stymie

Stymie is a term with multiple meanings in sports and everyday language. In golf, a stymie referred to a situation in which a player’s ball lay directly on the line between the hole and an opponent’s ball, effectively blocking the opponent’s route to the hole. Historically, the obstructing ball remained in play under the old rules, making the ensuing putt more difficult for the player facing the stymie. The term has persisted in golf lore as a notable but now obsolete feature of the game.

Origin and usage: The word stymie likely derives from a word meaning obstacle or hinderance in Scots or English. In golf, the stymie rule was abolished in the mid-20th century, after which modern play relies on standard line-of-putt principles and relief options when appropriate. Today, the term is mostly used to refer to past practice rather than to describe current play.

Beyond golf, stymie serves as a verb meaning to hinder or thwart progress, and as a noun meaning an obstacle or impasse. The figurative use appears in politics, business, and everyday language to describe anything that blocks or complicates achievement or resolution. The term remains common in idiomatic English, even as its original sporting context has faded.