Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
A bogey-free round is a round in which the player makes no bogeys: no hole is scored one stroke over par in ordinary gross scoring. It can still include pars, birdies, eagles and higher scores caused by a different scoring convention, so the scorecard should be checked hole by hole.
How it matters in match play
Bogey-free round is a descriptive scoring statistic, not a separate match-play format or result. In individual match play, Alex can make no bogeys yet lose a hole to Ben's birdie, or win a hole when both players make different scores; the match is settled hole by hole under Rule 3.2, rather than by the round's bogey count.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Bogey-Free Round |
| Category | scoring |
| Applicable rule | No dedicated official rule established |
| Related concepts | Bogey, Par, Round Score, Scorecard, Score Relative to Par |
Worked example
On a par-72 course, Alex scores 4 on every par 4, 3 on each par 3 and 5 on each par 5, for a 72; because no hole is one over par, Alex's round is bogey-free, even though it contains no birdies.
Sources: www.usga.org , www.randa.org , www.pgatour.com , www.randa.org
Common questions
Does a bogey-free round mean the player shot under par?
No. It only means the player made no bogey. A player can make par on every hole for an even-par round, or include birdies and other scores while avoiding bogeys.
Is Bogey-Free Round an official Rules of Golf format?
No. It is ordinary descriptive golf language, not a format or competition result defined by the Rules of Golf. Rule 3 governs the underlying match-play or stroke-play competition.
Can a player have a bogey-free round and still lose a match?
Yes. Match play is decided hole by hole. An opponent's birdies can win holes even when the player has made no bogeys, and the final match result does not depend on who recorded more bogey-free holes.
Do penalty strokes automatically make a hole a bogey?
Not automatically. The hole's final score must be compared with its par. A penalty may contribute to a bogey or a higher score, but a hole one over par is what ordinarily counts as a bogey.
Does bogey-free mean the player made no double bogeys either?
Yes in ordinary usage. A double bogey is already higher than a bogey, so a round containing one would not normally be described as bogey-free.
How should I verify a bogey-free round?
Review the completed Scorecard and compare every hole's gross score with par. Confirm that no hole is one over par or worse; do not rely only on the total Round Score.