What is Stableford scoring in golf?
Jul 14, 2021 · "Stableford" is a scoring system in golf that awards points for the number of strokes taken on each hole in relation to par, rather than simply counting your strokes (like in stroke play). Unlike in stroke play, where you want the lowest score, your goal in Stableford scoring is to have the highest score.
How to calculate stableford points?
Jan 04, 2022 · Stableford scoring is a format in golf in which players will score points based on the number of strokes they need to complete each hole. How did Stableford scoring come about? Stableford scoring was the brainchild of Dr Frank Stableford, who pioneered the system back in 1931 to help prevent golfers from giving up after a poor start to their round.
What is Stableford scoring?
Golf Format Explained As in stableford proper a round in modified stableford will see golfers trying to accumulate the most points during the round. Points are awarded for each hole and the number of points is related to the score posted – more points given to better scores – according to the table below ( golf scoring terms ):
What is modified Stableford scoring?
Feb 15, 2022 · What Is Stableford Format In Golf? Stableford is a scoring system in golf that awards you points based on how you perform on each hole, not what you score for the round. For example, you will get three points for a birdie, two points for a par, and one point for a bogey. The idea behind this format is to encourage players to keep trying even when they’re not …

How do you score in Stableford golf?
Stableford is a scoring system used in the sport of golf. Rather than counting the total number of strokes taken, as in stroke play, it involves scoring points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole.
How do you score Stableford with a handicap of 28?
A 28 handicap player would receive a shot on every hole plus a further shot on stroke index 1 to 10, giving a player with this handicap 2 points even if they had boogied one of the harder holes.
What is a good Stableford points score?
Whatever your handicap – you should be looking to score a minimum of 36 points (2 points per hole x 18 holes). If you score 36 points, then you are playing to your handicap. If you score less than 36 you game was below your handicap. If you score more, then you were playing better than your handicap.
What is a good Stableford score for 9 holes?
A good score over nine holes is typically one or two under par. If the total par for the nine is 36, a good net score will be 34 or 35. For example, if your handicap is 22, you divide that by two and get 11. Therefore if you card a 45 over nine holes, you subtract 11 and are left with 34.Mar 18, 2021
What is stableford scoring?
What is the Stableford Scoring System? " Stableford " is a scor ing system in golf that awards points for the number of strokes taken on each hole in relation to par, rather than simply counting your strokes (like in stroke play). Unlike in stroke play, where you want the lowest score, your goal in Stableford scoring is to have the highest score.
When was the Stableford scoring system invented?
Dr. Frank Barney Gorton Stableford created the Stableford scoring system in the late 1800s as a way to keep golfers engaged after bad starts to their rounds. The format was first used for casual play at Glamorganshire Golf Club in Penarth, Wales, then introduced in competition at Wallasey Golf Club in England in 1932.
How many strokes does a 20 handicap golfer get?
A 20-handicap golfer would get one stroke for every hole, plus an additional stroke for the two most challenging holes on the 18-hole course. If the most difficult hole was a par-4, it would play as a par-6 for a 20-handicap golfer. A score of 5 would award them birdie points.
Why are handicaps important in Stableford?
Handicaps can also be factored in when playing a Stableford event to allow players of varying skill levels to compete more closely. A 5-handicap golfer would get one stroke on the five most difficult holes of the course. "Par" for these five holes would increase by one stroke.
Is the Barracuda a modified stableford?
The PGA's 2019 Barra cuda Championship was a modified Stableford event with the following point values: Like the example above, Modified Stableford scoring further promotes aggressive play because there are more points to gain for good scores than there are points to be lost for bogeys.
Can you score double bogey in Stableford?
While you won't gain any points for a double-bogey under standard Stableford scoring, you can quickly catch up to competitors with a birdie or eagle. You'll also be incentivized to go for more aggressive shots than you ordinarily would be.
How did Stableford scoring come about?
