Tracing the Origins of Bogey as a Golf Term
- Yes, Golf's Bogey Is Related to 'the Bogey Man' According to the USGA Museum, the "Bogey Man" was a character in a British dancehall song of the late 19th Century, ...
- Hello, Colonel Bogey. ...
- When the Meanings of Bogey and Par Diverged. ...
How does bogey became a golf term?
- On a par 3, a score of 4 will be called a bogey
- On a par 4, a score of 5 will be called a bogey
- On a par 5, a score of 6 will be called a bogey
- On a par 6, a score of 7 will be called a bogey
What does bogey mean in golf?
Level of golf play that equals 1 shot over par
- Example. "You have fun today? Yeah, we played a lot of bogey golf but still had fun."
- Related Slang
- Usage
What does the term Boggie mean in golf?
What Are the Types of Bogeys?
- A double bogey means you are two over par
- A triple bogey means you are three over par
- Birdy means you’re actually one under par
- An eagle means you’re two under par
- An albatross means you’re three under par
Where did the golf term bogey come from?
This term comes from Scotland, though stories vary. Some say that Major Charles Wellman remarked that a player was "a regular Bogey man," while others credit Scottish slang for goblins or devils. Regardless, the Scots can lay claim to the idea. A Bogey means one over par.
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Why do they call it bogey in golf?
The term 'bogey' comes from a song that was popular in the British Isles in the early 1890s, called "The Bogey Man" (later known as "The Colonel Bogey March"). The character of the song was an elusive figure who hid in the shadows: "I'm the Bogey Man, catch me if you can."
Did par used to be called bogey?
Par and bogey were not necessarily interchangeable terms, but a golf hole's par rating and bogey rating were often the same. We must go back to British golf in the late 1800s to see how bogey emerged as a golf term.
When was the word bogey first used?
1890Bogey (+1) The term actually originated around 1890, when, according to Robert Browning's History of Golf in 1955, Mr. CA Wellman said to Dr. Browne: "This player of yours is a regular Bogey man". That term itself came from a popular song at the time: 'Hush!
Why are golf terms birds?
Used to score one under par. It began to be used in 1899 in New Jersey. It turns out that on one game day, three golfers were playing when one of them, on his second stroke, hit a bird in flight with the ball and it landed very, very close to the hole. The teammates said it was a stroke of luck for a 'birdie'.
What is a turkey in golf?
Its origin is almost certainly American in nature. In ten-pin bowling, a trio of consecutive strikes is called a turkey, while six in a row is known as a wild, or golden, turkey. It wouldn't be the first time golf has borrowed from another sport to expand its lexicon.
What is a ostrich in golf?
Supposedly, this is the name assigned to completing a hole having struck the ball five fewer times than par. In other words, this is what happens when you hole-out a Par 7 with two strokes or shoot a Hole-In-One on a Par Six.
Why does golf have 18 holes?
Andrews formalized the rules and stated, “One round of the Links, or 18 holes is reckoned a match, unless otherwise stipulated.” Legend has it that the reason for 18 holes is that a bottle of whiskey contained the same number of shots as holes on a course, thus providing just enough drink for a shot on each hole.
What does golf really stand for?
A common misconception is that the word GOLF is an acronym for Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden. This is a 20th century joke and definitely not true. It is now generally accepted that the 'golf' is derived from an old word meaning 'club', though this in turn may have older cognate roots dating back to ancient times.
Where did the term scratch golfer come from?
A runner starting from scratch was not given a head start; applying the same idea to other sports, a scratch golfer or scratch bowler is one good enough to play without having their score adjusted with a handicap.
Why is it called a mulligan?
Theory: 'Mulligan' Is Named After a Golfer Mulligan probably originated when the golf do-over was christened mulligan after the name of a golfer who kept replaying shots. That's the most likely explanation, and according to Occam's Razor the simplest explanation is more likely to be the true one.
Why do right handed golfers wear a glove on their left hand?
The main reason golfers wear a glove is because of the added grip. If you're a right-handed golfer you'll wear a glove on your left hand. The reason golfers only wear one glove is that you won't get any added benefit from wearing two.
What is a condor in golf terms?
Condor is an unofficial name for a hole score of four strokes fewer than par (four under par, −4). A condor is also known as a double albatross, or a triple eagle. This is the lowest individual hole score ever made, relative to par.
Where did the term "bogey" come from?
But the origins of "bogey" include the fact that it was originally used by golfers similar to the way that we use "par" today. Par and bogey were not necessarily interchangeable terms, but a golf hole's par rating and bogey rating were often the same. We must go back to British golf in the late 1800s to see how bogey emerged as a golf term.
What is a bogey man?
At least, that's what the golf scoring term "bogey" means today: the definition of bogey is a stroke total on a single gole that is one stroke higher than that hole's par rating.
What is the meaning of "par" in golf?
The USGA thus defined "par" as the score an expert golfer, playing the hole well, should be expected to achieve. So in the first years in which par and bogey were both in use in the United States, their meanings began to diverge.
When was the Colonel Bogey March published?
