If you’ve spent any time around a golf course, you’ve probably heard someone described as a “bogey golfer.”. Someone wants to know on What Is a Bogey Golfer? It sounds like an insult, but it’s actually a specific, official golf term — and understanding it can tell you a lot about where you stand as a player. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is a Bogey Golfer?
A bogey golfer is a golfer whose scoring average works out to roughly one stroke over par on every hole. So on a par-72 course, a bogey golfer typically shoots around 90.
This isn’t just a casual nickname — it’s an official USGA classification used in the course rating system. The USGA defines a male bogey golfer as a player with a Course Handicap of approximately 20 on a course of standard difficulty, who can hit tee shots an average of 200 yards and reach a 370-yard hole in two shots at sea level. A female bogey golfer is defined as having a Course Handicap of approximately 24, hitting tee shots around 150 yards and reaching a 280-yard hole in two shots.
In other words, the “bogey golfer” isn’t just slang — it’s a benchmark golf’s governing bodies use to rate how difficult a course plays for an average, everyday golfer, as opposed to a scratch golfer who plays to even par.
What Is a Bogey Golfer’s Handicap?
This is one of the most searched questions on the topic, so let’s be precise.
Officially (USGA course rating definition): around a 20 Course Handicap for men, around 24 for women.
In practical, everyday terms: most golf instructors and forums use a looser range — roughly a 15 to 20 handicap — to describe someone who plays “bogey golf.” That’s because very few recreational players shoot a perfect bogey on every single hole; a real 15–20 handicapper’s round is usually a mix of some pars, several bogeys, and a few double bogeys, which averages out to about the same total score as a straight bogey round.
For reference, on a par-72 course:
| Player type | Approx. handicap | Typical 18-hole score |
|---|---|---|
| Scratch golfer | 0 | ~72 |
| Bogey golfer | ~18–20 | ~90 |
| Double bogey golfer | ~36 | ~108 |
Want to know exactly where your handicap stands relative to this benchmark? Our handicap calculator can help you track it round by round.
Is a Bogey Golfer Good?
It depends entirely on your frame of reference — but for most recreational players, yes, being a consistent bogey golfer is a solid, respectable level of play.
Here’s why:
- It’s roughly average for the everyday golfer. USGA data puts the average handicap of a male golfer in the United States at about 14.2, and around 27.2 for women, and most men fall in the 10–19 handicap range while most women fall in the 20–29 range — right around bogey-golfer territory.
- It reflects a real skill level. The USGA’s own definition ties bogey golfer status to specific physical benchmarks — driving distance, approach shot reach — not just a scoring average. Getting there takes real, developed skill.
- Context still matters. A scratch golfer or a competitive club player would consider shooting bogey golf a bad day. But for someone learning the game or playing recreationally, shooting bogey golf consistently is genuinely good, steady play — and a realistic, achievable goal for most beginners to aim toward.
If you’re trying to move past this stage, check out our guide on how to lower your golf handicap for a structured path forward.
What Is a Double Bogey in Golf?
A double bogey is a score of two strokes over par on a single hole. So:
- Par-3 hole → double bogey = 5 strokes
- Par-4 hole → double bogey = 6 strokes
- Par-5 hole → double bogey = 7 strokes
A double bogey golf score across an entire round means averaging two strokes over par per hole — which on a par-72 course works out to about 108.
Is a Bogey Golfer Good? (Honest Answer)
Yes — a bogey golfer is better than the majority of people who play golf.
Here’s the context that matters:
- The average male golfer with an official handicap carries an index around 14, but the vast majority of recreational players never post scores at all.
- Studies and course data consistently show the average golf score for casual players is 95–100+.
- Fewer than 25% of golfers ever break 90 on a regulation course.
- Only about 2–5% of golfers ever break 80.
So if you’re shooting 90 consistently — walking, playing the ball down, holing everything out, and counting every penalty stroke — you’re a genuinely competent golfer.
Why “bogey golfer” gets a bad reputation
The term sounds mediocre because low-handicap players use it as shorthand for “average.” But there’s a big gap between:
- A true bogey golfer who shoots 89–92 under real rules
- A “bogey golfer” who takes mulligans, gimmes, and improved lies
If you’re in the first group, be proud of it. Reaching a legitimate 18 handicap requires a repeatable swing, decent course management, and a short game that doesn’t collapse under pressure. Most players who plateau at 100+ never get there.
Related read: How to break 90 in golf — the practical steps that move a 100-shooter into bogey-golfer territory.
What Is a Double Bogey in Golf?
A double bogey is a score of two strokes over par on a single hole.
| Par | Double Bogey Score |
|---|---|
| Par 3 | 5 |
| Par 4 | 6 |
| Par 5 | 7 |
Double bogeys are the silent killers of a good round. A single blow-up hole can undo four or five solid pars. In fact, most mid-handicappers don’t need better ball-striking to drop strokes — they need to eliminate doubles by playing smarter from trouble.
What Handicap Is a Double Bogey Golfer?
If bogey golf corresponds to roughly a 20 handicap, then consistently shooting double bogey golf corresponds to roughly a 36–40 handicap — right at (or beyond) the typical maximum handicap limit most clubs and the World Handicap System allow for regular play. In practice, golfers in this range are usually newer to the game and still building fundamentals.
What Is a Triple Bogey in Golf?
A triple bogey is three strokes over par on a single hole:
- Par-3 hole → triple bogey = 6 strokes
- Par-4 hole → triple bogey = 7 strokes
- Par-5 hole → triple bogey = 8 strokes
Triple bogeys usually signal a hole where something went noticeably wrong — a penalty stroke, a lost ball, three putts, or a combination of small mistakes stacking up. They’re common even among skilled amateurs and occasionally show up in professional rounds too, usually after a bad break or an aggressive shot that didn’t pay off.
Anything worse than a triple bogey (four over par or more) is typically called a quadruple bogey, and beyond that, most golfers just call it a “disaster hole” rather than giving it a formal name.
Quick Reference: Golf Scoring Terms
| Term | Strokes relative to par |
|---|---|
| Eagle | 2 under |
| Birdie | 1 under |
| Par | Even |
| Bogey | 1 over |
| Double bogey | 2 over |
| Triple bogey | 3 over |
For the full breakdown of every scoring term, see our complete golf scoring terms glossary.
FAQs About Bogey Golfers
Is a bogey good or bad in golf?
Neither, really — it’s just one stroke over par. For beginners, a bogey is often a good result. For scratch or low-handicap players, it’s usually seen as a missed opportunity.
What score is bogey golf on 18 holes?
On a standard par-72 course, bogey golf works out to about a 90.
How do I stop making so many bogeys?
Most bogeys come from missed greens in regulation and three-putts rather than bad drives. Tightening up your approach shots and short game usually has the biggest impact on cutting bogeys out of your round.