triple bogey
Low (Specialist/Sports)Technical, Informal (in sporting contexts)
Definition
Meaning
In golf, a score of three strokes over par for a single hole.
A significant mistake or failure in any endeavor, often used metaphorically to denote a performance that is three levels worse than the standard or expectation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a countable noun in golf terminology; can be used metaphorically outside of golf. The concept is part of a fixed sequence in golf: bogey (+1), double bogey (+2), triple bogey (+3).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is standard in golf lexicon worldwide.
Connotations
Universally negative in a golf context, indicating poor play on a specific hole.
Frequency
Equally frequent in golf commentary and reporting in both UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Player] + triple-bogeys + [Hole Number/Name][Player] + takes/records + a triple bogey + on + [Hole]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorically: 'The product launch was a triple bogey, missing all three key targets.'
Academic
Rarely used. Possibly in sports science or statistical analysis of performance.
Everyday
Almost exclusively used when discussing golf. 'My round was ruined by a triple bogey on the 12th.'
Technical
Core usage. A defined scoring term in the rules and statistics of golf.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He triple-bogeyed the final hole to lose the lead.
- I always seem to triple bogey this tricky par 3.
American English
- She triple-bogeyed after her drive went out of bounds.
- Try not to triple bogey this hole, or our match is over.
adjective
British English
- A triple-bogey finish left him disappointed.
- He recorded a triple-bogey six on the card.
American English
- That was a triple-bogey hole for most of the field.
- She made a triple-bogey putt to save an even worse score.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He got a triple bogey. It was a bad score.
- A triple bogey is three more than par.
- The player was sad because he made a triple bogey.
- A triple bogey on the first hole is a difficult start.
- Her chances of winning faded after a costly triple bogey on the 15th.
- To avoid a triple bogey, you need to play very carefully near the water hazard.
- Despite an otherwise flawless round, a solitary triple bogey relegated him to a tie for fifth.
- Statistical analysis shows that amateurs are most likely to card a triple bogey on long par-4s with narrow fairways.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'triple' (three) and 'bogey' (a ghost/spoiler). A triple bogey is a ghost that spoils your scorecard by three strokes.
Conceptual Metaphor
SCORING IN A GAME IS A JOURNEY (a detour or obstacle); FAILURE IS A HOLE/DROP IN LEVEL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'bogey' literally as 'буги' (dance) or 'пугало' (scarecrow). It is a fixed golf term.
- Do not confuse with 'double bogey' or 'bogey' itself—they are distinct scores.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'triple bogie' or 'triple bogy'.
- Using it to mean three consecutive bogeys (that would be 'three bogeys').
- Confusing it with 'triple' in other sports (e.g., a triple in baseball).
Practice
Quiz
In golf, what does a 'triple bogey' specifically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A double bogey is two strokes over par, a triple bogey is three strokes over par.
Yes, in golf contexts. For example: 'He triple-bogeyed the hole.' The hyphen is often used.
It is almost exclusively a golf term. It can be used metaphorically in other contexts (e.g., business) to mean a significant failure, but this is not common.
In the standard golf scoring sequence, the next terms are quadruple bogey (+4), quintuple bogey (+5), etc., but these are used much less frequently.