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Bogey is a golfing term used to describe the number of strokes needed to complete a hole, or the score for that hole, one stroke more than par. Bogey can also refer to an average score for all holes on a course, or for all 18 holes on a regulation course. In match play, a bogey means losing the hole; in stroke play, it results in a higher score.
While a bogey may not sound like a great score, it is actually very important in golf. A bogey can be the difference between winning and losing a match, and it can also be used to calculate handicaps. Handicaps are important because they level the playing field for golfers of different skill levels. Without them, it would be very difficult for amateur golfers to compete against professionals.
Here we will discuss what is a bogey in golf terms, its different variations of it and how to score it.
What Is A Bogey In Golf Scoring?
A bogey is a score of one stroke over par on a hole. It is the most common score in golf, and it is also known as a “double bogey” or “triple bogey” depending on how many strokes over par it is. For example, if you are playing a par 4 hole and you hit your tee shot into the water, you would be making a triple bogey.
Origin Of A Bogey
The term was first used in the late 19th century, and is believed to have been derived from the Scottish word “bogie,” meaning “caddy.” Bogeys are relatively common, and occur when a golfer fails to reach the green in regulation or makes a poor shot that results in a loss of distance. In match play, a bogey can be an important swing point, as it can often decide whether a player wins or loses the hole.
How to Hit a Bogey on the Golf Course?
Knowing how to hit a bogey on the golf course is essential for any golfer. Even professionals will find themselves in situations where they need to get out of an awkward spot and leave with as few strokes as possible. Sometimes it’s because they can’t hit their normal shot, and sometimes it’s because they have a tree right in front of them.
Either way, not every golfer knows how to hit a bogey on the golf course, but with our tips and tricks you will be that much better prepared next time you find yourself needing to do just that. The term “bogey” is used to refer to a specific score from playing golf that is neither good nor bad. It means you are one above par, which is usually worse than being two or more below par (but not always). So getting out of this tricky situation means knowing how to hit a bogey on the golf course so you don’t give up unneeded strokes.
Here are some tips and tricks:
Know Your Clubs
If you know your clubs, you will be better equipped to handle whatever the course throws at you. Knowing which clubs you have that can help you out of sticky situations will put you in a better frame of mind. If you feel like you don’t have many options, you will feel more trapped and less likely to think of creative ways to get out of the bad position.
Having more options can also help you to avoid getting into these bad spots in the first place. A good rule of thumb for golfers who are just getting started with their game is to try to keep three clubs in the bag that are versatile enough to be used in most situations. These clubs should be able to be used both off the tee and off the fairway.
For some golfers, that’ll mean a 3-wood, a couple of hybrids or a utility club, and a wedge or putter. Other golfers may opt for a different combination of clubs, but the goal should always be to have a “go to” club for each situation.
Adjust Your Grip
Like most sports, you should always keep in mind that the fundamentals are what really win you the game. If you are having a hard time hitting your normal shot, you may want to try adjusting your grip. A lot of times, when a golfer is having a hard time hitting their normal shot, it’s because they don’t have the proper grip on their club.
The grip, when held incorrectly, can throw off your swing and make it nearly impossible to hit your normal shot. The first thing to do, if you are having trouble hitting the ball, is to adjust your grip.
If you are struggling to get the ball out of the rough or out of the bunker, you may want to consider adjusting your grip to have a stronger or weaker grip.
A stronger grip will help you put more power into your shots and will help you get the ball out of the rough or bunker more easily.
A weaker grip will help you be more accurate.
If you are struggling to get the ball out of the rough, you may want to try a weaker grip and for bunker shots, a stronger grip may be better.
Select a Fairway Wood
One of the best ways to hit a bogey on the golf course is to use a club that is more forgiving than your normal iron or wedge. This will save you strokes, but it may also be a way to hit a bogey. A fairway wood is a hybrid club that can be used both off the tee and off the fairway. It’s shorter and lighter than a hybrid, but longer and heavier than an iron.
The head of a fairway wood is usually larger than an iron, but smaller than a hybrid, so it’s easier to hit the ball with distance and accuracy. Fairway woods are great for getting yourself out of bad spots, both on the fairway and in the rough. They hit high shots that are easy to control, and they are very forgiving on mis-hits. If you are struggling to hit the ball out of the rough and have a tree right in front of you, a fairway wood will help you hit the ball up and over it and save you a lot of strokes.
Adjust Your Stance and Grip
If you are having trouble hitting the ball from a specific lie, like the rough, you may want to try adjusting your stance and grip. If you have a club in your hand and are unable to hit the ball out of a specific lie, try changing your stance and grip. This will help you position your body differently, which may help you hit the ball out of the bad lie.
