Net Double Bogey (Maximum Hole Score)
Also known as: net double bogey, maximum hole score, max score on a hole for handicap, max score per hole, maximum score for handicap
Net double bogey is the most you can count on any hole for handicap purposes once you have an index. It equals par plus 2 plus any strokes you receive on that hole. Before you have an index, the cap is par plus 5.
To work it out, find the hole's par and its stroke index on the scorecard. Your Course Handicap for those tees tells you how many strokes you get and where. Receiving 18 strokes means one on every hole. Net double bogey on a par 4 is then 4 plus 2 plus 1, a 7. Receiving 10 means strokes only on the holes ranked 1 to 10. A par 4 ranked 14 then caps at 6.
Net double bogey is the lowest score that earns zero Stableford points on a hole. Use your full Course Handicap for it, even in events that give a reduced allowance. You may apply it on as many holes as needed. A plus player subtracts any stroke given back on that hole. If you receive more than 54 strokes and 4 or more fall on one hole, the cap there is par plus 5.
The cap applies only to the score you post. In an ordinary stroke-play competition you still record every stroke. With hole-by-hole posting, the system applies the cap for you. In the US it replaced Equitable Stroke Control when the World Handicap System began in 2020.
Tips by skill level
Enter scores hole by hole in your association's app or website. It applies net double bogey for you.
If you often hit the cap, note which holes cause it. Those holes usually show where a safer tee shot or layup would save the most strokes.
Example
A golfer receiving 12 strokes makes a 9 on a par-4 hole with stroke index 5. She gets one stroke there, making her cap 4 plus 2 plus 1. She posts a 7 for that hole.
Why it matters
The cap stops one disaster hole from inflating your index. It keeps your number close to what you can shoot on a good day.
Common mistakes
- Capping every hole at double bogey without adding the strokes you receive
- Using a reduced competition allowance instead of your full Course Handicap
- Posting the real 10 on a hole instead of the capped score
- Thinking the cap changes your score in a stroke-play event
Frequently asked questions
What is net double bogey in golf?
It is the maximum score you post on a hole for handicap purposes: par plus 2 plus any strokes you receive there. Before you have an index, the cap is par plus 5.
How do I calculate net double bogey?
Add 2 to the hole's par, then add the strokes you receive there. If you receive 18 strokes, you get one per hole. A par 4 then caps at 7.
What is adjusted gross score in golf?
It is your gross score after capping each hole at the maximum allowed. Once you have an index, that cap is net double bogey. It also accounts for holes not played or not finished and is the score used for your Score Differential.
Does net double bogey count in a tournament?
Not in ordinary stroke play. It only adjusts the score you post for handicap, and you record every stroke for the event. Some events use a maximum-score format that caps holes by its own terms.
Sources
Related terms
- Getting a Golf HandicapTo get a handicap, join a golf club or golf association authorized to issue a World Handicap System Handicap Index, then post your scores. Your national association sets how many holes you need, up to 54. In the USGA system it is 54 holes from any mix of 9- and 18-hole rounds.
- Score Differential (How a Handicap Index Is Calculated)A Score Differential rates one round against the difficulty of the tees you played. The formula is (113 divided by the Slope Rating) times (adjusted gross score minus Course Rating minus any playing conditions adjustment). Your Handicap Index is the average of your lowest 8 differentials from your most recent 20, rounded to one decimal.
- Stroke Index (Handicap Holes)Stroke index ranks the 18 holes from 1 to 18 to show where strokes are given. You receive a stroke on every hole ranked at or below your Course Handicap. With a Course Handicap of 8, your strokes fall on the holes ranked 1 to 8.
- Handicap IndexA Handicap Index is the World Handicap System (WHS) measure of a golfer's demonstrated playing ability on a neutral course. A lower index means a better player.
- Stableford ScoringStableford scoring awards points based on how a hole score compares to par (or net par) rather than counting total strokes. This softens the impact of a single disaster hole and keeps a bad hole from ruining an entire round's result.
- Double Bogey and Blow-Up HolesA double bogey is two strokes over par on a hole. A "blow-up hole" is the casual term for any hole that goes much worse than that. Limiting them is usually a beginner's single biggest lever for a lower score.
Related guides & benchmarks
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