What Is A Bogey In Golf? – Golfer Cloud

Last Updated on August 24, 2022 by Deb

Golf is a game where the golfers use many standard terms while playing on the golf course or discussing it. The first three terms related to the golf green scoring are Par, Bogey, and Birdie. As a beginner of golf, you will not have proper knowledge of these mostly-used golf terms, especially what is a bogey in golf, But do not be anxious about it because every professional golfer was a learner once, and after passing a long time of training and learning, they become proficient in it. If you can acquire enough knowledge about these three terms, Par, Bogey, and Birdie, you can easily understand the golf scoring system.

We make this guide with the terms used for golfing only for the players who are just starting their training period to learn. So when you complete this article’s reading based on golf phrases, you can also understand the meaning of most of all words related to golf.

What is A Par in Golf?

Par is an encoded number of strokes that a proficient golfer needs to complete a hole, a golf round, or a tournament. Each golf course hole has specific par values between three and five, including a guideline for the number of strokes to reach the green. And this number is assigned to it according to the length from teeing ground to putting green. Generally, a standard 18-hole golf course is also a Par-72 golf course. The USAG (United States Golf Association) determines a unique distance from tee to green, different for men and women. In below, we state the length for determining the Par of a golf hole.

USGA Standard Par Distance Chart

For men –

HOLES	DISTANCE IN YARDS	DISTANCE IN METERS
Par-3	Under 260 yards	Under 240 m
Par-4	240-490 yards	220-450 m
Par-5	450-710 yards	410-650 m
Par-6	Over 670 yards	Over 610 m

For women –

HOLES	DISTANCE IN YARDS	DISTANCE IN METERS
Par-3	Under 220 yards	Under 220 m
Par-4	200-420 yards	180-380 m
Par-5	370-600 yards	340 550 m
Par-6	Over 570 yards	Over 520 m

Besides, except for the distance, other factors like altitude, terrain, and obstacles that create difficulty for playing are considered to determine the number of a tee shot or Par for an individual golf hole. Comparison of the cumulative score of the course with the par score takes place, and the tournament’s score determines by totaling the par score in each round.

For example, if the Par of a course is 72, and the golfer creates 75 strokes to complete it, the stated score will be “+3″ or” three-over-par.” And when they take 70 strokes, then their score will be “-2” or “two-under-par.” Similarly, if each of the four rounds has a par of 72, the tournament’s Par will be 288. Thus when any golfer records 72, 73, 70, and 69, the reported score will be 284 or four-under-par.

What is A Bogey in Golf?

When a golfer gets a score of one stroke more than Par (+1) for the individual hole, it is called a bogey. If any golfer takes four strokes to finish a par-3 hole or six for par-5 holes, it will term as he obtains bogey scores. In the early golf time, the bogey was the number of golf ball strokes a golfer should take at each hole to complete it. But with the time and standardization of golf in The United States, the par scoring constricts, and bogey changes into one-over-par. At the Great Yarmouth golf club, the word “Bogey” first use in 1890 and is derived from the phrase “bogey man” and the famous music hall song “Here comes the Bogey man.”

Types of Bogey

Generally, Golfers score four types of a bogey for completing a golf round. But among the kinds of bogey, three are seen frequently. These categories of the scoring term bogey are –

1. Bogey or single-bogey

When the golfers take one golf shot or stroke, more than a par means the player scores a single bogey. It is an everyday experience for a scratch golfer.

2. Double bogey

If the golfer takes two strokes more than the Par for the individual hole, it is called a double bogey. It is quite natural for a leaner golfer, but the pro golfer tries to avoid making a double bogey.

3. Triple bogey

Taking three more strokes than Par for reaching the targeted hole means the player score triple bogey. Perhaps it is rare, but most amateur golfers make a triple bogey while swinging their clubs for the first time to complete the round.

4. Quadruple bogey

Taking four more strokes than Par for an individual golf hole is not an expected issue, but it happens. The scoring is a quadruple bogey when the golfers take four more strokes than Par for completing a hole. The expert never makes a quadruple bogey, but beginners or intermediate or recreational golfers sometimes make this bogey type.

What does a bogey golfer mean in golf?

A bogey golfer is someone who makes a mistake or a misstep in a golf game. They might not have a bad round, but they make a bogey or a mishit. A bogey is when you miss a putt by one or more strokes. A bogey golfer has a bad round. The score you shot on a hole was good enough to get you a bogey, but you made a mistake or two that cost you a stroke or more.

Besides, a bogey golfer is a golfer who has a lot of trouble. They have problems with their short game, trouble with their putting, and trouble with their long game. And so, a bogey golfer is someone who has a lot of trouble on the course.

It is essential to be very careful when you play a hole. You can make a lot of mistakes that can cost you the gap. If you don’t want to make a bogey, you need to be very careful and keep your ball in play.

Typical usage of “Bogey Golfer.”

A bogey is an “unscored” stroke on the golf course. It is not tied to a contract. A bogey doesn’t count as an official stroke in golf. For scoring purposes, a bogey is used.

