Understanding Golf Scoring: What is a Double Bogey?
← Golf Gameplay & Rules | Golf Scoring and Handicaps
BLOCKQUOTE_0
Quick Answer
- A double bogey means you shot two strokes over par on a hole.
- It’s a common score, especially for beginners and intermediate players.
- Knowing this helps track your handicap and game.
Who This Is For
- Golfers new to the game looking to understand basic scoring terminology.
- Players looking to shave strokes off their handicap and improve course management.
What to Check First for Double Bogey Understanding
- Par is King: Get a solid grasp on what “par” means for each hole. This is your baseline.
- The Scorecard Hierarchy: Understand how scores like birdie, par, and bogey stack up against par. It’s a simple ladder.
- Rules of Golf: Give the official scoring and penalty rules a quick once-over. It clears up any fuzzy areas.
- Your Scorecard: Make sure you know the par for the specific course you’re playing. It varies from course to course.
To accurately track your scores, including double bogeys, having a reliable golf scorecard is essential. This will help you keep a clear record of your performance on each hole.
- Golf Supplies: you will receive 1 piece of golf book and 1 piece of golf pencil, which are a nice combination for scoring; The book measures about 9.5 x 13.3 cm/ 3.74 x 5.24 inches, and the pencil is about 10 cm/ 4 inches
- Practical for Record and Gift: the PU golf leather score journal can be given to referees, golf club members, and colleagues, keeping track of their games, as well as a gift for Father's Day, Christmas, birthdays and other meaningful occasions
- Pocket Size: the golf note book is lightweight and compact, easy to carry, which can be comfortably placed in your back pocket, without taking up too much space; It is convenient for you to use at will
- Sturdy and Lasting: the golf pocket book is made of quality PU leather, the inner paper is reliable and smooth to write, not easy to break, serving you for a long time; The paper inside is presented in the form of a scorecard, allowing you to record scores quickly
- Pencil Included: the PU leather log book is equipped with a golf pencil for easy writing; There is a fixed belt for you to securely hold the notebook in place, or fix the pencil with the book, giving you a nice experience
Step-by-Step Plan to Understand Double Bogey Scoring
1. Action: Learn the definition of par.
What to look for: The standard number of strokes a skilled golfer should take to complete a hole. Think of it as the course designer’s expectation.
Mistake to avoid: Assuming par is always the same for every hole. It varies based on hole length and difficulty, typically ranging from 3 to 5.
2. Action: Grasp the scoring system relative to par.
What to look for: Bogey is one over par, par is even with par, birdie is one under par. This is the core vocabulary.
Mistake to avoid: Confusing your actual stroke count with your score relative to par. A score of 5 on a par-4 hole is a bogey (one over par), not just “a 5.”
3. Action: Define a double bogey.
What to look for: A score of two strokes over par on a hole. This is the key definition.
Mistake to avoid: Thinking it’s simply about taking two extra shots compared to someone else. It’s always relative to the hole’s par.
4. Action: Identify penalty strokes.
What to look for: Strokes added for rules infractions like hitting out of bounds, losing a ball, or taking an unplayable lie. These are crucial additions.
Mistake to avoid: Forgetting to add penalty strokes to your hole score. This is a fast track to an unexpected double bogey or worse, and it’s a common oversight.
5. Action: Calculate your score for a hole.
What to look for: Your total strokes plus any penalty strokes, then compare that sum to the hole’s par. This gives you your score relative to par.
Mistake to avoid: Simply counting your swings without accounting for penalties. This will lead to an incorrect score and an inaccurate understanding of your performance.
6. Action: Record your score accurately.
What to look for: The correct number of strokes over or under par for each hole.
Mistake to avoid: Rounding up or down when it’s not appropriate. Stick to the exact math.
How to Ace Double Bogey Understanding
A double bogey is a fundamental concept in golf scoring. Simply put, when you finish a hole in two strokes more than its designated par, you’ve recorded a double bogey. For instance, if a hole is a par 4, and you finish it in 6 strokes, that’s a double bogey. It’s a common score, and understanding it is crucial for anyone serious about tracking their progress or managing their handicap. Knowing the Defining a Double Bogey in Golf Scoring helps put your performance into perspective and allows you to identify areas for improvement. Don’t sweat it too much; even the pros have them. I remember one round where I thought I was having a solid day until I realized I’d somehow managed a double bogey on a par 3 thanks to a lost ball. Ouch.