That character appeared in song in the Colonel Bogey March, published in 1913, and, as the photo on this page shows, appeared on golf products. (The Colonel Bogey March, by the way, was later made instantly recognizable as the famous music in the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai .)
When did the meaning of "bogey" and "par" diverge?
When the Meanings of Bogey and Par Diverged. While that was happening in British golf in the late 1800s and early 1900s, in American golf the term "par" was just entering the golf lexicon in the early 1900s.
When was the ground score first called par?
British golfers by at least the 1880s developed a way of rating golf holes: how many strokes should it take to play the hole? This is what we call "par" today, but at that time, when scores were much higher throughout golf than they are today, the number was originally called the "ground score.".
Who said the ground score was a regular bog?
Around 1890, according to The Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms, a certain Charles Wellman, playing golf at Great Yarmouth in England, exclaimed one day on the links that the ground score was "a regular Bogey Man," referring to the song.
What is the bogey score?
Here Comes the Bogey Man", which was popular at that time. So at Yarmouth and elsewhere the ground score became known as the bogey score. A 'bogle' was a Scottish goblin as far back as the 16th Century and a Bogey-man was a widely used term for a goblin or devil.
When were bogey competitions introduced?
This allowed the introduction of bogey competitions, which we would call handicap competitions or stablefords. On 2nd January 1892, The Field reported that 'a novelty was introduced in the shape of a bogey tournament for a prize. ... Fourteen couples started but the bogey defeated them all.'.
What is par in golf?
Par is derived from the stock exchange term that a stock may be above or below its normal or 'par' figure. In 1870, Mr AH Doleman, a golf writer, asked the golf professionals David Strath and James Anderson, what score would win 'The Belt', then the winning trophy for 'The Open', at Prestwick, where it was first held annually from 1861 to 1870. Strath and Anderson said that perfect play should produce a score of 49 for Prestwick's twelve holes. Mr Doleman called this 'par' for Prestwick and subsequently Young Tom Morris won with a score of two strokes 'over par' for the three rounds of 36 holes.
What are the three terms used in golf?
There is quite a history behind the golfing terms bogey, par, birdie, eagle and albatross. Bogey and par were central to the development of handicapping, pioneered by the LGU. The modern meaning of three of the terms - bogey, birdie and eagle - comes from their use in USA. Bogey Par Birdie Eagle Albatross.
What is the meaning of the eagle in golf?
Eagle. "Eagle", a score of two under par for a given hole, was clearly the extension of the theme of birds for good scores from a " birdie " . It would be natural for American golfers to think of the eagle, which is their national symbol and the term seems to have developed only shortly after the 'birdie'.
What does "birdie" mean in golf?
Birdie. "Birdie", meaning a score of one stroke under Par, comes from the early 20th century American slang term "bird", meaning anything excellent. The September 1911 edition of Maclean Magazine described a golf shot as - '"bird" straight down the course, about two hundred and fifteen yards.'.
When was the eagle introduced to golf?
By 1919 the term was being introduced to Britain, as when Mr H D Gaunt's explained the use of 'birdie' and 'eagle' that he met in Canada. For many years, eagle was always introduced as American terms, as in 1922 when Cecil (Cecilia) Leitch described a putt for a 3 on a par-5 hole as 'securing what is known in American golfing parlance as an "eagle"' (Golf XII 1922 p 202).
Why is it called a bogey in golf?
This term has stayed with the game and now a bogey refers to any time a player scores one over par. Bogey golfers are the most common in the sport, with an average of 70 bogeys per 100 holes.
History of Bogey
The phrase “bogey” was used in British folklore in the early 1890s to describe a hideous or terrible figure that moved about at night. In Britain, during this era, a song called “The Bogey Man” (later known as “The Colonel Bogey March”) became popular. I’m the Bogey Man; if you can, try and capture me.
What Is A Bogey?
A bogey, or bogie, is a score of one stroke over par, but what is the difference between bogeys and birdies?
How Is Par Determined?
Golf holes are assigned numerical values that reflect the maximum number of strokes a skilled golfer should require to complete that hole.
Is Bogey Golf Good?
Bogey golfers (those who score one stroke over par on a hole) make up the majority of players. A bogey represents an excellent round of golf, and if you shoot a bogey on every hole or even on most holes, there’s nothing wrong with that.
What Counts As A Bogey?
There are many scoring combinations possible in golf that produce the same result of one over par, including double-bogey (score of two strokes above par on a hole), triple-bogey (three strokes above par on a hole), etc. In this sense, it is better to think of ‘bogey’ as shorthand for “one above par” rather than strictly meaning one stroke over.
Why Are Bogey Golfers The Majority Of Players?
There are many possible reasons for this including more holes on average in an 18-hole course means that there is a greater chance to have bad luck. There are also physical and experience limitations that may prevent you from scoring better than par.
What does "bogey" mean in golf?
If you ask golfers what a bogey means, many will respond with the 1-over par explanation, but few will be able to explain the origins and how it relates to par. Bogey, like so many other golfing terms, has 2 connotations dependent on the period in history and context that you refer to. To put the term in perspective, ...
