What Is A Bogey In Golf?

A 'bogey' is a key golf expression that you will hear consistently on the course, or when watching the coverage of big televised golf events.

While all golfers will actively try to avoid a bogey, they are quite common and understanding the meaning is crucial for your participation and enjoyment of golf.

In this article, we explain everything you need to know about this key piece of vocabulary...

What Is A Bogey In Golf?

A player taking one shot more than the par score for a hole is said to have made a bogey. An example of this is when a player makes a four on a par-3, or a five on a par-4.

There are other variations of bogeys, with each more unwelcome than the next. A double-bogey is when a player takes two shots more than par, a triple-bogey when taking three shots more than par, and a quadruple bogey – well... you get my drift.

Bogey are common at the professional level, and even more recurrent in the amateur game. For a tour professional, going a full 72-holes over the course of a tournament without a bogey is real achievement, but one that is quite rare.

The first player to achieve this accolade on the PGA Tour was Lee Trevino, winning the 1974 Greater New Orleans Open as a result.

The longest bogey-free streak came from Jin Young Ko in 2019, accumulating 114 holes without a blemish, eclipsing Tiger Woods' record of 110.

Is A Bogey Better Than A Par?

Scoring a bogey means taking one shot more than par, and as golf is scored with lower scores being superior, a bogey is worse than a par on the scorecard.

Depending on your handicap index, and ultimately your playing ability, a bogey might actually be a good score for you – depending on how many shots you receive on each hole.