Stableford Scoring Explained

Stableford is a point-based scoring system that rewards golfers based on their performance on each hole, rather than counting their total number of strokes. It's designed to keep play moving and reduce frustration. In a handicapped tournament, your handicap is applied to adjust your score per hole.

How Stableford Points Work:

Points are awarded based on the number of strokes taken in relation to the par of each hole. Here's how the points system works:

Strokes Taken Points Awarded
2 or more over par (Double bogey or worse) 0 points
1 over par (Bogey) 1 point
Par 2 points
1 under par (Birdie) 3 points
2 under par (Eagle) 4 points
3 under par (Albatross) 5 points
Tip: Your handicap allows you to receive additional strokes on certain holes. For example, if you have a handicap of 18, you’ll get one extra stroke on every hole. So, if you score a bogey on a hole, but you’re allowed one extra stroke, it counts as a par!

Handicapped Stableford Example:

If your handicap is 18, you will receive one stroke on each hole. If you make 5 strokes on a par 4 hole (a bogey), that’s counted as 4 strokes (par), giving you 2 Stableford points for that hole.

This system allows players of different skill levels to compete on a level playing field, making the game more enjoyable for everyone.