So what do you mean to be a bogey golfer? It means you’re an average recreational golfer. You are indeed a better golfer than many other recreational players. So why did that happen?

The majority of golfers average a score of 90, but only a tiny percentage break 100. You can take your golf game to the next level by practicing.

However, if you have a game that is not too bad, you can still get better. It would be best to focus on your short game, putting, chipping, and iron play. You can practice these skills at home. When you play a hole, you should be very careful. It’s good to have a coach, but you can hire a coach if you can’t afford it. There are a lot of websites that can teach you how to play the game. You can also learn about the game of golf on the internet.

Bogey Golfer in the USGA Handicap System

There are different rating systems for the USGA’s various golf courses. If you were playing an 18-hole course, a ‘bogey’ would be the same score as the score you would get. The rating of a course is determined by the number of strokes it takes to get from the back tees to the front. The score you would have if you were playing a 9-hole course is the same as the score you would have if you scored a bogey.

The bogey golfer uses wedges, while the scratch golfer uses their irons. A rating system compares the two and then grades the course based on that difference.

You should always be aware of what you are doing. It would help if you always considered the wind and the weather conditions before you play. You should also check the greens. They are always different from day to day. If you are playing a new course, you should make sure that you are familiar with it. Do not overlook any holes just because you were unaware of their existence. Any of the holes because you weren’t aware of them.

Golf Handicap Vs. A Bogey Golfer

According to the United States Golf Association’s handicap system, golfers are rated according to their potential ability. The USGA says that the system enables golfers of all skill levels to compete equally.

A golfer’s handicap rating is based on a mathematical formula. The formula is derived from the golfer’s best 18 holes of golf. This formula is used to determine the golfer’s handicap rating. It is used to determine how much money you will have to pay for a round of golf. You can find out the golf handicap of your local golf course by calling the golf course directly.

A golfer with a USGA handicap index of less than 2.4 is considered a low handicapper. A golfer with a USGA handicap index of 3.8 is regarded as a moderate handicapper. And a golfer with a USGA handicap index of more than 4.8 is considered a high handicapper.

If you are a bogey golfer, you are considered a recreational golfer. Golfers with a USGA handicap index of 1.0 are considered recreational golfers. It would help if you practiced your swing at least two to three times a week. It’s also essential to practice the fundamentals of the game.

Bogey Rating

If you’ve ever played a round of golf, you’ll know that the courses range from easy to complex, and some are very challenging. The USGA’s bogey rating, which quantifies the difficulty of a golf course for a bogey golfer, is one of the reasons for the different ratings.

A player’s handicap index is based on her slope ratings, calculated by looking at the slope of the fairways and greens of the courses she plays. The slope rating is converted into a number from 1 to 18, then added together. A player’s handicap index is determined by dividing her score by eighteen.

A player’s handicap index tells you how many strokes she should have to play a course. Typically, it is expressed as a number ranging from 0 to 100. A player with a handicap index of 20 is a bogey golfer.

What are bogey competitions in golf?

Bogey competitions are a type of golf competition where players compete against predetermined targets. The player that can achieve the lowest number of bogeys is declared the winner.

The rules of bogey competitions vary from tournament to tournament, but most are played on courses with many trees and bushes. It is because it’s easier to see where a ball is located when there are trees around.

Bogey competitions can be either stroke or match play. Stroke play has the competitors teeing off on their course and then competing to get the lowest score on that course. Match play is similar to stroke play, except the competitors play on different golf courses.

The main difference between stroke and match play is the scoring system. The players start with a handicap in match play and work their way down the leaderboard. If a player wins a match, they receive one point for each player that they beat. If they lose, they lose a point for every player they beat.

The leaderboard is determined at the beginning of a match and remains constant throughout the competition. It is determined which player has the lowest score that wins. In golf, there are a few different types of bogey competitions. The most common of these is the four-ball. Two golfers compete to see who can get the lowest score on a certain number of holes in this competition.

The other type of bogey competition is the match. This competition is similar to the four-ball, except that the players are paired up, and only the lowest score of each pair is counted.

The final type of bogey competition is the invitational. It is the rarest of the bogey competitions. It’s usually held at the pro-am level.

Birdie in golf

Birdie means an individual golf hole score of one stroke less than Par or one-under-par, or “-1.” For example, birdie scoring is when a golfer takes two to complete a par-3 hole or four in a par-5 hole. Usually, a perfect round-like score of 54 on a par-72 course is a scoring a birdie on 18 holes. The term “birdie’ first use in Atlantic City Country Club, Northfield, New Jersey, in 1899.

There is a story of lay claim to the term Birdie. In 1899, three golfers, George Crump, William Poultney Smith, and his brother Ab, Smith, played golf in the Atlantic City Country Club. In that session, Crump made his second shot only inches from the cup on a par-4 hole, where his first shot stuck a bird in flight. Ab. Smith exclaimed that shot as a “Bird,” and Crump’s shortest putt left him one-under-par for the individual golf hole. After that day, these golfers referred to that scoring as “a birdie.” And within a short time, all club members started to use this word while playing golf when the Atlantic City Country Club turned into a resort. This expression spread and caught by the Atlantic City amateur golfers and the entire American golfers.

