A bogie in golf means you’ve finished a hole in one stroke more than its designated par. It's one of the most common scoring terms you’ll hear on the course, and understanding what it is - and more importantly, how to avoid it - is a fundamental part of improving your game. This guide will walk you through exactly what a bogie is, what it means for your scorecard, and provide actionable coaching advice to help you start turning those bogies into pars.
Every hole on a golf course has a "par," which is the expected number of strokes an expert golfer should take to complete it. The par for a hole is usually 3, 4, or 5. A bogie is simply a score of one-over-par (+1) on any single hole.
Here’s how it translates in real terms:
It's that straightforward. If par is the target, a bogie is one misstep. But don't let that framing discourage you. For millions of recreational golfers, a bogie is a perfectly acceptable, and very frequent, result on a hole.
Of course, sometimes a hole doesn't go according to plan at all, and you might take more than one extra stroke. These scores have their own names, which simply extend the "bogie" theme:
After a triple bogie, most players simply refer to the numeric score (like an "8 on a par-4" or "quadruple bogie"). A scorecard full of these "others" is what really inflates your final score. The goal for any improving golfer is to eliminate the double and triple bogies first.
This is a question I get all the time, and the answer completely depends on your skill level and your goals. Let's reframe the question from "good or bad" to "what does this score mean for my game?"
For Beginners: Making a bogie can be a small victory! If you're new to the game, just getting the ball from the tee to the hole without a major disaster is a great accomplishment. Stringing together bogies with the occasional par is a fantastic goal and will put you well on your way to breaking 100.
For the Average Golfer (The "Bogie Golfer"): There's a well-known term called "Bogie Golf." A "bogie golfer" is someone who averages a bogie on every hole. If you shoot a bogie on all 18 holes of a par-72 course, your final score is a 90 (72 + 18). Shooting a 90 is a major milestone that millions of golfers strive for. In this sense, a bogie is not a "bad" score at all, it's the foundation of a very respectable game.
For Advanced Players: For single-digit handicappers or tournament players, a bogie feels more like a mistake. At this level, the goal shifts to making mostly pars and capitalizing on birdie opportunities. A bogie represents a missed opportunity or a small error they'll want to analyze and correct.
So, the next time you write a "5" on a par-4, don't just see it as a failure to make par. See it for what it is within the context of your own game. Often, it's just a part of the learning process.
Bogies don’t appear out of nowhere. They are the result of specific mistakes on the course. As a coach, I've seen a few common culprits that turn a potential par into a frustrating bogie time and time again. Let’s break them down so you can start to recognize and correct them.
A bad tee shot is the express lane to making a bogie. Hitting your ball out-of-bounds, into a water hazard, or deep into the trees immediately puts you in recovery mode. You're now hitting your second or even third shot from a terrible position, while your partners are in the middle of the fairway.
The Fix: Play Smarter, Not Harder. Don't automatically pull the driver on every par-4 and par-5. If a hole is narrow or has trouble lurking on the sides, opt for a club that gives you more control, like a 3-wood or a hybrid. The goal of the tee shot isn’t always maximum distance, it's to put the ball in a position where you can take a comfortable next swing. A shorter shot in the fairway is infinitely better than a long shot in the woods.
The three-putt is one of the most painful ways to make a bogie. You hit a great drive, a solid approach shot, and land your ball safely on the green in regulation... only to give it all away with the putter. Taking three-putts to get the ball in the hole means you're turning a makeable par into an easily avoidable bogie.
The Fix: Prioritize Speed Control. Most three-putts are caused by a poor first putt that leaves you way too far from the hole. Instead of trying to "make" every long putt, shift your focus to getting the speed right. Your goal on a long putt isn't the bottom of the cup, it's an imaginary three-foot circle around the hole. Practice lag putting by trying to stop your ball just past the hold, ensuring you leave yourself a simple tap-in for your second putt.
You’ve missed the green with your approach shot, but you’re just a few yards off in the fringe or light rough. Success feels close. But then you duff the chip, flub the pitch, or skull it across the green. Now, a simple up-and-down for par has turned into a scramble for a bogie.
The Fix: Choose the Simplest Shot Possible. Too many amateurs watch the pros and try to hit a high, spinning flop shot every time they're around the green. Most of the time, the highest percentage play is the simplest one. If there's open green between you and the hole, use a less-lofted club like a 9-iron or a pitching wedge to hit a low "bump-and-run" shot that gets the ball rolling like a putt as quickly as possible. It’s a much more predictable and easier shot to execute under pressure.
Your tee shot ends up behind a large tree. You have no clear path to the green. But you see a tiny window through the branches and think, "I can totally thread the needle here!" You take the risky swing, your ball smacks a tree, and ricochets deeper into trouble. A hole that should have been managed for a bogie at worst has now become a guaranteed double or triple.
The Fix: Take Your Medicine. The smartest golfers know when a hole is not going their way. They recognize that the goal is to stop the bleeding. Instead of attempting a one-in-a-million "hero shot," they take the safe route. A simple punch-out sideways back to the fairway is often the best play. It might feel like conceding the hole, but what you’re really doing is taking a triple bogie out of play and giving yourself astress-free chance to still make a bogie. A "good bogie" saved from a disaster is always a win.
You can see a common thread here: avoiding bogies is less about having a perfect swing and more about making smarter decisions. It’s about managing your misses, playing to your strengths, and having a solid mental approach.
Practice playing "boring" golf. Hit the fairway, hit the green, two-putt, and walk to the next a tee. When you miss, have a simple, reliable plan to get back in position. Don't let your ego choose your club or your shot. Let a clear-headed strategy guide you. This approach is what lowers scores, reduces frustration, and makes the game significantly more enjoyable.
Understanding what a bogie is is simple: it’s a score of one over par. What's more important is understanding what it represents for your game and how to manage the common mistakes that cause them. By improving your course strategy, focusing on your short game, and avoiding high-risk shots, you'll start seeing fewer bogies on your card.
This is where getting better becomes about thinking smarter, not just swinging harder. With our app, Caddie AI, you can get instant, expert-level advice on course strategy for any hole or any tricky situation you find yourself in. If you're stuck behind a tree and aren't sure whether to go for the hero shot or punch out, you can get a second opinion right from your pocket, helping you turn those potential blow-up holes into manageable bogies.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
