Bogey

In golf, a bogey is a score of one stroke over par on a hole, for example taking five shots on a par-four. According to golfing lore the term dates to the late 19th century and a mythical 'Bogey Man' who represented a good standard score. Bogey sits on a ladder of golf scoring terms: a double bogey is two over par, a triple bogey three over, while going the other way a birdie is one under and an eagle two under. For most amateur golfers a bogey is a perfectly respectable result, but for tour professionals, who expect to make pars and hunt birdies, dropping a shot to a bogey can prove costly over 72 holes. 'Bogey golf' is common shorthand for a player who averages around one over par per hole, a solid benchmark for a serious club golfer. Tour coverage and stats are at the PGA Tour.