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What does the term bogey mean in the game of golf?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 24, 2026

A Bogey means one over par. Birdie: In the 19th century, the term "bird" was the equivalent of "cool" or "excellent" - golf scholars believe this is where the term came from. An Atlantic City, New Jersey, course claims that the term originated there in 1903. The meaning being a score of one under par.

Why do they call it bogey in golf?

The term 'bogey' comes from a song that was popular in the British Isles in the early 1890s, called "The Bogey Man" (later known as "The Colonel Bogey March"). The character of the song was an elusive figure who hid in the shadows: "I'm the Bogey Man, catch me if you can."

What's worse than a bogey in golf?

The names for scores worse than a bogey aren't very creative. A “Double Bogey” is a score of 2 strokes over par on any individual hole. A “Triple Bogey” is a score of 3 strokes over par on any individual hole. A “Quadruple Bogey” is a score of 4 strokes over par on any individual hole.

When did bogey become par?

The USGA began officially using par to rate golf holes and golf courses in 1911. But golf scores had improved in the years since "bogey" first appeared. The USGA thus defined "par" as the score an expert golfer, playing the hole well, should be expected to achieve.

What is better than an eagle in golf?

An eagle is 2-under par on a hole. A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole. A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an "albatross"). A triple bogey is 3-over par.

40 related questions found

What is the rarest shot in golf?

Scoring a condor is the rarest event in golf. This is normally a hole in one at a par five (a two at a par six would also count, but this has never been done). Only five condors have ever been recorded: The most recent was Kevin Pon, who made a 2 on a par 6 at Lake Chabot Golf Course on the 10th December 2020.

What is a hole in one called in golf?

[A] Ace When a player hits the ball directly from the tee into the hole with one stroke. Also called a hole in one. Albatross A hole played three strokes under par, also called a Double Eagle.

How do you become a bogey in golf?

A bogey golfer, in this use, is a male golfer with a handicap index of 17.5 to 22.4, who hits his drives 200 yards and can reach a 370-yard hole in two and a female golfer with a handicap index of 21.5 to 26.4, who hits her drives 150 yards and can reach a 280-yard hole in two.

Is bogey a type of bird?

For birders, it's the Bogey Bird, also referred to as the Nemesis Bird. Nemesis birds aren't those critters that were nearly missed on the first attempt, or simply proved to require more effort than anticipated.

What are the 7 golf scoring terms?

We've compiled a list of 100+ golf terms that are useful to know, but the golf scoring terms we'll cover in this guide are among the most essential when you're out on the course or watching televised golf.

Is a bogey a good thing?

A bogey is typically considered to be a fairly bad score on a golf hole, as it is a single stroke above par. However, less experienced golfers may view a bogey as an average score since shooting par is not always an easy task. Bogeys are better than double bogeys, triple bogeys, quadruple bogeys.

How does the scoring work in golf?

Every time you make a stroke, count it. At the end of each hole - after you've rolled the ball into the cup - tally the strokes you used on that hole. And that's your score for the hole.

What is the plural of bogey?

noun (1) bo·​gey. variants: or less commonly bogie or bogy. plural bogeys also bogies.

What is 3 shots under par called?

For hole completions three strokes under par is recognized in golf as Albatross. This is also known as “double eagle” in relation to the “birdie” and “eagle” theme. More on albatross in golf here. The reasoning for the name is that albatross is a very rare bird and so is scoring three under par.

How do you stop bogeys?

5 Tips for Avoiding Double Bogeys

  1. Practice. Everybody talks about practice, but some golfers just go through the motions. ...
  2. Course Management. Playing a golf course instead of having it play you will make a big difference in your handicap. ...
  3. Being Realistic. ...
  4. Keep Your Shots in Play. ...
  5. Get Up and Down.

What is double bogey handicap?

Net Double Bogey is the maximum allowable hole score for handicap purposes. The procedure is typically applied after the round and before a score is posted. However, when the format of play allows, or when playing a recreational round, you can pick up once you've reached your Net Double Bogey limit.

Why are golf shots named after birds?

Used to score one under par. It began to be used in 1899 in New Jersey. It turns out that on one game day, three golfers were playing when one of them, on his second stroke, hit a bird in flight with the ball and it landed very, very close to the hole. The teammates said it was a stroke of luck for a 'birdie'.

Has anyone ever aced a par 5?

Has there ever been an ace on a par-5? Although no one in PGA Tour history has ever recorded an ace on a par-5, there have actually been five records of par-5 holes-in-one. And no, none of them were from Happy Gilmore. The first “condor” occurred in 1962 off the club of Larry Bruce.

What is the green in golf?

Definition of putting green

: a smooth grassy area at the end of a golf fairway containing the hole also : a similar area usually with many holes that is used for practice.

Who has the most hole in ones in golf?

Norman Manley of California is perhaps the luckiest or most skilful golfer in the world with his record of a whopping 59 hole in ones. Luckily he made them over a 15-year timeframe between 1964 and 1979.

Does a hole-in-one count if you are alone?

If you are playing or practicing by yourself and you happen to hit a hole in one, it will not be recognized unless you have two witnesses. Golfers must play a round of nine or eighteen holes, a golfer who successfully puts the ball in the hole on his tee shot has earned his hole in one.

Has anyone ever shot an 18 in golf?

No man or woman on any significant professional golf tour has birdied all 18 holes—in other words, scored a 54—in a single round. (Jim Furyk holds the PGA Tour record with a 58.)

What do Americans call a bogey?

Bits of fairly dry nasal mucus (you know what I mean) are colloquially called bogies (or bogeys) in BrE and boogers in AmE. The first vowel in the AmE version is generally pronounced like the oo in book.

What is a good score in golf for a beginner?

According to National Golf Foundation data, 45% of all golfers average more than 100 strokes per round. With that said, it is believed that a 108 is considered to be a good score for a beginner golfer, which equates to double bogey on each hole of a par 72 course.

What is Stableford scoring system in golf?

Stableford is a scoring system used in the sport of golf. Rather than counting the total number of strokes taken, as in stroke play, it involves scoring points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole.