bogey
BOH-gee
/ˈboʊɡi/
A score of one stroke over par on a single hole.
Represents a minor mistake or setback, but is a very common score for amateur golfers.
The story behind the word. In the 1890s, a popular British song called 'The Bogey Man' (about an elusive goblin) inspired golfers to create an imaginary opponent named 'Colonel Bogey.' Players would compete against this imaginary Colonel, who always played a steady, respectable game. Originally, 'bogey' meant a good score, but as players got better and 'par' was introduced as the perfect score, 'bogey' slipped to mean one stroke over par.
Word relationships
- one-over: One-over is the literal score, while bogey is the traditional name.
- birdie: A birdie is one stroke under par, whereas a bogey is one stroke over par.
Commonly confused with
- par: Par is the standard expected score for a hole, while bogey is one stroke worse than par.
Word family
- bogeys (noun): Plural form of bogey.
- bogeyed (verb): Past tense of bogey.
Collocations
- double bogey
- avoid a bogey
- card a bogey
- bogey-free round
Example sentences
- "A costly bogey on the par-three sixteenth dropped him out of a tie for the lead." A setback during a professional round.
- "If she bogeys this hole, she will lose her advantage." Using the word as a verb.
Memory hook
The 'Bogey Man' is a scary character, just like a 'bogey' is a scary score on your card. Avoid the Bogey Man on your scorecard.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'bogie' (a railway wheel carriage) or 'bogy' (a specter or goblin), though they share historical roots.
Fun facts
- The British military march 'Colonel Bogey March' was written in 1914 and was inspired by a golfer who whistled a two-note phrase instead of shouting 'fore'.
Explore more words
unforced error, miss the mark, overweight, blow it, glitch, malfunction
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