Stableford scoring was the brainchild of Dr Frank Stableford, who pioneered the system back in 1931 to help prevent golfers from giving up after a poor start to their round. (Cheers Frank, we’ve all been there.)
How do the points work?
Each player plays against the par on every hole, scoring points based on their number of strokes in relation to par. Points are scored in the following way:
How do I adjust my handicap?
The number of points scored is determined after the handicap adjustment.
What is Modified Stableford?
As the name suggests, a modified, slightly more challenging version of Stableford scoring also exists. The modified Stableford rewards good play to a greater extent, offering more points for scores under par.
Pros and Cons
Stableford golf speeds up the pace of play. The format allows players to pick up if they are having a bad hole, taking the pressure away from having to constantly hole out. Stableford scoring also eliminates any potentially embarrassing scores. No more grinding it out in the bushes to save a 10.
Why do golfers go for modified Stableford?
Because of its scoring system and how it compares to the regular stableford format, golfers are encouraged to ‘go for it’ and attempt to post scores better than par. Modified stableford tournaments are generally reserved for events in which only very good players are to take part.
Is the scoring system penalizing or rewarding?
Indeed, the scoring system is both very rewarding to scores under pars (birdies, eagles, etc.) and very penalizing to holes played over par (bogeys, double bogeys), both of which do not favour the casual golfers.
What Is Stableford Format In Golf?
Stableford is a scoring system in golf that awards you points based on how you perform on each hole, not what you score for the round.
How does the Stableford scoring system work?
When using Stableford scoring, points are awarded following this chart:
What is modified Stableford?
The modified Stableford scoring system is used once per season on the PGA Tour in the Barracuda Championship, which was formerly known as the Reno-Tahoe Open.
History of the Stableford Format
The Stableford format has been around for over 100 years now, created by Dr. Frank Barney Gorton Stableford, with the idea of stopping golfers from giving up after starting the round off poorly.
Final thoughts
While the Stableford scoring format isn’t commonly used, it’s great to know how to score using it in case a tournament arises with the format.
What is stableford scoring?
Stableford is a very common scoring system in golf whereby points are awarded on each hole according to how the player does against their own handicap. This scoring system is widespread in competitive social golf, such as on society days, but many clubs also have regular Stableford competitions as well as medal ones.
Why is Stableford scoring system so popular?
The Stableford scoring system is popular as it speeds up play.
Do you record a scorecard on a Stableford?
But in terms of recording scores in the scorecard, the gross number of shots on the hole must be recorded. Most markers will also record the Stableford score, but all the marker is required to do, and the player, is record their gross score. Don’t forget to follow Golf Monthly on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Who is the scoring system at Castle Pines named after?
The scoring system is named after Dr Stableford – and hence why it takes a capital S.
Can you play 3 holes off the tee?
It allows you to not to have to play out each hole – no need for a long embarrassing trudges back to the tee to play three off the tee when a drive is unexpectedly lost. No grinding it out to record an 8 or 9 on the scorecard as can be the case in medal play. The idea is very simple.
What is stableford on the PGA Tour?
Instead, Stableford is a modified scoring system that gives scores to bogeys, pars, eagles, birdies, and many more. The Stableford is used on the PGA Tour alongside other scoring techniques like stroke and match. ...
What is modified stableford?
The objective of the modified Stableford can be to make the game easier or harder depending on the type of golfers. The modified version is a maximum scoring system.
How to calculate Stableford points?
To compute the number of Stableford points scored, you should first determine the shots awarded on a specified hole on the golf course. Awarded shots refer to the number of additional strokes for every hole that you are given based on your handicap.
How to score more points in Stableford?
In order to score more points in the Stableford system, you must attain the highest number of birdies, eagles, and pars and have fewer worse, bogeys, and doubles. When it comes to golf, you should make birdies and par but take more risks so that you can achieve a higher total score.
Why is the Stableford scoring system important?
