What is a bogey, how did the name come about and what is the difference between net & gross bogey?
Bogey Golf
The term bogey is a word most golfers know all too well. Officially a bogey is when you score one stroke more than the declared par of the hole. So if you're playing a par-3 and you finish the hole having hit 4 shots, that's a bogey.
Where does the word 'bogey' come from?
Originally bogey had a completely different meaning and was a score that a skilled golfer tried to make back in the 1890s. Getting a bogey used to be the equivalent of getting a par today. A par was then know as the perfect score for the hole whatever that means!
In the early 20th century 'bogey' was taken out of use and replaced with 'par'. It only became a term for scoring one above par in the middle of the 20th century.
What's the difference between Net & Gross?
Net bogey
A net bogey is when you shoot one over the par of the hole but with the aid of your handicap strokes.
For example if you're a 18 handicap and you're playing a par 4 hole. You manage to complete the hole having taken 6 shots. As your handicap takes a shot off so you end up with a net bogey.
Gross bogey
A gross bogey is the opposite of a net bogey. Gross is the score you get before any handicap strokes are deducted.
So if playing a par 4 hole and you finish in 5 shots, that's a gross bogey. More commonly just referred to as a 'bogey'.
See other popular articles on golf terminology