Understanding the score relative to par is the bedrock of golf scoring. Par is the benchmark, the expected score for a proficient golfer. Most courses have a par of 72, made up of typically four par-3s, ten par-4s, and four par-5s. Each hole’s par is determined by its length and difficulty. A par-3 is shorter, a par-4 is mid-range, and a par-5 is the longest. When you take one stroke less than par, it’s a birdie. Taking the exact number of strokes is par. Taking one stroke more is a bogey. And, you guessed it, taking two strokes more than par is your double bogey.
The Impact of Double Bogeys on Your Game
A double bogey is generally considered a poor score on any given hole. It signifies that you played the hole significantly worse than the expected standard. For a beginner, it’s an almost inevitable part of learning the game. For more experienced players, it’s a sign that something went wrong – perhaps a couple of errant shots, a penalty, or a missed short putt.
The impact on your score and handicap can be substantial. If your handicap system uses a calculation that caps scores on a hole (like “net double bogey”), a double bogey might be the maximum score you record for that hole. However, in systems that don’t cap scores, a double bogey contributes its full value to your score for the round, which in turn affects your handicap calculation. Understanding a Double Bogey in Golf Scoring details how these scores influence your overall game performance and handicapping. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s definitely a score you want to avoid on most holes if you’re trying to shoot your best.
Common Mistakes in Double Bogey Scoring
- Mistake: Confusing double bogey with two putts.
Why it matters: This completely misses the point of golf scoring. A double bogey is about your score relative to par for the entire hole, not just how many times you hit your putter on the green.
Fix: Always remember double bogey means two strokes over par for the hole, regardless of how many putts you took.
- Mistake: Forgetting penalty strokes.
Why it matters: Those extra strokes from hitting out of bounds, taking a drop from a hazard, or losing a ball can easily turn a bogey into a double bogey, or even worse. They add up fast.
Fix: Add any penalty strokes immediately to your score for that hole as soon as they are incurred. Don’t wait until you’re filling out your scorecard at the end of the round.
- Mistake: Not knowing the par of the hole.
Why it matters: You can’t possibly determine if a score is a double bogey if you don’t know the hole’s par. It’s like trying to judge distance without a tape measure – you have no reference point.
Fix: Always check the scorecard or course guide for the par of each hole before you play it. Make it a habit.
- Mistake: Assuming any high score is a double bogey.
Why it matters: Precision matters in golf. A score of 7 on a par 3 is a quadruple bogey, not a double. A score of 6 on a par 4 is a double bogey, but a score of 6 on a par 5 is only a bogey.
Fix: Do the simple math: (Your Strokes + Penalties) – Par = Strokes Over Par. Then, match that number to the correct term (bogey, double bogey, triple bogey, etc.).
- Mistake: Not accounting for the hole’s par when calculating your score.
Why it matters: You might take 6 strokes on a par-5 hole. That’s a bogey (one over par), not a double bogey. Conversely, 6 strokes on a par-4 is a double bogey.
Fix: Always perform the subtraction: Your Total Strokes (including penalties) minus the Hole’s Par equals your score relative to par.
- Mistake: Giving up after one bad hole.
Why it matters: A double bogey is just one hole. Letting it get to you can lead to more mistakes and ruin your entire round.
Fix: Acknowledge the double bogey, learn from it if possible, and then focus on the next shot. Every hole is a fresh start.
FAQ
- What is the definition of par in golf?
Par is the predetermined number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to need to complete a hole. It’s based on the hole’s length and difficulty, typically ranging from 3 to 5 strokes.
- How many strokes over par is a bogey?
A bogey is one stroke over par on a hole. For example, scoring a 5 on a par-4 hole is a bogey.
- Is a double bogey a good or bad score?
Generally, a double bogey is considered a poor score in golf. It indicates you played the hole significantly worse than the expected standard. Golf Scoring Basics: What A Double Bogey Signifies explains this in more detail.
- What’s the score if I take 5 strokes on a par 4?
That’s a bogey, which is one stroke over par.
- What if I take 6 strokes on a par 4?
That’s a double bogey, which is two strokes over par.
- Do penalty strokes count towards a double bogey?
Absolutely. Penalty strokes are added to your score for the hole, so they directly impact whether you achieve a double bogey or not. For example, if you take 4 strokes and incur a 2-stroke penalty on a par-4, your score for the hole is 6, making it a double bogey.
- How does a double bogey affect my handicap?
A double bogey is a higher score than par or bogey, so it will increase your score differential for that hole. If you make several double bogeys in a round, it will likely raise your handicap. Some handicap systems use a “net double bogey” maximum, meaning the highest score you count on any hole is two over par, which can help mitigate the impact of a truly bad hole.
Sources
- Defining a Double Bogey in Golf Scoring
- Understanding a Double Bogey in Golf Scoring
- Golf Scoring Basics: What A Double Bogey Signifies
- Understanding a Double Bogey in Golf
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.