Triple Bogey
A triple bogey is a score of three strokes over par on a single golf hole. On a par-4, that means a 7.
What is a triple bogey?
Par is the number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to need on a hole, and almost every hole on a course is rated as a par 3, par 4, or par 5. A triple bogey is simply par plus three. If a hole is rated par 4 and a golfer holes out in seven strokes, that hole goes down as a triple bogey.
The term sits at the high-scoring end of golf’s naming system. One over par is a bogey, two over is a double bogey, and three over is a triple. Most players shorten it in conversation to a “triple” or even a “trip,” as in “I made a trip on the 9th.” It carries no special status in the rules. It is just a label for how a single hole went, and a rough one at that.
Triple bogey scores by par
Because par changes from hole to hole, the actual number that counts as a triple bogey changes too. The math stays the same: take the hole’s par and add three.
| Hole par | Triple bogey score | Strokes over par |
|---|---|---|
| Par 3 | 6 | +3 |
| Par 4 | 7 | +3 |
| Par 5 | 8 | +3 |
| Par 6 (rare) | 9 | +3 |
Par-6 holes are rare, but they do exist on a handful of courses, and the same rule applies: a 9 is a triple bogey. Anything worse than three over par usually just gets called by its number, or by the looser term “blow-up hole,” though quadruple bogey (four over) and quintuple bogey (five over) are the proper names.
Triple bogey compared to other scores
Most people searching for “triple bogey” already know roughly where it falls and want to pin down how it differs from the scores on either side of it. The gap between each term is a single stroke.
| Term | Strokes vs. par | Score on a par 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Bogey | 1 over | 5 |
| Double bogey | 2 over | 6 |
| Triple bogey | 3 over | 7 |
| Quadruple bogey | 4 over | 8 |
A double bogey is the score golfers most often confuse with a triple, since both feel like a wasted hole in the moment. The difference is exactly one shot. A triple bogey also matters more to a scorecard: a single triple can quietly undo three or four solid holes, which is why it stings more than its one-stroke gap with a double bogey suggests.
How common is a triple bogey?
Triple bogeys are routine for new and high-handicap players, and they are far from unheard of for everyone else. Data from a MyGolfSpy study using TheGrint app found that golfers in the 16-to-20 handicap range average only about 3.6 pars per round and 0.3 birdies or better, which tells you how much of their card sits at bogey or worse. According to handicap data summarized by Par Tee of 18, players in that same 16-to-20 band average roughly two triple bogeys in a typical round.
The arithmetic at the extreme is sobering and clarifying at once. A golfer who averaged a triple bogey on every hole would shoot 126 over 18 holes, a figure LiveAbout notes is high but not unusual for beginners. Even professionals post the occasional triple when a tee shot finds trouble or a penalty stroke piles on, though for a touring pro, a single triple can sink an entire round.
Do triple bogeys count toward your handicap?
This is where a triple bogey gets more interesting than its reputation suggests. Under the World Handicap System, the maximum score you can post on any hole for handicap purposes is a net double bogey, which the USGA defines as par plus two strokes plus any handicap strokes you are entitled to on that hole. So, a triple bogey on a hole where you receive no handicap stroke is recorded as a double bogey for handicap purposes, not a triple.
The practical effect is that one ugly hole cannot wreck the Handicap Index that is supposed to reflect your real ability. There is one exception worth knowing: a golfer posting scores to establish a Handicap Index for the first time is capped at par plus five on any hole under Rule 3.1 of the Rules of Handicapping. A triple bogey always counts in full toward your actual round score on the day; the cap applies only to the number fed into the handicap calculation.
Related Golf Terms
- Top — A mishit where the club strikes the top of the ball, causing it to roll along the ground.
- Transition — The change of direction from backswing to downswing.
- TrackMan — A popular radar-based launch monitor used by professionals and fitters.
- Topspin — Forward rotation on the ball causing it to roll more after landing.
- Trajectory — The flight path of the ball through the air.
Frequently Asked Questions
What score is a triple bogey on a par 3?
A six. Par 3 plus three strokes equals six, so any time a golfer takes six shots on a par-3 hole, it is a triple bogey.
Is a triple bogey bad?
For low-handicap and professional golfers, yes, a triple bogey is a poor result. For beginners and high-handicappers, it is a normal part of the round and nothing to be discouraged by.
What is the difference between a double bogey and a triple bogey?
One stroke. A double bogey is two over par on a hole, and a triple bogey is three over par. On a par 4, that is a 6 versus a 7.
What comes after a triple bogey?
A quadruple bogey, which is four strokes over par. After that come the quintuple bogey (five over) and sextuple bogey (six over), though golfers often just state the number of strokes instead.
What is a triple bogey called for short?
Most golfers say “triple” or “trip.” An older and rarely used avian-themed name, in keeping with birdie and eagle, is “grouse.”
Sources
- United States Golf Association. “Net Double Bogey” and “Maximum Hole Score for Handicap Purposes.” Accessed June 2026.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping/world-handicap-system/topics/net-double-bogey.html - United States Golf Association. “FAQs for USGA Implementation of the World Handicap System” (Rule 3.1, par + 5 initial cap). Accessed June 2026.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping/world-handicap-system/world-handicap-system-usga-golf-faqs.html - Merriam-Webster. “Triple Bogey Definition & Meaning.” Accessed June 2026.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/triple%20bogey - Golf Compendium. “Triple Bogey Golf Meaning and Example Scores” (nicknames and origin). Accessed June 2026.
https://www.golfcompendium.com/2022/04/triple-bogey-meaning.html - MyGolfSpy / TheGrint. “Overall Golfer Performance by Handicap” (pars and birdies per round). Accessed June 2026.
https://mygolfspy.com/study-overall-golfer-performance-by-handicap/ - Par Tee of 18. “What Is a Bogey in Golf?” (per-round scoring averages by handicap). Accessed June 2026.
https://parteeof18.com/blog/what-is-a-bogey-in-golf/ - LiveAbout. “Here’s What a Triple Bogey Is in Golf” (126 all-triple round). Accessed June 2026.
https://www.liveabout.com/triple-bogey-1564291
