The story
Reference to the practice, among spectators of golf, of applauding quietly so as to not distract the players.https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/09/30/history-golf-clap
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
golf clap
Today it means: A usually 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. Full definition →