Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
A bogey is a hole score of one stroke over par. For example, taking 5 strokes on a par-4 hole is a bogey. The term describes the result for that hole; it does not by itself describe a player’s handicap or the result of a whole round.
How it matters in match play
A bogey is not a separate match-play score: the hole is decided by comparing each player’s applicable gross or net score. Alex making a bogey on a par-4 does not automatically lose, because Ben could also make 5 or score higher. In the Rules’ Par/Bogey format, however, bogey can be the Committee’s fixed target score for hole-by-hole scoring.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Bogey |
| Category | scoring |
| Applicable rule | Rules of Golf, Rule 21.3 (Par/Bogey) |
| Related concepts | Par, Birdie, Double Bogey, Hole Score, Score Relative to Par |
Worked example
On a par-4 hole, Alex takes 5 strokes, so Alex has made a bogey; if Ben takes 6, Alex wins that match-play hole because 5 is fewer strokes than 6.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf, Rule 21.3 (Par/Bogey)
Sources: www.randa.org , www.randa.org , www.randa.org
Common questions
Is a bogey one over par?
Yes. A bogey is one stroke more than the hole’s par: 4 on a par-3, 5 on a par-4 or 6 on a par-5.
Does a bogey automatically lose a match-play hole?
No. Match play compares the players’ applicable scores on that hole. A bogey can win, halve or lose the hole depending on the opponent’s score and any handicap strokes that apply.
What is the difference between a bogey and a double bogey?
A bogey is one over par, while a double bogey is two over par. On a par-4, those scores are 5 and 6 respectively.