Stableford rules are ideal for keeping golf tournaments competitive since the player will still be in the game even if the team or player has a few blow-up holes. Over the years, the Stableford has become a preferred scoring system for many social golf events and club competitions.
Why is Stableford so popular?
Stableford became particularly popular in the UK and Ireland because these countries tend to have higher wind speeds compared to the average US tornado. Owing to the brutal weather conditions, golfers may experience one or two scores that are in the stratosphere.
How many strokes per hole for 18 handicap golfer?
For an 18 handicap golfer, then you will naturally get awarded one extra stroke per hole. However, for 24 handicap golfers, you can receive one extra stroke per hole and one extra stroke on the 6 most challenging holes depending on their stroke index.
What is stableford scoring?
The purpose of Stableford scoring is to promote risk-taking (and to successfully reward risk-takers) by providing incentives for low scores. If that sounds like you (or if you’re just a huge fan of the Barracuda Championship) try out a Modified Stableford during your next round and start earning a reward for scoring high.
What is modified stableford?
Unlike traditional stroke play where the goal is to shoot the lowest score possible, the Modified Stableford uses a points system that awards those who score more points than their opponents. The goal of a Modified Stableford is to play in search of lower scores as opposed to against higher scores.
How many points do you get in a modified stableford?
Those who score lower than the fixed number gain points based on their score, while those who score higher gaining zero points (or losing points, depending on the rules, but we’ll get to that in a second.) According to USGA and R&A rules, here’s the traditional scoring format for a Modified Stableford: More than one over the fixed score: 0 points.
Who is James Colgan?
James Colgan. James Colgan is an assistant editor at GOLF, contributing stories for the website and magazine on a broad range of topics. He writes the Hot Mic, GOLF’s weekly media column, and utilizes his broadcast experience across the brand’s social media and video platforms.
How many points are in a stableford?
A Stableford uses a points system established in the Rules of Golf, under rule 32, and are as follows: More than 1 over fixed score (or no score returned) – 0 points [Double Bogey or Worse] One over fixed score – 1 point [Bogey] Fixed score – 2 points [Par]
What is a four ball golf game?
Four Ball format is played with teams of two and uses a better ball scoring method . It can be played as either match play or stroke play. Each golfer plays their own ball during the entire match. For match play, at the end of each hole the golfer with the lowest score wins the hole for their team, earning a point.
What is stroke play?
Stroke play is an 18 hole cumulative score competition where the golfer with the best overall score after 18 holes wins. In stroke play you are going up against the course and trying to out play your fellow competitors.
What is match play?
Match play is a hole-by-hole competition where the golfer who makes the best score on the individual hole wins that hole. The player who wins the most holes throughout the match is the winner. In match play you are going up against your opponent in head to head competition.
How many people can play 2 best balls?
Strong players, low handicappers or scratch golfers, could play individually against a 2 or 3 person team playing best ball. With larger teams of 3 or 4 golfers you can play 2 Best Balls format, where you take the top two scores from the team members after each hole as the team score.
What happens after the second shot in golf?
After the second shot each golfer plays their own ball for the remainder of the hole. For example, players A & B are on a team, both A & B tee off, A hit the better drive so they select to take their second shot from A’s spot, both A & B hit from A’s spot, and play their own balls throughout the rest of the hole.
What is the best ball tournament?
A Better/Best Ball tournament involves teams of 2, 3 , or 4 golfers and can be played as match or stroke play. Each team member plays their own ball throughout the round. After each hole, the lowest score from each team member is the score for that team on the hole. For instance, on a par 4 for team 1 golfer A makes a 5 while golfer B makes a 4 and team 2 golfer C makes a 3 while golfer D makes a 6; so team 1 would use golfer B’s score of 4 and team 2 would use golfer C’s score of 3. The team with the lowest best ball score at the end of 18 holes wins. Strong players, low handicappers or scratch golfers, could play individually against a 2 or 3 person team playing best ball.
