Hearing terms like 2 over on the golf course can be confusing if you're new to the game, but it's a a simple concept to grasp. In a nutshell, being 2 over means you've taken two more strokes than the designated par score for a hole or for your entire round. This article will break down exactly what that means, how it shows up in your game, and most importantly, provide some practical, on-course strategies to help you avoid those 2-over scores and play with more confidence.
In golf, every hole has a "par," which is the target number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to take to complete it. Holes are typically designated as a Par 3, Par 4, or Par 5. When you take two strokes more than that target number, you have scored "2 over par" on that hole. The official name for this is a double bogey.
Let's look at it with some clear examples:
While the goal is always to shoot par or better, making a double bogey is an incredibly common score for amateur golfers. In fact, most golfers make several of them during a round. It doesn't mean you're a bad golfer, it just means you're a normal golfer.
The term "2 over" can refer to more than just your score on a single hole. It's also used to describe your total score for a round or a tournament. Here’s how to understand it in different situations.
As we've covered, this is a double bogey. A double bogey usually happens when a couple of things go wrong on the same hole. For example, on a Par 4, you might hit your tee shot into the trees (Stroke 1), have to punch out sideways onto the fairway (Stroke 2), hit your approach shot onto the green (Stroke 3), and then take three putts to get the ball in the hole instead of two (Strokes 4, 5, and 6). Just like that, you’ve made a 6 - a double bogey. Seeing how quickly the strokes add up helps you understand that these scores aren't a disaster, but a fixable part of the game.
You’ll also hear "2 over" used to describe a player's cumulative score for their entire round. A standard 18-hole golf course usually has a total par of 70, 71, or 72. If a golfer shoots a total score of 74 on a par-72 course, they finished the round at "2 over par" or "+2."
This is an excellent score that most amateurs would be thrilled to achieve. Similarly, if you play a 9-hole round with a total par of 36 and you shoot a 38, you finished at "+2" for your nine. Keeping your cumulative score low, like at 2 over par for a whole round, means you're minimizing big mistakes and playing very consistently.
When you watch golf on TV, you'll see players' scores on the leaderboard displayed relative to par. If a player’s name has "+2" next to it, it means their total score across all the holes they've played in the tournament so far is two strokes over the cumulative par. As the tournament progresses over several days, this number combines the scores from every round. A pro being at +2 after two or three rounds might mean they're in the middle of the pack, while finishing a tournament at +2 could still result in a very high finish depending on the difficulty of the course.
Let’s get one thing straight: if you're a weekend golfer, you are going to make double bogeys. It’s unavoidable. The greatest players in the world make them. The goal isn't to play a perfect, mistake-free round, the goal is to manage the mistakes so they don't spiral out of control.
Too many golfers beat themselves up over a "2 over" score on a hole. They see it as a failure. As a coach, I see it differently. I see it as a data point. What caused that six on the Par 4? Was it a penalty stroke off the tee? A chunked chip shot? A frustrating three-putt? Identifying the source of the double bogey is the first step to preventing the next one.
Most double bogeys aren’t caused by one awful shot, but by a chain reaction of slightly-off shots compounded by a poor strategic decision. The bad drive leads to a risky "hero" shot from the trees, which finds a bunker. The pressure of hitting a perfect bunker shot leads to a thinned shot over the green... and so on. Understanding this pattern removes the sting and turns it into a solvable problem.
The difference between a 95-shooter and an 85-shooter isn't a radically different golf swing. It's about course management and minimizing errors. The journey to a lower score is about turning those 6s into 5s. Here's how you do it.
This is the most important strategic adjustment you can make. When you hit a shot into trouble - deep in the trees, behind an obstacle, in a tough lie - your first instinct might be to find a tiny gap and try to pull off a miracle shot. Resist this temptation. This is what leads to disaster.
The Strategy: Assess the situation honestly. If getting the ball on the green is less than a 50% possibility, don't try it. Find the safest, simplest path back to the fairway, even if it means hitting the ball sideways or backward. A clean punch-out shot back to the short grass leaves you with a chance to get on the green with your next shot and, at worst, two-putt for a bogey. Hitting another tree and being in even deeper trouble is how a bogey turns into a double, triple, or worse.
Few things are more frustrating than hitting two solid shots to get on a Par 4 in regulation, only to walk away with a 6 because you three-putted. For most amateurs, the cause of the three-putt is poor distance control on the first putt.
The Strategy: When you have a putt from outside 30 feet, change your goal. The objective is not to make it. The objective is to lag the ball into a three-foot circle around the hole - a "gimme" range. Practice this on the putting green. Lay a club down three feet past the hole and try to get your long putts to finish between the hole and that club. Focusing on speed instead of line eliminates a destructive three-putt and a scorecard-wrecking double bogey.
Good course management is about playing the percentages, not just aiming at the pin on every shot. Look at where the trouble is around the green - water, deep bunkers, thick rough - and actively play away from it.
The Strategy: Let's say the pin is tucked on the right side of the green, right next to a deep bunker. Your target should not be the pin. Your target should be the center of the green. A shot to the center of the green gives you a putt every time. It's a boring, low-stress shot that almost guarantees you won't make worse than a bogey. You might even make par. Aiming at the pin brings the bunker into play, and one mis-hit can easily lead to a 2-over-par double bogey.
Many golfers use the distance from their "best-ever" shot with a club as their standard yardage. You remember that one 7-iron you flushed that went 165 yards. The problem is, your average 7-iron might only go 150 yards. Playing for the "perfect" shot often leaves you short of the green, in a bunker or rough, and scrambling to save a score.
The Strategy: Get to a driving range or invest in a session with a launch monitor to learn your carry distances for every club (how far the ball flies in the air). This isn't your total distance including roll, it's the number you need to clear bunkers and water. Once you know your true, average distances, you can swing with confidence, knowing you have the right club. More greens in regulation leads to far fewer double bogeys.
Making a score of "2 over," or a double bogey, is a fundamental part of the amateur golf experience, not a sign of failure. By understanding what it is and applying smart course management, you can start converting those high-stress situations into manageable ones, turning round-killing double bogeys into simple bogeys.
When you're staring down a shot that could easily lead to a "2 over" score, having a sound strategy is your best defense. This is where Caddie AI can become an invaluable tool in your pocket. You can get instant advice on how to play a difficult hole or even a recommendation for approaching a tricky lie, helping you make smarter, more confident decisions that turn potential double bogeys into pars and bogeys.
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