Modern Slang

Work to Do

A phrase indicating a remaining putt is not yet guaranteed to be holed.
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Work to do is an informal golf expression used to describe a situation where a player still faces a meaningful putt after a previous stroke, typically because the ball is not close enough to ensure an easy finish. It can refer to a putt left short of the hole or one that has rolled significantly past, leaving a challenging return putt.

How Golfers Say It

"He’s still got work to do."
"That leaves some work."
"Plenty of work left on that."

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Origin

The phrase comes from general English usage and was adopted into golf commentary to politely describe situations where a player has not completed a hole and still faces a non-trivial task.

Rules & Context

The term has no formal definition in the Rules of Golf and is used conversationally by players and commentators. It is most often applied in putting situations, where distance and green conditions determine whether a follow-up putt is routine or challenging.

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Neil's Take

"It’s usually a polite way of saying that second putt isn’t a gimme. And sometimes it means the first putt wasn’t very good."

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “work to do” mean in golf?

It means the player still has a putt remaining that is not guaranteed to be made.

Is “work to do” always about putting?

It is most commonly used in putting situations, though it can refer to any unfinished task on a hole.

Does “work to do” mean the previous shot was bad?

Not always, but it often implies the previous shot did not finish close enough to the hole.

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