Double Bogey
Definition: A player scores a double bogey when par for the hole is missed by two throws. It is a regular occurrence for the new disc golfer but becomes far rarer as experience is gained and skills are acquired. Nevertheless, double bogeys persist even at the professional level and can singlehandedly affect tournament outcomes. For professionals, a double bogey can persist as a strong memory, detracting from memories of aces and adding psychological baggage to ongoing performance.
Why It Matters: One double bogey can offset two birdies and cast a cloud over the player and their focus on each shot thereafter. One hole’s score does not define a trend, but a double bogey can put an emphatic end to a good run.
Term Observations:
- On elite championship courses, some holes are so demanding that skilled players may actually feel relieved to escape with a bogey after a poor drive or difficult recovery situation. A double bogey denies any such relief.
- The distinction that disc golfers make between a “good bogey” and a “bad bogey” loses significance once a double bogey occurs.
- A double bogey is always an uninvited guest at any disc golf hole. It is usually the result of poor decision-making combined with less than optimal athletic performance. While recreational players may humorously use the phrase “bogey golf,” the term “double bogey golf” is without humor and never used.
