Bogey competition¶
What it is¶
A bogey competition (also called a par competition) is match play against the course instead of against a person. On every hole you play a little match against a fixed target — par — and you finish plus or minus for the round. It gives a whole field the give-and-take of match play without having to pair everyone off.
How scoring works¶
- Work out your net score on the hole, using the handicap strokes you receive on the hardest holes by stroke index.
- Compare it to the target of par: beat it and the hole is a win (+1); match it and the hole is halved (0); take more than par and it's a loss (−1).
- Add the wins and losses across the round for a single plus-or-minus total — for example "+3" or "−2".
- The best total wins. Level totals are separated on countback — the better back nine, then the last six, three, and final hole.
Worked example¶
A three-hole stretch, net scores shown against a par target:
| Hole | Par | Player A | A vs par | Player B | B vs par |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 5 | −1 |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 5 | 0 |
| Total | +2 | −1 |
Player A finishes +2, Player B −1, so Player A wins. A halved hole (like Player A's par on the 1st) simply scores zero and the match rolls on.
When to use it¶
Good for a field of players who each want a result rather than a single pair playing off — everyone competes against par at once, so it scales to any number of entrants while keeping the win-or-lose feel of match play. Popular as an alternative to a medal when the weather or the field makes a full stroke-play card unappealing.
Variations¶
None in the app — the target is par. (Some clubs set the target at bogey, which is where the name comes from, but the scoring works the same way: beat the target, match it, or fall short.)
Last updated: 2026-04-21