A Double Bogey is a golfing term that refers to a player scoring two strokes more than the par of the particular hole that they are playing. It's one of the more common golf scoring terms and will be all too familiar to most recreational golfers!
Double bogey in numbers
Ideally, we want to avoid double bogey at all costs, but for most golfers it's an inevitable part of a round of golf. To understand if you've made a double bogey, let's step through a real life scenario you might find yourself in on the course.
If you are playing a par 3 hole, you need to get the ball into the cup in three strokes. If you haven't done that and you have already taken 3 shots to get on the putting green, any extra stroke after that will be a bogey. You manage to take two putts to finish the hole, there for you have made a double bogey. You would then be two over par for that hole.
Here's a quick guide to make it super clear what scores make up a double bogey on holes with a different par rating:
- A score of 5 is a double bogey in a par 3 hole
- A score of 6 is a double bogey in a par 4 hole
- A score of 7 is a double bogey in a par 5 hole
What shape is used for a double bogey?
On scorecards and on the overlays in the PGA Tour broadcasts, you'll see shapes around the numbers on the scoreboard. When you score a double bogey, you can draw a double square around the number to represent and make it easier to count the score up at the end.
Is a double bogey good?
If you're a total beginner golfer, double bogey is actually a good score on the golf course. As you get better, you will try to eliminate double bogey as a score. For professional golfers, scores of bogey or double bogey are pretty disastrous for their score.
What's worse than a double bogey?
A triple bogey or quadruple bogey is worse than a double bogey. While double bogey is two over regulation par for a scratch golfer, a triple bogey is 3 over par while a quadruple bogey is 4 over. No one wants these!
What is a net double bogey?
Since the introduction of the World Handicap System, net double bogey in golf is the maximum number of strokes that will be recorded for handicap purposes. This is to prevent a few bad holes from totally destroying your handicap. Net double bogey can also be used in a stableford scoring game of golf.
Does everyone make double bogeys?
The simple answer is, yes! Even the best golfers will make double bogeys and worse throughout their golfing life so don't be too hard on yourself when you inevitably make one. the best thing you can do is put a bad score behind you and move onto the next hole. Who knows, your next shot could be your best shot.
Double Bogey Golf Handicap
If you make double bogey on every hole, your handicap will be around 30. Your score will be 108 shots or 36 over par on a par 72 course.
How do I avoid double bogey?
Sometimes making a double bogey is unavoidable, but lets see what we can do to reduce the bad scores and maybe make par on a hole!
Practice
Go to a driving range and practice your game. I believe that the best thing to practice is your putting. Even beginners can learn to putt like a golf expert. If you practice consistently, you may start making some more pars and then you want to know what a par is in golf!
Get lessons
Seeking advice and coaching from a golf expert or PGA professional is the best way to improve at the game. Once you have had a couple of lessons, you will see that it makes sense to learn from others. Golf is hard!
Play more golf!
This might seem obvious, but the best way to reduce bad scores is to play more golf and learn more about the game. Having trouble on a specific hole? Play it as often as you can and make it your favorite! Double bogey plus your handicap allowance is your maximum score for every hole in golf.