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How to Lose a Stroke: The 8 Dumbest Ways to Make Bogey

There’s nothing worse than standing over an easy par… and somehow walking away with a bogey. It’s the kind of mistake that haunts you on the next tee box. We’ve all been there, and it’s painful.

Some bogeys feel inevitable—bad tee shots, penalty strokes, or impossible up-and-downs. But then there are the ones you had no business making—self-inflicted disasters that turn a stress-free par into a head-shaking bogey.

Here are 8 of the dumbest ways to throw away a stroke—and how to avoid them.

1. The Classic Three-Putt

Few things in golf feel as soul-crushing as a three-putt. You did all the hard work—perfect drive, crisp iron shot—only to ruin it all with a couple of shaky strokes on the green.

It’s even worse when you’re inside 20 feet and somehow need three swipes to finish the job. Lag putting is an actual skill, yet most golfers only practice 10-15 footers.

Next time you hit the practice green, step back to 30-40 feet and learn to cozy it up. Your scorecard will thank you.

2. Chunking a Shot Like a Weekend Hacker

It doesn’t matter where you chunk a shot—fairway, rough, greenside—it’s always embarrassing. Few things are more demoralizing than taking a confident swing… and watching your ball go six feet forward.

Most chunked shots happen because of poor setup—ball too far back, weight stuck on the back foot, or an overly steep swing.

If you’re a serial chunker, check your stance and ball position before every shot.

3. Skulling a Short Chip Shot

You’ve got a basic chip, just a little bump-and-run… and then BOOM, you send it screaming across the green like a rocket.

A skulled chip isn’t just ugly—it’s the quickest way to go from “easy par” to “double-bogey panic mode.”

When in doubt, simplify your chipping. Use a putting stroke with an 8- or 9-iron if possible, and if the green allows it, just putt it.

4. The Rough Reality Check

A slightly off-line drive that finds the rough doesn’t seem like a big deal—until you walk up and see your ball buried deeper than your last bad decision. Now, you’re scrambling.

Most golfers compound the mistake by trying to be a hero. If your lie is bad, take the medicine. Get it back in play, advance it down the fairway, and live to fight another day.

5. Failing to Get Up and Down from the Fringe

You hit a solid approach shot—not quite on the green, but close enough. It should be a routine up-and-down. But instead, you either:

✅ Flub the chip and leave it short

✅ Hit a nuclear chip that runs 15 feet past

✅ Choose to putt and leave it six feet short

Keep it simple. If the fringe is smooth, putt it. If chipping, think low and rolling instead of trying to be Phil Mickelson.

6. The Bad Decision That Everyone Saw Coming

We all have that little voice in our head that whispers, “Go for it.” And we listen.

Trying to thread a shot through the trees. Taking on 200 yards over water with a 3-wood. Going for the hero flop shot instead of just bumping it out.

These bad decisions almost always end in bogey (or worse). Next time, take a deep breath, be smarter than your past self, and play the high-percentage shot.

7. Missing the Green from Inside 100 Yards

When you have less than 100 yards, you should be dialed in, right? It should be an automatic green-in-regulation.

But instead, you skull it, chunk it, miss long, find a bunker—anything except hitting the green. If this happens to you often, it’s time to rethink your wedge game. Get comfortable with three-quarter swings, control your distances, and prioritize accuracy over power.

8. The Greenside Bunker Nightmare

Nothing feels more like a wasted stroke than leaving a bunker shot in the sand—or blading it over the green into even worse trouble.

The key? Commit to the shot. Open the clubface, aim slightly left, and accelerate through the ball. If you’re scared of the sand, you’ll decelerate and either chunk it or blade it. Neither is fun.

What’s Your Worst Bogey Nightmare?

Let’s be honest… we’ve all made every single one of these mistakes (some of us in the same round).

Which of these dumb bogeys haunts you the most? Or do you have an even worse way to lose a stroke?

The Golf Bandit
The Golf Bandit

Hi, I'm Jan. I'm passionate about golf and have been playing for years. I love testing out new clubs and equipment, and I share my reviews right here on my blog. With access to the latest gear, I provide honest insights on how they perform on the course. I also enjoy sharing tips and tricks to help you improve your game. Thanks for visiting—hope you find something useful!

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