
The term “bogey” was initially used in golf to describe a specific score that golfers would use as their benchmark for success. For example, if the player’s goal is to shoot an even 100, shooting a bogey would mean they achieved their goal.
How does bogey became a golf term?
Dec 14, 2021 · The term “bogey” was initially used in golf to describe a specific score that golfers would use as their benchmark for success. For example, if the player’s goal is to shoot an even 100, shooting a bogey would mean they achieved their goal.
How to play bogey golf?
Apr 11, 2019 · It was first used by golfers in the 1890’s when originally it was the standard for professionals whilst amateurs aimed for a bogey. This lead to the current definition, where bogey means one over par whilst par itself is the minimum aim for professional golfers. Birdie (-1) Now we get to the Avian references in golf which dominate the sport.
What are bogey competitions in golf?
Sep 21, 2003 · The Bogey Man must have been a golfer, because he lent his name to a golf score of 1-over par . 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. If the hole is a par-4, and you make a score of five, that's a bogey.
What is a bogie golf?
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”. Although the term “par” was also used at the time it referred to the ’perfect’ score on a hole.
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Where did the golf terms birdie and bogey come from?
Why is an eagle called an eagle in golf?
When did bogey become par?
Why are golf strokes named after birds?
What is a green in golf?
: a smooth grassy area at the end of a golf fairway containing the hole also : a similar area usually with many holes that is used for practice.
Why is it called bogies?
What are golf scores called?
Golf Scoring Term | Explanation |
---|---|
Birdie | One stroke under par on an individual hole. |
Eagle | Two strokes under par on an individual hole. |
Albatross / Double Eagle | Three strokes under par on an individual hole. |
Condor | Four strokes under par on an individual hole. |
What is 3 shots under par called?
Where did the term "bogey man" come from?
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! Hush!
When did the term "bogey man" come into existence?
Bogey (+1) Let’s start with the stinker. Getting one over par in golf actually has nothing to do with picking your nose. 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".
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.
When was the word "birdie" first used?
The first use of the word birdie is dated back to 1903 in Atlantic City, in a game between two brothers and their friend. One of the brothers, AB Smith, referred to one of his shots as a bird, before holing his putt to get one under par. They all referred to that shot as a birdie from then on.
What is a forecaddie?
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. The second theory is that it originates from the military.
What is the bird in golf?
An American magazine frequently used the word bird to refer to something good in the early 20th century and in 1911, Maclean Magazine described a golf shot as: “Bird, straight down the course, about two hundred and fifteen yards .” ( ScottishGolfHistory)
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".
What is a bogey in golf?
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. If the hole is a par-4, and you make a score of five, that's a bogey.
Is bogey the same as par?
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.
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.
Is the bogey man related to the bogey man?
Yes, Golf's Bogey Is Related to 'the Bo gey Man'. According to the USGA Museum, the "Bogey Man" was a character in a British dancehall song of the late 19th Century, a song titled Here Comes the Bogey Man. And yes, that was the bogey man (many today pronounce it "boogie man").
What song did the bogey man sing?
According to the USGA Museum, the "Bogey Man" was a character in a British dancehall song of the late 19th Century, a song titled Here Comes the Bogey Man. And yes, that was the bogey man (many today pronounce it "boogie man"). He lived in the shadows and said in song, "I'm the Bogey Man, catch me if you can."
Who said the ground score was a Bogey Man?
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.
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 .)
Who coined the term "Bogey"?
Great Yarmouth where term Bogey was first coined. 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, ...
What is a bogey man?
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. Golfers of the time considered they were playing a Mister Bogey when measuring themselves against the bogey score.
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 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.
When did golf clubs start assigning scratch scores?
By 1914, British golf magazines were agitating for a ratings system similar to the US. However the Great War 1914-18 intervened and it was not until 1925 that a Golf Unions' Joint Advisory Committee of the British Isles was formed to assign Standard Scratch Scores (SSS), to golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland.
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.'.
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'.
Why Is It Called a Bogey?
If you’re a newbie to golf, you must have wondered at some point why this scoring term is called a bogey. So, how did the term “bogey” originate from?
Is It Bad to Score a Bogey?
A common question in golf is if a bogey can be counted as a good score or a bad one. Let’s find out.
Final Words
We have reached the end, and as we’re sure you can tell, a bogey holds a lot of significance in each golf round. They are a common score on many golf scorecards. Without adequate knowledge of common golfing terms, you can’t expect to perfect yourself and play with better scores out on the course.
Where did the term "bogey" come from?
Some versions of the origin of the term “bogey “, indicate that it originated from Scotland although there are different versions of this. One version credits Major Charles Wellman remarked that a player was “a regular Bogey man”. Another version ascribes the term to Scottish slang for goblins or devils.
How many connotations does Bogey have?
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, I will delve into the history which will hopefully clear up any misunderstanding. Contents [ show]
When did golf terms start?
