Hearing a golfer say they made 3 strokes on a hole can be confusing, but they’re almost always talking about a triple bogey - a score of three over the designated par for that hole. This article will break down what a triple bogey is, why it happens, and give you practical, coach-approved advice for keeping them off your scorecard. We'll also look at the three fundamental types of strokes you'll use to play almost every golf hole.
In golf, every hole has a "par" score, which is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to take to complete it. A triple bogey is a score of three strokes more than par on a single hole. It's often where scorecards go to die, turning a solid round into a frustrating one.
Here’s how it breaks down for different hole types:
For new and high-handicap golfers, the triple bogey can feel like an enemy you know all too well. It’s a score that pops up through a painful combination of one big mistake compounding into several smaller ones. You might hit a perfect drive, then thin an approach shot over the green, chip it poorly back on, and then three-putt. Sound familiar? That chain reaction is the anatomy of a triple bogey, and learning to break that chain is the first step toward better scores.
Triple bogeys rarely come from just one bad swing. They are born from a series of missteps, a snowball effect that often starts with one poor decision or shot. Let’s look at the three common culprits that pave the way for a 7 on your par-4.
The hole starts at the tee box, and for many golfers, that's where the trouble begins, too. Hitting your ball out of bounds (O.B.) or into a water hazard is the fastest way to add penalty strokes. The standard penalty is "stroke and distance," meaning you add one penalty stroke to your score and have to re-hit your shot from the same spot.
Example Scenario: You’re on a par-4. Your first swing with the driver goes out of bounds. That’s one stroke taken, plus a one-stroke penalty. You're now hitting your third shot from the tee box again. Just land that one in the fairway and you’re already lying 3 without even advancing the ball down the hole. From there, it only takes four more shots (an approach, a chip, and a two-putt) to make a 7.
This is where small mistakes escalate. Let’s say you’ve hit a wayward drive and find yourself behind a large tree. The smart play is to pitch the ball sideways back into the fairway, leaving yourself a clear third shot to the green. The anti-smart play is the "hero shot" - trying to thread the needle through a tiny gap in the branches.
When you attempt a low-percentage shot and fail, you often end up in an even worse position. The ball hits a branch and ricochets deeper into the woods, or it stays right where it was. You've wasted a stroke and are still stuck. The art of golf isn't always about hitting great shots, sometimes, it’s about making your bad shots less bad. Taking your medicine with a simple punch-out is the sign of a smart, disciplined golfer who avoids big numbers.
You did it. You navigated the tee shot and approach, and your ball is just off the putting surface. The hole is almost over. But this is where many rounds unravel.
A poorly hit chip - a "chunk" that moves the ball a few feet or a "thin" that sends it screaming across the green - instantly adds a stroke and amps up the pressure. Then comes the putting. Missing the green often leaves you with a very long putt for your next shot. When you're far from the hole, your goal isn’t necessarily to make it, it’s to get it close enough to guarantee an easy second putt.
A 3-putt (or gasp, a 4-putt) happens when you leave your first putt too far away, creating a knee-knocking 5- or 6-footer for your next, which you then miss. A simple par-4 can go like this:
And that’s with a good tee shot! It's frighteningly easy to see how a small mistake can add up to a triple bogey.
Getting rid of those 7s and 8s isn't about hitting the ball perfectly. It’s about playing smarter and developing a few reliable skills. Here is your four-step blueprint.
For many amateurs, the driver is more of an ego club than a scoring club. Your number one job on the tee box is to get the ball into play. It doesn't have to be long, it just has to be on the grass.
Actionable Tip: If your driver is costing you penalty strokes, leave it in the bag. Hitting a 3-wood, hybrid, or even a long iron can be a much smarter play. A ball in the middle of the fairway, even if it's 30 yards shorter, is infinitely better than a ball that’s out of bounds.
Before every shot, identify the biggest dangers - water, O.B. stakes, deep bunkers - and aim away from them. If water lines the entire right side of the fairway, aim down the left-center. Missing in the left rough is much better than taking a penalty stroke. Treat it like driving a car: you don’t aim for the ditch, you aim to stay on the road.
Every golfer needs a reliable punch shot to get out of trouble. It's easy to learn and will save you countless strokes.
Change your goal on the putting green. From outside of 20 feet, your objective is not to make the putt. It’s to get the ball inside a 3-foot "tap-in circle" around the hole. This takes immense pressure off your first putt. Focus on speed over line. A good lag putt that cozy's up next to the hole eliminates the dreaded 3-putt and keeps your score under control.
While a "triple bogey" is one way to interpret "3 strokes," it's also helpful to think of every par-4 or par-5 hole as being made up of three fundamental types of strokes or shots. Mastering these three areas is the real secret to avoiding a blow-up hole.
1. The Full Swing (The Power Shot): This is your tee shot or a long fairway shot. It’s characterized by a full rotation of the body and a focus on generating speed and power. The goal here is distance and positioning - to set yourself up for your next shot.
2. The Approach Shot (The Accuracy Shot): This shot is typically hit with an iron or wedge into the green. The swing is still full but with a greater emphasis on distance control and precision. Hitting a great approach shot is how you give yourself a good chance to make a birdie or par.
3. The Short Game (The Finesse Shot): This includes all the small shots around the green - chipping, pitching, bunker play, and putting. These strokes require feel and touch, not power. The objective is simply "scoring" or "saving" your score by getting the ball in the hole efficiently when you've missed the green.
Every triple bogey can be traced back to a breakdown in one of these three fundamental areas. By strengthening each one, you build a game that's solid enough to withstand a bad shot without letting it ruin your entire hole.
The term "3 strokes" in golf typically means a triple bogey, a painful score that arises from compounded mistakes. By playing smarter, avoiding penalties, and embracing the idea of damage control, you can turn those potential 7s and 8s into 5s and 6s, which makes a massive difference in your final score.
Playing smarter on the course is one of the fastest ways to improve. That’s why we at Caddie AI built an app that acts as your personal caddie and coach. When you’re facing a tough decision, like whether to go for that "hero shot" out of the trees or what club to hit on a long par-3, our AI gives you instant, tour-level advice based on your situation. You can even snap a photo of a tricky lie and get an expert recommendation on how to play it, helping you avoid those big mistakes that lead to a triple bogey.
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