What happens if I fail to hole out in Par/Bogey?

You lose the hole. In Par/Bogey, a player who does not hole out under the Rules for any reason loses the hole (Rule 21.3b). The scorecard must show either no score or any score that results in the hole being lost.

The rule: you lose the hole

Par/Bogey scoring works like match play against a fixed target score set by the Committee. If your strokes exceed that target — or you simply don't hole out — you've lost the hole. Rule 21.3b(1) is explicit: a player who does not hole out under the Rules for any reason loses the hole. You're encouraged to pick up once your score exceeds the fixed target to keep pace of play, but the result is the same either way: the hole goes in the loss column.

What to write on the scorecard

When you complete a hole without holing out, Rule 21.3b(2) tells you exactly what to record. The scorecard must show either no score at all, or any score that results in the hole being lost. The Committee then decides whether you won, lost, or tied each hole, applying handicap strokes first in a handicap competition. Don't leave it blank hoping nobody notices — enter a score that reflects the loss.

The one exception that saves you

There's a narrow safety net. If you return a scorecard with a hole score lower than your actual score, but that error doesn't change whether the hole was won, lost, or tied, there's no penalty under Rule 3.3b. This exception only applies when the mistake has zero effect on the hole result. If the wrong score would flip a loss to a tie or a tie to a win, the normal stroke-play penalty applies.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You return a scorecard with a hole score lower than your actual score, but the error does not affect whether the hole was won, lost, or tied → There is no penalty under Rule 3.3b (Exception to Rule 21.3b(2))

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to hole out every hole in Par/Bogey?

No. You're encouraged to stop playing once your score exceeds the fixed target because you've already lost the hole. But if you don't hole out for any reason — including picking up early — the hole counts as a loss.

What do I write on the scorecard if I pick up before holing out?

Enter either no score or any score that results in the hole being lost. The Committee will confirm the loss when they process the card.

Can I still win the competition if I don't hole out on one hole?

Yes. Par/Bogey is won by the highest total of holes won minus holes lost. One lost hole doesn't eliminate you — it just subtracts one from your net total.

What if I write the wrong score but it doesn't change the hole result?

If the error has no effect on whether the hole was won, lost, or tied, there's no penalty. This is the only exception in Par/Bogey for returning a score lower than actually played.

Does this apply in handicap Par/Bogey competitions too?

Yes. The Committee applies handicap strokes to the score entered for each hole before deciding the result. The same holing-out rule and scorecard requirements apply.