appreciation, but for a fellow nerd. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/17 "2017-02-16T14:54:03Z")
A few good .gifs : [http://a.fod4.com/images/GifGuide/clapping/dwight.gif](http://a.fod4.com/images/GifGuide/clapping/dwight.gif) [![](http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/cwclp.gif) ](http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/cwclp.gif) ![](https://media.giphy.com/media/cYYx0b3DcYwOA/giphy.gif) [![](https://reactiongifs.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/zach-galifianakis-clapping.gif) ](https://reactiongifs.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/zach-galifianakis-clapping.gif) I can’t decide which of these is most frightening: [![](http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/clapping.gif) ](http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/clapping.gif) [![](https://i.imgur.com/removed.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/removed.png) [![](https://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/ost-37514-Putin-clapping-gif-Sochi-2014-w2CH.gif) ](https://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/ost-37514-Putin-clapping-gif-Sochi-2014-w2CH.gif) [![](https://i.imgur.com/z7PQdOt.gif) ](https://i.imgur.com/z7PQdOt.gif) But this is most like the way I use it: [![](https://media.tenor.co/images/2df26ae10d0dbf3afaf7a14b1e6d8609/raw) ](https://media.tenor.co/images/2df26ae10d0dbf3afaf7a14b1e6d8609/raw) ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/18 "2017-02-16T16:34:28Z")
I personally use it to show appreciation, not with any snark in mind. Hopefully I’ve never given the wrong impression (and I probably have). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/19 "2017-02-16T16:41:02Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > I personally use it to show appreciation, not with any snark in mind. Hopefully I’ve never given the wrong impression (and I probably have). Wow. Apology accepted. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820/20 "2017-02-16T16:50:50Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Apology accepted. _golf clap_ 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-golf-clap-mean-on-this-board/779820.md?page=2)