
In golf, a one over is a term used to describe a score of one stroke over par on a hole. This is also known as a bogey. The term over par is used to describe any score that is higher than the par rating for a hole or round. Par refers to the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete play on an individual hole or the golf course as a whole.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| One over in golf | Bogey |
| Other names | One over par, +1 |
| Definition | A score of one stroke more than par for a hole |
| Examples | 4 strokes to complete a par 3 hole, 5 strokes to complete a par 4 hole, 6 strokes to complete a par 5 hole |
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What You'll Learn

Bogey: 1-over par
Bogey is a golf scoring term used to describe a golfer's performance on a hole in relation to the hole's par. A bogey is a score of one stroke over par. For example, a score of 4 strokes on a par-3 hole or 5 strokes on a par-4 hole would be considered a bogey.
The term "bogey" originated in golf around 1890 at the Great Yarmouth Golf Club in England. It was based on the phrase "bogey man" and a popular music hall song, "Here Comes the Bogey Man". Players competed against an imaginary player, Colonel Bogey, who scored a predetermined number of strokes on each hole. As golf evolved, scores improved, but many old British courses did not adjust their bogey scores, resulting in professionals consistently achieving lower than bogey scores.
In the United States, the term "bogey" evolved to refer to one-over-par, while in Britain, the term continued to refer to the number of strokes a good golfer should take at each hole. This discrepancy led to agitation for a standardised ratings system in British golf magazines by 1914. However, the onset of World War I delayed these efforts, and it wasn't until 1925 that a Golf Unions' Joint Advisory Committee was formed to assign Standard Scratch Scores (SSS) to golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland.
Today, achieving a bogey is considered a satisfactory outcome for new and less skilled golfers, as they are often content with needing only one additional stroke than par to complete a hole. However, for low-handicap or professional golfers, a bogey is considered a poor result. Completing a round without any bogeys is considered an impressive achievement in golf.
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Double bogey: 2-over par
In golf, a double bogey is a score of two strokes over par. For example, a golfer would score a double bogey if they took 6 strokes to complete a par-4 hole.
The term 'bogey' originally referred to the number of strokes a good golfer should take at each hole. It first came into use at the Great Yarmouth Golf Club in England around 1890, derived from the phrase "bogey man" and a popular music hall song, "Here Comes the Bogey Man". Players would compete against an imaginary player, Colonel Bogey, who scored a predetermined number of strokes on each hole. The winner of the competition was the player who had the best match-play score against Colonel Bogey. As golf became standardised in the United States, par scores were tightened, and recreational golfers found themselves scoring over par, with the meaning of 'bogey' shifting to one-over-par.
Today, a double bogey is considered a bad result for low-handicap or professional golfers, but for new and less-skilled golfers, it is common to need one or two more strokes than par to complete a hole. If a golfer were to make a double bogey on every hole of a par-72 course, their score would be 108 shots or 36 over par.
Scores on each hole are reported relative to par. For example, if a golfer takes 75 strokes to complete a course with a par of 72, their score is reported as +3 or "three-over-par". Tournament scores are calculated by totalling scores relative to par in each round, which is typically four rounds in professional tournaments.
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Triple bogey: 3-over par
In golf, a triple bogey is a score of three strokes over par. To understand what this means, we must first understand what 'par' is.
Par is the predetermined number of strokes that a proficient (scratch, or zero handicap) golfer is expected to require to complete a hole. Golf holes of different lengths will require more or fewer strokes by a golfer. Par values for holes are generally between three and five, with par-3 holes being under 260 yards (240 m) from the tee to the green, par-4 holes being 240–490 yards (220–450 m), and par-5 holes being 450–710 yards (410–650 m). A typical 18-hole golf course will have a total par of around 72.
A hole score equal to the par of the hole is simply called a par. A score of one stroke more than par (+1) for a hole is known as a bogey, e.g. 5 strokes on a par-4 hole or 6 strokes on a par-5 hole. While a bogey is a bad result for a low handicap or professional golfer, newer and less skilled golfers are often happy with a bogey. A score of one stroke fewer than par (-1) is known as a birdie, e.g. 2 strokes on a par-3 hole or 4 strokes on a par-5 hole.
