What is a "Bogey" in Golf? Scoring Terms Explained. (2024)

FAQs

What is a "Bogey" in Golf? Scoring Terms Explained.? ›

A bogey is simply when a golfer completes a hole-in-one

(A bogey is a golf score of 1 over par on an individual hole. If the hole's par rating is 4 and a golfer scores 5 on the hole, that golfer has made a bogey.) Do that on a par-72 golf course and the bogey golfer's average score is around 90.

An eagle occurs when a golfer completes a hole two strokes under par. For example, on a par 4 hole, an eagle would be achieved with just two strokes, and on a par 5 hole, three strokes would secure an eagle. The golf scoring system revolves around recording scores in relation to par for each hole.

Supposedly, this is the name assigned to completing a hole having struck the ball five fewer times than par. In other words, this is what happens when you hole-out a Par 7 with two strokes or shoot a Hole-In-One on a Par Six.

A player makes a “birdie” when he uses one fewer strokes than the par of the hole. If a player needs one stroke more than par to finish a hole, he makes a “bogey.” So, if you finish a par 4 with only 3 strokes, you make a “birdie”, but if you take 5 strokes to complete a par 4, you make a “bogey”.

So one circle represents a birdie, and a score circled twice represents an eagle or better. One square represents a bogey, while a score with two squares drawn around it represents a double-bogey or worse.

Well, if you're sticking with bowling terms, 4 in a row is a hambone.

"Birdie", meaning a score of one stroke under Par, comes from the early 20th century American slang term "bird", meaning anything excellent.

Terms exist for even rarer events — "ostrich" for 5 under par (-5) and "phoenix" for 6 under par (-6) — but no one has ever made these shots. Some consider them impossible — they require a hole-in-one on a par-6 or par-7 hole — because these holes themselves are very rare.

3 = Turkey or Gobbler. 4 = Hambone. 5 = Recently heard referred to as yatzee or five bagger.

What is a hole in one on a par 5 called? ›

Condor. Condor is when a golfer completes a hole in four strokes less than the designated par. For example, if you were to complete a par 5 hole in only one stroke, that would be called a condor. However, it is almost impossible to achieve, with only six condor scores having ever been recorded.

An albatross is achieved when a player either aces a par 4, or scores a "2" on a par 5.

"Birdie", meaning a score of one stroke under Par, comes from the early 20th century American slang term "bird", meaning anything excellent.

A birdie is a score of 1-under par on a hole (for example, scoring 4 on a par-5). A bogey is 1-over par on a hole. An eagle is 2-under par on a hole. A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole. A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an "albatross").

Bogey. A score of one stroke more than par (+1) for a hole is known as a bogey, e.g. 4 strokes to complete a par 3 hole or 6 strokes on a par 5 hole.