Scoring in Stableford might seem confusing the first time you see the points system, but it’s actually a brilliant format that rewards good shots and won’t tank your round just because of one blow-up hole. If you're tired of a triple bogey on the 3rd hole ruining your entire day, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through exactly how to calculate points and fill out your scorecard in Stableford, all in a clear, step-by-step way.
Unlike traditional stroke play where the goal is the lowest total score, Stableford is a points-based game. You are awarded points on each hole based on your score in relation to par. The higher the number of points at the end of the round, the better.
But here's the best part: Stableford uses your net score on each hole, which means your handicap is applied on a hole-by-hole basis. This levels the playing field, allowing golfers of all abilities to compete against each other fairly.
Golfers love it for three main reasons:
Before you can figure out your points, you have to understand how to determine your net score for each hole. This is where your Course Handicap and the Stroke Index on the scorecard come into play. It sounds complicated, but it’s quite simple once you see it in action.
First, find your Course Handicap for the day. This is usually posted near the pro shop or on the first tee and is adjusted based on the difficulty of the course you're playing.
Next, look at your scorecard. You'll see a row labeled "Stroke Index" (or S.I.), with numbers from 1 to 18 for each hole. The Stroke Index ranks the holes on the course from hardest (1) to easiest (18).
Your Course Handicap tells you how many strokes you get, and the Stroke Index tells you where you get them.
This is the most straightforward example. A handicap of 18 means you get exactly one handicap stroke on every single hole. Your calculation for each hole is simple: Gross Score - 1 = Net Score.
Thinking in terms of your "net par" is the easiest way to approach Stableford.
A handicap higher than 18 means you get one shot on every hole, plus extra shots on the hardest holes.
So, on a hole with a Stroke Index of 5, you get two strokes. If it's a par 4, your net par is 6 (4 + 2). On a hole with a Stroke Index of 12, you only get one stroke, so your net par on a par 4 would be 5 (4 + 1).
A great tip is to circle the holes on your scorecard where you get strokes before you even start your round. If your handicap is 24, you'd put one mark on every hole's S.I. box, and a second mark on the boxes for S.I. 1 through 6.
Once you know your net score, awarding points is the easy part. The system rewards you for scores better than your net par and penalizes you for going over it. The baseline to remember is that making your net par on a hole gets you 2 points.
Here’s the standard points breakdown:
The "no score" situation triggering zero points is often called a "wipe" or a "scratch." This is when you know you can't get at least 1 point (a net bogey) and should pick up.
Let's follow a golfer named Jane, who has a Course Handicap of 20, a nice, common handicap for our example. Before playing, she would have marked her card to show she gets one shot on every hole, plus a second shot on the two hardest holes (SI 1 and 2).
Her day starts on these three holes:
Let's re-write the example section for better clarity.
On her scorecard, Jane will write her gross score in one column and her points in another. After three holes, she has 3 + 2 + 3 = 8 points.
Imagine on Hole 4 (a Par 4, Stroke Index 10), Jane gets 1 shot. Her baseline for 1 point (a Net Bogey) is a gross score of 6 (Par 4 + 1 shot + 1 extra for Bogey). If she is already lying 6 shots and still not in the hole, she knows she can't score. She'll pick up, write a dash (-) or 'X' in the score column, and a '0' in the points column.
Scoring in Stableford is less about counting every last stroke and more about collecting points relative to your own handicap-adjusted par. By understanding how to use your handicap strokes and focusing on the simple points system, you can enjoy a faster, less punishing, and incredibly rewarding way to play golf.
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