Golfing Terms Explained for Everyone. The origin of many of golf terms stems from the early 1900s and provides for interesting reading with some amusing stories. 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.
What is par in golf?
Par was a popular measurement in the US whereas bogey was trending in the UK. Every golf club was left with the responsibility to assess and define bogey or ground score and the implementation varied between golf clubs.
What was the responsibility of every golf club?
Every golf club was left with the responsibility to assess and define bogey or ground score and the implementation varied between golf clubs. As golfers improved in ability and equipment scores reduced and the better golfers would sometimes aim for par rather than bogey.
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”.
Is a par score the same as a bogey score?
Par and bogey scores of each hole were often the same but sometimes the bogey score for the most difficult holes would be one over par hence the use of bogey in the modern context. Some more traditional golf clubs still show the bogey score and a par score on their scorecard and there are still bogey competitions held regularly.
What is a Bogey in Golf?
A Bogey is a golf scoring term where the player scored one stroke over par on that particular hole. They’re the result of poor shot-making and can really hurt your score on any given hole, especially if they keep happening over and over again!
What Is a Scratch Golfer?
A scratch golfer is one who averages close to par on every hole. It is difficult to become a scratch golfer. This requires patience, skill, and dedication to continuously improving one’s game and strategy.
The Colors of Golf Scores
Scoreboards at golf tournaments are displayed in different colors in order to make it easier for fans to recognize the scores relative to par.
What is a Score Higher than a Bogey Called?
A bogey, as it is commonly known, is a score that is one stroke above par for a hole of golf. A score of two strokes or more is a double bogey, while a score of three strokes or more is a triple-bogey.
Different Ways to Score Golf
While most golfers only record the score, there are other symbols that can be used to indicate whether someone has a birdie or double bogey.
Conclusion
If this article is the first time you learned what a bogey is, you’re probably new to golf. While your more experienced golfing buddies or the pros you watch on TV may be disappointed when they score bogeys, “bogey golf” is a level to aspire to for new golfers. Feel free to get excited the next time you score a bogey on a hole.
Is a bogey bad for golf?
While a bogey is a bad result for a low handicap or professional golfer, new and less skilled golfers are often fine with only needing one more stroke than par to complete a hole. If you got a bogey on every hole of a par-72 course, you'd shoot a 90. This is a major milestone for newer golfers.
What is a stroke in golf?
Golf Scoring Terms Explained. Stroke - In golf, a "Stroke" is any forward club swing, including when putting, that a golfer is trying to hit the ball. You can essentially use "Stroke" as a synonym for a shot/putt, but keep in mind that it also includes "whiffs" if you miss the ball when trying to hit it. Par - " Par " is the number of strokes that ...
What is a condor in golf?
Condor - A "Condor" is when a golfer scores four strokes less than par on an individual golf hole. A hole in one on a par 5 is a condor. Only four condors have been recorded in PGA history. Generally, the only way to accomplish a condor is to massively "cut off" a "dogleg" par-5 golf hole for a hole-in-one.
What is the par score for 18 holes?
Full-length 18-hole golf courses include par-3, par-4, and par-5 holes. "Course Par" for the 18 holes will usually be between 69-73, with par-72 being most common for an 18-hole golf course.
What is the average par for 18 holes?
Full-length 18-hole golf courses include par-3, par-4, and par-5 holes. "Course Par" for the 18 holes will usually be between 69-73, with par-72 being most common for an 18-hole golf course. Par can also be used for multiple rounds of golf.
How many chances do you get on a hole in one?
According to American Hole 'N One, the average golfer's chances of making a hole-in-one on a par-3 hole are 12,500 to 1. The odds improve for professional golfers at 2,500 to 1. When aces do occur, it's almost always on a par-3 hole, though hole-in-ones have been accomplished on par-4 and even par-5 holes.

What Is A Bogey in Golf?
Why Is It called A Bogey?
- If you’re a newbie to golf, you must have wondered at some point why this scoring term is called a bogey. So, how did the term “bogey” originate from? Whenever you hear the word “bogey,” the first thing that comes to mind is the “Bogey man” song. And the fascinating part is, they’re related! Usually, this term denotes a terrifying person or someone...
Is It Bad to Score A Bogey?
- A common question in golf is if a bogey can be counted as a good score or a bad one. Let’s find out. When it comes to scoring in golf, a bogey can be both a good and a bad score for different players. It depends on what kind of a player you are. With the same score, a player can get the title of an “expert” or someone “average.” If you’re learning golf or have been an average player for qu…
Final Words
- We have reached the end, and as we’re sure you can tell, a bogey holds a lot of significance in each golf round. They are a common score on many golf scorecards. Without adequate knowledge of common golfing terms, you can’t expect to perfect yourself and play with better scores out on the course. We hope our discussion on bogeys was able to answer your essential …