A snowman in golf is a score of 8 on a single hole. It gets the name because the number 8 looks like a snowman, two round shapes stacked on top of each other. It's slang, not an official scoring term, and nobody is happy to write one down.
What does a snowman mean against par?
An 8 means something different depending on the hole:
- On a par 5: triple bogey (three over par).
- On a par 4: quadruple bogey (four over par).
- On a par 3: quintuple bogey (five over par).
If you're still learning the scoring names, start with what par means and what a bogey is.
Does a snowman count for your handicap?
Often not all of it. Under the World Handicap System, the most you post on any hole for handicap purposes is a net double bogey: par, plus two, plus any handicap strokes you get on that hole. So a 20 handicap who makes an 8 on a par 4 where they get a stroke would post a 7. The real score still counts in your match or your bet. Our page on how golf handicaps work explains the rest.
How do snowmen usually happen?
Rarely from one bad shot. It's usually a chain: a tee shot out of bounds, a rushed recovery from the trees, a chunked chip and three putts. Each mistake on its own costs a stroke. Stacked together they turn a 5 into an 8.
How to avoid making an 8
- Take your medicine. When you're in trouble, chip back to the fairway. A bogey is a good score after a bad drive.
- Use the provisional ball rule. If your tee shot might be lost or out of bounds, hit a provisional ball so you don't walk back to the tee.
- Know your unplayable options. Taking a one-stroke drop is usually cheaper than two hacks out of a bush. The same goes for bunkers. See bunker rules.
- Tee off with a club you trust. On tight holes a hybrid or fairway wood in play beats a driver in the trees. Browse used hybrids if your bag has a gap.
- Lag your first putt. Getting the first putt close is what keeps a bad hole from getting worse.
Where the term comes from
The name comes straight from the shape of the number 8. We couldn't find a reliable record of who first used it or when, so we won't guess.
FAQ
What is a snowman in golf?
A score of 8 on one hole.
Is a snowman a quadruple bogey?
On a par 4, yes. On a par 5 it's a triple bogey, and on a par 3 it's a quintuple bogey.
Do pros make snowmen?
Sometimes. Even tour players make an 8 now and then, usually after a penalty or two on a hard hole.
More slang and scoring words are in our golf terms glossary. Just starting out? The Just the Roots starter set has the four clubs a new golfer actually needs.
