Double Bogey
A double bogey is two strokes over par on a hole.
The double bogey sits in the scoring scale exactly between everyday result and annoyance: one stroke over par is a bogey, two over it the double bogey, three over it the triple bogey. On a par 4 that means six strokes, on a par 3 five, on a par 5 seven. While a single bogey is a perfectly normal result for many amateurs, the double bogey usually shows that something went wrong on the hole — a mishit, a penalty stroke or a risky decision that did not pay off. On the scorecard it is the number that ruins rounds.
Here is how it typically happens: par 4, your drive slips into the deep rough. Instead of playing safely back onto the fairway, you attempt the hero shot through the trees — the ball stays stuck. After punching out, an approach and two putts, you stand at six. The lesson behind it: most double bogeys are not caused by the first mistake but by the attempt to erase it with one shot. If, after the drive into the rough, you take the safe shot back onto the fairway, you play a relaxed bogey — and bogeys do not ruin a round.
For your Handicap (Handicap Index) double bogeys matter more than birdies: anyone who consistently avoids them works their way down. In Stableford a net double bogey often hurts only as zero points on a single hole, in stroke play you pay two full strokes. So do not take it personally — even good players record one or two double bogeys per round. What matters is that you stay calm again at the next tee afterwards and do not carry frustration into the next swing.
FAQ
How does a double bogey happen most often — and how do I prevent it?
Almost always through a risk decision after the first mistake: the drive lands in the rough and, instead of hitting back safely, comes the attempt through the trees. If the ball stays stuck, one problem has become two. The simple rule: after a wayward ball, take the safe option back into play and play a relaxed bogey — bogeys do not ruin a round, double bogeys do.
Does a double bogey hurt my handicap more than a bogey?
Yes, but less than many think. In the handicap system, individual bad holes are capped in the calculation, so an outlier does not hit with full force. What matters is the accumulation: anyone recording three or four double bogeys per round stagnates, anyone erasing them works their way down. Consistent avoidance has more effect than occasional birdies.
Should I change anything at the next tee after a double bogey?
Nothing in the swing, everything in the mindset. The most common follow-up mistake is frustration in the next shot — the rushed, tense tee shot that creates the next problem. Tick the hole off as done, go through your normal routine and play the next tee calmly. Even good players record one or two double bogeys per round; the difference lies in how they react afterwards.