Triple Bogey
A triple bogey is three strokes over par on a hole.
The triple bogey stands in the series above the Double Bogey and is the result that ruins a solid round. On a par 4 you need seven strokes, on a par 3 six, on a par 5 eight. Colloquially it is also called "three over". While a Bogey is everyday life for most amateurs, the triple almost always arises from a bigger problem: out of bounds, a lost ball or a messed-up lie. On the scorecard it is the number that hurts when you add up.
In practice the pattern often runs like this: your tee shot on a par 4 flies out of bounds. Penalty stroke, a new tee shot as stroke three, which lands in the rough. Stroke four stays stuck, stroke five finally reaches the green, and two putts later the seven is on the card. In Stableford that is, with most handicaps, the classic wipe-out hole with zero points. In stroke play it costs you the round.
The typical mistake is mentally giving up after the third bad stroke. Anyone who hacks on in frustration turns the triple into a quadruple. Better is the clear calculation: damage limitation instead of heroics, get the ball back in play, tick off the hole. Honest scoring is just as important. A "forgotten" triple distorts your handicap and your picture of your own game. The next hole is already waiting.
FAQ
How does a triple bogey come about and how do I avoid it?
Almost always there is a big problem behind it: out of bounds, a lost ball or a messed-up lie, followed by frustrated strokes. You avoid it through damage limitation — after the first mistake get the ball safely back in play instead of attempting the hero shot. One penalty stroke plus calm continuation rarely costs more than two extra strokes.
What does a triple bogey mean in Stableford?
In Stableford you get zero points for it with most handicaps — the classic wipe-out hole. That sounds harsh but is the format's consolation: the hole does not ruin the whole round as in stroke play, because you can score fully again on the next hole. So after the wipe-out hole you can mentally tick it off straight away.
Do I have to write down a triple bogey on the scorecard?
Yes, absolutely. Anyone who "forgets" a bad hole or prettifies it distorts their handicap and their honest picture of their own game. The scorecard is a matter of trust, above all in acceptable rounds. A written-down triple hurts briefly when adding up but belongs to almost every amateur round.