Buzzard
A buzzard is golf slang for a double bogey, meaning a score of two over par on a single hole.
What is a buzzard in golf?
A buzzard is an informal name for a double bogey, the score a golfer records when they finish a hole in two strokes more than par. On a par 4, that means a 6. The word belongs to the family of bird names golf uses for scoring, alongside birdie and eagle, though a buzzard sits on the wrong side of par for most players’ liking.
Golfers reach for the term mostly in casual play. It carries a self-deprecating tone, softening the blow of a bad hole by dressing the number up in a nickname. Someone who says they made a buzzard is telling their group they went two over on that hole without stating the plain figure.
The term is old-school. It shows up far less often than “double bogey” in everyday conversation, and younger golfers may not recognize it at all. Longtime players still use it, which is part of why it survives in glossaries and on scorecards passed around at the clubhouse.
What score is a buzzard?
Because par changes from hole to hole, the actual number behind a buzzard changes with it. The score is always two over whatever the hole’s par happens to be.
| Hole par | Buzzard score | Strokes over par |
|---|---|---|
| Par 3 | 5 | +2 |
| Par 4 | 6 | +2 |
| Par 5 | 7 | +2 |
| Par 6 | 8 | +2 |
Par-6 holes are uncommon, so most buzzards happen on the par 4s and par 5s that make up the bulk of a golf course.
Buzzard vs. double bogey and bogey
The quickest way to place a buzzard is to line it up against the scores on either side of it. A bogey is one over par. A buzzard, or double bogey, is one worse than that. A triple bogey is one worse again.
| Term | Strokes vs. par | Score on a par 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Bogey | +1 | 5 |
| Buzzard (double bogey) | +2 | 6 |
| Triple bogey | +3 | 7 |
One point often trips people up. A buzzard is not a separate kind of score from a double bogey. The two words mean the same thing, in the same way “snowman” is the nickname for a score of 8 on a hole.
Where the term comes from
Buzzard is older than many golfers assume. Betty Hicks defined it in a 1949 manual written for golf professionals, and it appears earlier still. Bobby Jones and his co-author O.B. Keeler used it in a 1927 book, describing par as a steady companion that neither shoots birdies nor drops buzzards.
The name fits golf’s long habit of borrowing birds for its scoring vocabulary. Good scores earned flattering birds, the birdie for one under par and the eagle for two under. A buzzard, a scavenging bird with a far less glamorous reputation, went the other way and attached itself to a score nobody wants.
The double buzzard and other bird scores
Once a hole goes past a double bogey, the bird names keep coming. A double buzzard is a quadruple bogey, four over par, and the same score sometimes goes by turkey. The triple bogey that sits between a buzzard and a double buzzard is occasionally called a grouse, though that name is heard far less often.
On the good side of the card, the birds get grander as the scores get better. A birdie is one under par and an eagle is two under. An albatross, also called a double eagle, is three under, and the condor, at four under, is rare enough that only a handful have ever been recorded.
Related Golf Terms
- Frosty — Slang for a round played in cold, frosted conditions.
- Snake — Slang for a long, winding putt that finds the hole.
- OB — Common shorthand for out of bounds.
- Tin cup — Slang for stubbornly going for a heroic shot against the odds.
- Ground game — Slang for playing low, running shots along the ground.
- Lawn dart — Slang for a high shot that plugs into soft turf on landing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a double bogey called a buzzard?
Golf names its scores after birds, and the buzzard, a scavenger with a poor reputation, suits a score two over par that no golfer wants. It works as the unflattering counterpart to the birdie and the eagle.
Is a buzzard the same as a double bogey?
Yes. They are two names for the identical score, two strokes over par on a hole. “Buzzard” is simply the slang version of “double bogey.”
What is a double buzzard?
A double buzzard is a quadruple bogey, four over par on a single hole. The same score also goes by the name turkey.
Do golfers still say buzzard?
Rarely. Most players say “double bogey” today. The term survives mainly among longtime golfers and in glossaries of older golf slang.
What is a buzzard on a par 3?
A 5. A buzzard is always two over par, so on a par 3 it means five strokes on the hole.
Sources
- Golf Compendium. “The Golf Score Called a ‘Buzzard’ (With Examples).” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.golfcompendium.com/2020/06/buzzard-golf-score.html - Golf Compendium. “What Is the Golf Score Called a ‘Double Buzzard’?” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.golfcompendium.com/2026/01/double-buzzard-score.html - Bobby Jones and O.B. Keeler, 1927 book (documented in Golf Compendium’s buzzard entry, linked above).
- Betty Hicks, 1949 manual for golf professionals (documented in Golf Compendium’s buzzard entry, linked above).
- GolfLink. “Quick Guide to Golf Scoring Terms: Par, Bogey, Birdie & More.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.golflink.com/lifestyle/golf-scoring-terms - Hole19. “Golf Slang and Terms: Complete Dictionary.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.hole19golf.com/the-19th-hole/golf-slang-and-terms-complete-dictionary-for-2026