Where did the word "bogey man" come from?
Other versions suggest that the term is derived from an English dance hall song titled “The Bogey Man” which included the lyrics, “I’m the Bogey Man, catch me if you can.”.
How many shots higher is a bogey score?
Generally, the bogey score for a round will be approximately 5-6 shots higher than par.
What is a bogey shot?
What we have established by now is that the term bogey refers to 1 shot over par.
What is a buzzard in golf?
Some golfers have tried to get the term “buzzard” accepted for a double bogey, but this has not become common use. Scoring 2 over par is called a “double bogey”, 3 over par a triple bogey, 4 over par a quadruple bogey, 5 over par a quintuple bogey, and higher scores, which you are unlikely to score, follows the trend.
How many shots do you need to score to record a bogey?
To record a bogey, you have to score 1 shot more than the regular par score set by the golf club for the specific hole.
When was bogey invented?
What Exactly Is A Bogey? The concept of bogey was invented in 1890 by Mr. Hugh Rotherham, then secretary of the Coventry Golf Club. The idea behind this was to set a standard score for good golfers on every hole. This was called the “ground score”.
What does "bogey" mean in golf?
This lead to the current definition, where bogey means one over par whilst par itself is the minimum aim for professional golfers.
Why do golfers shout "fore"?
The first is that it is short for the word ‘forecaddie’ - a person who tracks the ball and finds where it lands. This person is not anything to do with the normal caddie, who helps carry clubs and makes decisions on the course.
What does par mean in golf?
Par (0) Par. Average for a top class golfer. This Latin term for equality dates back to the 16th century ( OxfordDictionaries) and is still used today to describe something ordinary. It was first used by golfers in the 1890’s when originally it was the standard for professionals whilst amateurs aimed for a bogey.
What is the 19th hole in golf?
Let’s finish where most Golfers end up. The 19th hole is the colloquial term for the courses lounge area with a bar. This is the hole that really matters.
When did the term "one over par" come into use?
The term actually originated around 1890, when, according to Robert Browning’s History of Golf in 1955, Mr. CA Wellman said to Dr. Browne: "This player of yours is a regular Bogey man".
Where did the name Cadet come from?
But the name caddie originates from the French language . Cadet is the word used for the youngest in France so it makes sense that he would be the one to carry the clubs.
How much do caddies make?
Top caddies around the world can earn around £1 million a year now such is their importance to the modern day. A good caddie will advise their player on the best strategy, clubs and shots to play throughout the round.
Who said "This player of yours is a regular Bogey man"?
Dr Browne, Secretary of the Great Yarmouth Club, adopted the idea, and, with the assent of the club's golfers, this style of competition was introduced there for use in match play. During one competition Mr CA Wellman (possibly Major Charles Wellman) exclaimed to Dr Browne that, "This player of yours is a regular Bogey man". This was probably a reference to the eponymous subject of an Edwardian music hall song "Hush! Hush! Hush! Here Comes the Bogey Man", which was popular at that time. So at Yarmouth and elsewhere the ground score became known as the Bogey score.
What was the original format of golf?
Golf was originally played in match play format. There was no designated par for a given hole. It was you vs someone else and whoever played the hole more efficiently won one of your "skins" (presumably a pelt of some sort in the 15th century and then currency as time went on).
What is par in golf?
Par is derived from the stock exchange term that a stock may be above or below its normal or 'par' figure. In 1870, Mr AH Doleman, a golf writer, asked the golf professionals David Strath and James Anderson, what score would win 'The Belt', then the winning trophy for 'The Open', at Prestwick, where it was first held annually from 1861 to 1870. Strath and Anderson said that perfect play should produce a score of 49 for Prestwick's twelve holes. Mr Doleman called this Par for Prestwick and subsequently Young Tom Morris won with a score of two strokes 'over Par' for the three rounds of 36 holes.
What is the slang for a birdie?
The slang of the early 20th century for something that was rad, neat, tubular, or keen was "birdie". Someone who was particularly skilled at rolling cigarettes was known to "roll a birdie of a smoke". A really well tailored suit was "a birdie of a suit". It follows that a really good putt would be known as "a birdie of a putt". It then follows that "birdie" would mean under par, specifically by one stroke.
Where does par come from?
Par comes from the stock trading world.
When was the first open championship?
The first “Open” Championship back in 1860 was actually closed. Only a limited field of professionals were allowed to compete. In 1861, Prestwick Golf Club opened the competition to include the litany of amateurs who played the game and this is the origin of the term ‘Open’.
Who invented the ground score?
In 1890 Mr Hugh Rotherham Secretary of the Coventry Golf Club conceived the idea of standardising the number of shots at each hole that a good golfer should take, which he called the 'ground score.'
What is a bogey in golf?
A bogey is where a player takes one more shot than the par of the hole. So if a player is playing a par-3 and they make a four, or they are playing a par-4 and make five, it is a bogey.
Who was the first golfer to complete a 72 hole PGA Tour event without a bogey?
The first player to complete a 72-hole PGA Tour event without a bogey was Lee Trevino, who won the 1974 Greater New Orleans Open.
