In tournament play, few things are more deflating than a first-hole bogey …
I should know: It’s become a ritual of sorts for me.
One strong contender does come to mind, though: The birdogey – and on ANY hole.
If you’ve never heard the term “birdogey” tossed around before, it refers to the act of having a legitimate look at birdie, only to then proceed to card a bogey on the hole. So, to help you come full circle on the math, not only was the birdie putt missed poorly, but so poorly that the par putt was missed, as well. You’re high. You’re low. And then, when you think it can’t get worse …
It does.
There are multiple ways to achieve the birdogey:
- Method No. 1 – You can NOS-boost your putter off the top of the basket.
- Method No. 2 – You can clank cage or chain and roll away from the basket.
- Method No. 3 – You can airmail the target, getting nowhere near the basket.
All that matters is that, whatever you decide to do to embarrass yourself, you’re far enough away from the pin that your par comebacker has the knees knocking. Tap-ins are always a cakewalk. Edge-of-circle bids mean you’ve at least feigned confidence. But those routine 15-footers?
They’re begging to be missed.
To understand the mental anguish of the birdogey, though, you have to first place yourself in the shoes of the everyday amateur: 20-plus molds, $500 Octothorpe and not a lick of D.G. talent.
For THIS guy, birdies are rare and pars are a plus – missing both is a swift kick to the groin.
Though infrequent, the birdogey is capable of infiltrating the professional ranks, as well. At this year’s Champions Cup, Kristin Tattar four-putted her way to the most epic choke-job in recent memory. That’s right: It was so bad, she bypassed the birdogey entirely for the “birdubogey.”
Birdie + Double Bogey = Birdubogey
Seeing is believing:
Down by one with one to play, here's how @ppierce29190 took down the @PDGA #ChampionsCup. pic.twitter.com/eFejPrTC8R
— Disc Golf Pro Tour (@DiscGolfProTour) April 17, 2022
If you’ve been burnt by the birdogey as much as I have, you’ll be pleased to know there are a couple of simple things you can do to (try and) minimize the damage – pull out a pen and paper.
First, get acquainted with what I like to call the “Barsby bid.” Gregg Barsby smashes birdie putts from the moon on a regular basis. You don’t have to copy his putting from, but the high arch on which he putts might be worth emulating. When he misses, his KC Pro Aviar hits and sits.
Garrett Gurthie does this, too.
Second, when your birdie look is situated outside of your “comfort zone” or there’s a hill or elevated basket to account for, bust out a super-soft putter. The Elevation Koi is a tortilla. The Gateway SSS Wizard is, too. Both make for “safe” putters, as well as great White Elephant gifts.
I have a buddy who told me he’s mentally committed to NEVER three-putting …
That might work for some, but it also seems like a great way to putt scared all the time.
Yes, the birdogey blows major chunks, but I’ve accepted that they’re part of the game. For me, as an amateur, they’ll continue to happen. And if for some crazy, pipe-dream reason I’m one day able to putt like Tattar, they’ll STILL happen. There’s an odd, sadistic kind of solace in that.
The fact remains, though …
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Editor’s Suggestions:
- Brutal starting holes aren’t bad for disc golf
- Reality check: Not many disc golfers can win Worlds
- The Discraft Zone might be disc golf’s most versatile disc
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