A bogey in golf is a score that is one stroke higher than par on any hole. It means that if a hole is a par four, taking five strokes to complete the hole would result in a bogey, and a score of six would be a bogey for a par five hole. The term refers to the score relative to par on that particular hole and is always one shot worse than par.
So, why is it called a bogey, and what is a bogey golfer? Is scoring a bogey bad in a golf match? What does a double bogey and triple bogey mean?
Here is a complete guide to bogey in golf.
Why is it Called a Bogey?
The origin of bogey comes from golfers in Scotland in the 1800s, where the ground score was the same as the bogey score. At that time, it was difficult to attain the ground score, which was what we now consider as par. Golfers began referring to the score they aimed to get as “Chasing Mr. Bogey,” where Mr. Bogey was a mythical character who lived in the shadows and taunted passersby with the phrase “I’m the Bogey Man, catch me if you can.”
Over time, golf scores improved, and the term bogey meant one shot worse than par. Nowadays, bogey means the same thing on every golf course, regardless of the difficulty level.
What is a Bogey Golfer?
A bogey golfer would average one stroke over par on each hole during a round. In a nine-hole competition, their average score would be nine over par, and for an eighteen-hole competition, it would be eighteen over par.
A bogey golfer does not necessarily make a bogey on every hole. For example, they may have three double bogeys, three pars, and three bogeys on a nine-hole round. They would wind up with a score of nine over par, which is what bogey golfers would be expected to score during a nine-hole round.
Is Scoring a Bogey Bad?
Whether scoring a bogey is bad or not depends on the player’s skill level. Professional or scratch golfers would consider a bogey a lousy score as they aim to shoot par or lower. However, for many average golfers, a bogey is considered acceptable.
For example, a bogey golfer playing on a par 72 course would expect to shoot a 90, which is eighteen over par. Only 50% of those who golf regularly shoot under 100, so this means that a score of 90 is a good one compared to the rest of the golfing public.
What is a Double Bogey, Triple Bogey, and Quadruple Bogey?
A double bogey occurs when a golfer records a score of two over par on any given hole. A score of five on a par three or six on a par four is considered a double bogey. Professional golfers try to avoid double bogeys at all costs.
A triple bogey occurs when a golfer records a score of three over par on any given hole. A score of six on a par three or eight on a par five is considered a triple bogey, which is common for those golfers who have limited experience.
A quadruple bogey occurs when a golfer records a score of four over par on any given hole. A score of seven on a par three or eight on a par four is considered a quadruple bogey, which is something that beginners and inexperienced golfers can expect to have.
In conclusion, a bogey in golf is a score that is one stroke higher than par on any hole. The term “bogey” originates from Scotland in the 1800s and is still used today. While a bogey may be considered a good score for some golfers, it ultimately depends on their skill level and perspective. Double, triple, and quadruple bogeys are also common scores that golfers may encounter on the course.