Bogey Golf: What It Means and How It Fits Into Your Game
When you hear bogey golf, a score of one stroke over par on a single hole. Also known as one-over-par, it’s the quiet heartbeat of everyday golf—not the flashy eagle or the dreaded double bogey, but the steady, common result that shapes most rounds. You don’t need to be a pro to deal with bogeys. In fact, if you’re shooting in the 90s or low 100s, bogeys are probably your most frequent visitor on the course. They’re not failures—they’re normal. And understanding them is the first step to lowering your score.
Think of par, the standard number of strokes a skilled golfer should take to complete a hole. It’s the baseline. A par-3 means you’re expected to get the ball in the hole in three shots. A bogey? That’s four. On a par-4, it’s five. Simple. But here’s what most beginners miss: golf handicaps, a system that levels the playing field between players of different skill levels. Your handicap is built on how often you shoot bogeys, doubles, and worse. So if you’re consistently hitting bogeys, you’re not doing badly—you’re giving the system the data it needs to track your progress. Golf isn’t about avoiding bogeys entirely. It’s about minimizing the big ones. The difference between a 95 and an 85 isn’t always birdies—it’s cutting down on the triple bogeys and keeping the bogeys under control.
Some players chase eagle shots and hate bogeys like they’re personal insults. But the real champions? They treat bogeys like a weather report. If the wind’s up, the greens are fast, or your swing’s off, a bogey is just a smart response. You don’t need to force a birdie on every hole. You just need to keep the ball in play, get it on the green in regulation, and two-putt. That’s bogey golf. And for most weekend players, that’s the smartest, most sustainable way to play.
What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t guides on how to eliminate bogeys. They’re honest looks at how real golfers—beginners, intermediates, even those who’ve played for decades—actually score. You’ll see what gear helps you avoid three-putts, how course management beats power, and why consistency beats perfection. There’s no magic drill here. Just real talk about what happens when you step onto the first tee with a 12-handicap and a clear head.
