The Definition
A bogey is completing a hole in one more stroke than par. For a par 3, a bogey is 4. For a par 4, a bogey is 5. For a par 5, a bogey is 6. Bogeys are the most common score for recreational golfers. Shooting 'bogey golf' — one over par on every hole — results in a score of 18 over par for 18 holes, typically around 88-90 on a standard course.
Types of Bogeys
Multiple-bogey scores have specific names. A double bogey is two over par on a hole. A triple bogey is three over par. A quadruple bogey is four over. Colloquially, golfers sometimes refer to a double bogey as a 'snowman on eight' and other creative terms. High scores above triple bogey are sometimes just called 'others' in casual scoring.
Origin of the Term
The term 'bogey' predates 'birdie' and has more complicated origins. In British golf of the 1890s, 'bogey' originally referred to the score a good player should make — essentially what we now call par. The character 'Colonel Bogey' (from a popular song of the era) was imagined as an ideal opponent. As American golf developed and 'par' became the standard term for expected score, 'bogey' shifted to mean one over that standard.
Bogey Golfer Defined
A 'bogey golfer' is someone who typically shoots around 18 over par for a round — one bogey per hole. According to USGA handicap data, a bogey golfer has a handicap index of approximately 17-22. Most recreational golfers are aspirational bogey golfers — they aim to make fewer doubles and triples while building toward consistently making bogeys or better.
How to Make Fewer Bogeys
Most bogeys come from three sources: missed greens, poor short game, or costly penalties. Strategy-based improvements often reduce bogeys more than swing changes. Taking the safer shot off the tee, laying up instead of going for risky shots, and committing to conservative play on difficult holes can drop your score by 2-4 strokes per round without any technical improvement. GOATY's swing analysis identifies the mechanical issues that cause penalty strokes and misses.
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