A triple bogey, therefore, refers to a score of three strokes over par. For example, a golfer would score a triple bogey if they took 7 strokes to complete a par-4 hole.
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Scoring terminology
Golf has a unique set of scoring terms, which can be confusing to newcomers. The key term to understand is 'par', which is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete play on a given hole. Each hole on a golf course is rated for 'par', and the course as a whole will also have a 'par' score. So, if a hole is rated 'par-4', any score of 5 or above would be considered 'over par'.
A score of one stroke over par (+1) for a hole is known as a 'bogey'. The term 'bogey' has an interesting history. It is thought to have originated at the Great Yarmouth Golf Club in England around 1890, based on the phrase 'bogey man' and a popular music hall song, 'Here Comes the Bogey Man'. Golfers would compete against an imaginary player, 'Colonel Bogey', who scored a predetermined number of strokes on each hole. As golf became standardised in the US, par scores were tightened, and the meaning of 'bogey' shifted to one-over-par.
Scores that are multiple strokes over par have their own terminology. A score of two strokes over par (+2) is a 'double bogey', three strokes over (+3) is a 'triple bogey', and so on. For higher hole scores, it is more common to refer to the number of strokes, or strokes relative to par, rather than use terms like 'quadruple bogey'.
Of course, golfers also aim to score under par. A score of one stroke under par (-1) is known as a 'birdie'. The term 'birdie' is said to have originated at the Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield, New Jersey, in 1899. One story claims that a golfer, George Crump, hit his second shot inches from the cup on a par-four hole after his first shot struck a bird in flight. His friends exclaimed that the shot was 'a bird', and the term stuck.
There are also terms for scores that are multiple strokes under par. A score of two strokes under par (-2) is an 'eagle', three strokes under par (-3) is an 'albatross' or 'double eagle', and four strokes under par (-4) is a 'condor'. A condor is the lowest individual hole score ever made relative to par and is extremely rare.
Other golfing terms include 'ace', which refers to a hole-in-one, and 'hole', which is the finishing point where the player attempts to insert the ball in the fewest strokes.
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Golf's origins
The exact origins of golf are still debated. Some historians trace the sport back to the Roman game of paganica, which involved using a bent stick to hit a wool- or feather-stuffed leather ball. According to this theory, paganica spread throughout several countries as the Romans conquered much of Europe during the 1st century BCE and eventually evolved into the modern game. Others suggest that golf descended from chuiwan, a Chinese game played during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and earlier, which involved hitting a ball with a stick while walking. Chuiwan is thought to have been introduced to Europe by traders during the Middle Ages.
However, the most widely accepted theory is that golf originated in Scotland, as supported by early references in Scottish parliamentary records from the second half of the 15th century. In 1457, the Scottish parliament of King James II banned the sport, along with football, as they wanted people to focus on archery and preparing to defend the country. In 1502, golf gained the royal seal of approval when King James IV of Scotland became the world's first golfing monarch, leading to its spread throughout 16th-century Europe.
Over time, golf became increasingly popular, with the first international match taking place in 1682 in Leith near Edinburgh, where Scotland beat a team of English noblemen. The game officially became a sport in 1744 when the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith formed the first golf club and set up an annual competition with silverware prizes. As the British Empire expanded in the 19th century, golf followed, with the first golf clubs outside of Scotland being established in London (1766), Bangalore, India (1820), and Pau, France (1856).
The term "golf" itself is usually thought to be derived from the Scots word "gowf", which is an alteration of the Dutch words "colf" or "colve", meaning "stick", "club", or "bat". These words are related to the Proto-Germanic "kulth", the Old Norse "kolfr" meaning "bell clapper", and the German "Kolben" meaning "mace or club".
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Frequently asked questions
Being one over in golf means that you have scored one stroke over par for a hole. This is known as a bogey.
A bogey is a score of one stroke over par for a hole. For example, if a hole is a par-4, a bogey would be a score of 5.
Par refers to the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete play on an individual hole. Golf holes of different lengths will require more or fewer strokes by a golfer.











