Types of Birdie

Like a bogey, there are three types of Birdie in the scores of the skilled golfers. These are –

1. Birdie

Birdie is the regular scoring of a scratch golfer when they take one stroke fewer than Par. And Birdie. This term becomes familiar to golfers because most golf players love to create birdies.

2. Eagle

Eagle means when a golfer makes a score two under Par for a single hole. It is quite a good score than a birdie. As golfers love birdies and eagles, this score is the National symbol of The United States. An Eagle happens when an expert golfer through the golf ball far enough to reach the targeted green with fewer strokes than expected. Generally, it occurs on a par-5 hole, also can take place on a short par-4 hole.

3. Albatross

An Albatross in golf indicates an individual hole score of three strokes fewer than Par. Double Eagle is another name for an albatross in the United States. Although double Eagle is incredibly unexceptional, it frequently happens on the par-5 hole with a strong driver and a holed targeted shot. In 1935, Gene Sarazen made the first Albatross on the 15th hole at Augusta National Golf Club during the Master tournament’s final round. Between 1970 to 2003, 84 Albatross shots were made on The PGA Tournaments by the PGA golfers.

FAQs

Is a bogey bad in golf?

Bogeys are bad because they make you feel like you need to do better the next time you play. A bogey isn’t just a score; it’s an attitude. It says, “I don’t think I can do it.” It must be eliminated from golf.

There’s no doubt that bogeys can happen to anyone. They happen to be the best players in the world. And they happen to be the worst players in the world. But the thing about bogeys is that they’re not always bad. Sometimes a bogey can be a good thing.

Take Tiger Woods, for example. He’s the greatest golfer globally, and he shot a hole in one on the 18th hole of the 1997 Masters Tournament. The hole-in-one was a great shot. It was a great accomplishment. But after the attempt, Tiger walked off the green and went to the clubhouse. He didn’t look like he was happy about the hole in one. He was upset that he’d shot a bogey.

How many strokes is a bogey?

The answer is six.

In golf, a bogey is a shot where the ball is struck so hard that it bounces backward and rolls back towards the player. If a player hits a ball on a slope, it will move back towards the player, but it will bounce back towards the hole if struck on a flat surface.

For example, if a player hits a ball on a slope and the ball rolls back towards the player, it is considered a bogey. The player loses one stroke and must re-tee the ball.

If a player hits a ball on a flat surface and bounces it back towards the hole, it is not considered a bogey. The player only loses one stroke and does not have to re-tee the ball.

A bogey is also known as a “lost stroke.”

Why is it called bogey in golf?

The word “bogey” describes a foul shot in golf. It means to hit the ball to go into the water hazard.

In golf, bogeys are usually caused by bad luck or poor playing conditions. They occur when the player hits a good shot, but the ball lands in a hazard. The ball may bounce off the green or drop into the water.

A bogey is also a type of score. A bogey is scored when the player misses the hole but hits the ball into the water. Golfers call the ball “bogey” because it is usually a lousy shot. A bogey is usually the second-lowest score in a round. You will get a bogey if you hit the ball well and land it close to the hole.

The word bogey comes from the English word “bogie.”

What does par stand for in golf?

The best score in golf is called par. The term par is used to describe a score of one over par. It’s also the number of strokes a player has to complete a hole. Par is the lowest score you can achieve on a golf hole. For example, if a spot has a par of 3, you need to shoot a score of 3 or better to complete the hole. A par of 4 means you need to hit a score of 4 or better.

Golf is played over 18 holes most of the time. Each hole is worth one point. So, a par is equal to 18 points. It’s not easy to get a perfect score. If you are trying to get a perfect score, you have to shoot a hole-in-one on every hole. If you do, you’ll get a perfect score. You might have difficulty with par if you are a beginner. It would be best if you practiced more to improve this skill.

Why is golf named after birds?

Initially, the word “golf” came from the Old English term “golff,” meaning “bird flight.” The name was given because golfers used to imitate bird flight by swinging their clubs through the air.

There is also information that the name “golf” is also derived from the Scottish word “golf,” which means “to drive the ball.” It references the croquet game, where players would use their mallets to drive a ball into a goal.

How to stop making double bogeys

Final Words

Par the number of strokes that pro golfers expect to create while staying on the course, and each hole on the golf course has an assigned par. The basic golf terms Bogey and Birdie are the golf ball hitting scores that determine based on the specific hole’s Par number. However, these two golf terms arise while golfers are playing golf at the Atlantic City Country Club. But now, these golf scoring words are familiar to golf skills. When you complete the reading of this article, we make sure that you can make a clear conceptional of these scoring terms for golf. The stated information about Bogey and Birdie will help you aim your target for the final score.

Let’s enjoy your golf on the course.