For example, if you are having trouble getting the ball out of the rough, try shifting your feet to the left. This may help you change the lie of the ball and give you an easier shot to hit. If you are having trouble getting the ball out of the bunker, try moving your feet to the right. This may give you a better lie and make it easier to get the ball out of the bunker.
Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
Some of the best golfers in the world occasionally find themselves needing to hit a bogey. While they may not have these situations as often as amateur golfers, they do have them. There is just no getting around it because the game of golf is full of challenges and things that are out of your control. You may be able to avoid some of these challenges by adjusting your grip, club selection, and stance and finding a club that can help you out of a sticky situation.
However, you may also find yourself in a bad situation where you just can’t get the ball out. This is a scenario in which you are better off hitting a bogey and saving as many strokes as possible. Sometimes you need to fail a couple of times to get out of a bad situation. Just don’t get too frustrated when this happens because it’s bound to happen a few times during your golfing career.
Different types of bogey in golf
What is a double bogey in golf?
A double bogey is a score of two strokes over par on a hole of golf. This is typically considered to be a very poor score, and is often the result of a bad tee shot, wild approach shot, or three-putt green. A double bogey can easily ruin an otherwise good round of golf, and can be very frustrating for even the most experienced players.
What is a triple bogey in golf?
A triple bogey is a score of three strokes over par on a single hole of golf. This is typically considered to be a very poor score, and is usually the result of a series of bad shots or unlucky circumstances. A triple bogey can be very demoralizing for a golfer, as it often indicates that their game is not up to par.
What is a quadruple bogey in golf?
A quadruple bogey is the score a golfer gets for a hole when they finish four strokes over par. This can happen if a golfer hits their ball into the water, or if they have a really bad day and miss a lot of shots. While it’s not the end of the world to get a quadruple bogey, it’s definitely not something that most golfers are happy about.
What is a blind bogey in golf?
A blind bogey is a golf score that is not associated with any particular hole. It is commonly used in match play, when one player has a clear lead and the other player is trying to catch up. The term can also be used in stroke play, but it is less common. In both cases, the term refers to a situation where the player does not know what their score will be on a given hole until they finish the hole.
What Is A Bad Bogey In Golf?
A bad bogey is a score of 2 over par on a hole. This can happen when a golfer hits their tee shot into the rough, misses the fairway with their second shot, and then has to scramble for par. A bad bogey can also occur when a golfer hits a good drive but then hits their approach shot into a hazard or out-of-bounds.
While we mostly focused on the “good” bogeys, as in, the ones that are still under par, there are also “bad” bogeys. Bad bogeys are ones where you hit a bogey or above par. The good news is that most golfers don’t shoot their best golf scores every time they play. This means that you are bound to hit a bad bogey every now and again.
However, there are ways to hit bad bogeys more often. This is what we outline below:
Bad Break: This is when something goes wrong in the midst of taking your shot. You may hit the ball toward the green, but it comes to a stop and gets stuck in the rough. Or, you may hit the ball toward the green and it hits off a tree and comes to a stop. You may have also hit the ball into the water. Bad Break shots are the result of bad luck. The best thing you can do is shrug it off, take a deep breath, and try to move on.
Bad Place: Sometimes you may hit the ball in the right direction, but it doesn’t roll well. You may hit the ball on a downward slope and it just keeps going. Or, you may hit the ball on an upward slope and it comes to a screeching halt. Bad pace is another form of bad place. You may hit the ball in the correct direction, but it doesn’t roll where you wanted it to go. Bad pace will usually result in a shot going well over the flag or into a bunker.
Bad Plan: This is when you know what you want to do with the ball, but you do something else entirely. Bad plan often comes from rushing your shot. You may have hit the ball in the direction you wanted to go, but you rushed the shot and ended up slicing it to the left instead of hitting it straight. Bad plan can also come from not having the right club in your hands. You may have wanted to hit a certain shot, but you didn’t have the right club in your hands and you ended up slicing the ball.
What is the difference between a bogey and a birdie in golf?
A bogey is one stroke over par on a hole, while a birdie is one stroke under par. In other words, if you were playing a hole that was par 3 and you took four strokes to complete the hole, that would be considered a bogey. If you took two strokes to complete the same hole, that would be considered a birdie.
Summary
Knowing how to hit a bogey on the golf course is essential for any golfer. Even professionals will find themselves in situations where they need to get out of an awkward spot and leave with as few strokes as possible. Hope we’ve cleared the bogey shot for you!
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Daisy is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Golfs Hub. She is associated with Golf for more than 20 years. She got the inspiration from her father. She is a very private person & doesn't like to be photographed. She's worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Now she is enjoying her retirement from day job... but not from Golf! Daisy lives in southeasternmost part of New York state with her family.