How to play Quota (golf): points, targets and examples
In Quota each player has a points target of 36 minus their Playing Handicap and earns points for bogeys, pars, birdies and eagles. The winner is whoever beats their own target by the most, which keeps players of any ability in the game.
- Players: 2 to 5 players
- Also called: Chicago system, quota points
- Teams: Every player for themselves
- Scores needed: Every player's score on each hole
Each golfer's score on every hole. The points are worked out for you.
Beat your own target by more than the others beat theirs.
How to play Quota
- Work out each player's target: 36 minus Playing Handicap. A 12 handicap has a target of 24.
- Score points on gross scores: bogey 1, par 2, birdie 4, eagle 8. Double bogey or worse scores nothing.
- Add up the round. Subtract the target from the points to see whether the player is over or under quota.
- Rank players by points over or under their target. Pairs settle the difference.
A worked example with numbers
Ann has a 12 handicap, so her target is 24. She scores 27 points, which is 3 over her quota. Bo has a 20 handicap, so his target is 16, and he scores 15, which is 1 under.
The difference between them is 3 - (-1) = 4 points. At 1 per point Bo pays Ann 4.
Options and defaults
These are the rules groups change. The first column is the setting, the second is what Hole19Tally starts with, and the last says what it changes.
| Option | Default | Choices | What it changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | 36 | 36, 39 | Target is this number minus Playing Handicap. |
| Points | 1/2/4/8 | 1/2/4/8, 1/2/3/4 | Bogey / par / birdie / eagle points. |
| Settlement | pairwise | pairwise, pot | pairwise: each pair settles the difference in points versus target x unit. pot: best versus target wins an ante from everyone. |
| Gross or net | gross | gross, net | Net applies handicap strokes; gross ignores them. |
| Handicap allowance % | 100 | 100, 95, 90, 85, 80 | Percent of the Course Handicap used, applied before rounding. |
| Player withdraws | stand as is | stand as is, void, forfeit | standAsIs: that player's bets settle as they stand. void: bets with that player are cancelled. forfeit: they score nothing for the remaining holes. |
| Round cut short | segments | segments, void, last | segments: only completed segments settle. void: nothing settles. last: settle on standings at the last completed hole. |
Common disputes
Is it gross or net?
Gross by default, because the target already carries the handicap. Net is an option.
What if the course is not par 72?
The target is still 36 minus the Playing Handicap, so any par works with the same method.
Can the target be 39?
There is a target setting of 36 or 39.
Frequently asked questions
What is the point scale?
Bogey 1, par 2, birdie 4, eagle 8 by default, or 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Is quota fair to low handicaps?
It is designed to be. A scratch player's target is 36, a very high bar, while a 20 handicap's target is 16.
How is quota different from Stableford?
Stableford ranks players by net points. Quota ranks them by how far their points are above or below a personal target, so each player is measured against their own handicap.
Is Hole19Tally a betting app?
Hole19Tally is a scorekeeper. It records scores, works out strokes and shows who owes whom, but it never holds, moves or takes a share of money, and it is not a gambling service. Players settle up directly with each other.
Score it in Hole19Tally
Hole19Tally keeps the score for Quota, applies the handicap strokes and shows who owes whom. Hole19Tally is a scorekeeper. It records scores, works out strokes and shows who owes whom, but it never holds, moves or takes a share of money, and it is not a gambling service. Players settle up directly with each other.
Related games
Stableford scores points on each hole against par instead of counting every stroke, and the highest total wins.
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Read moreRelated calculators
Enter your Playing Handicap and your gross scores. The calculator gives you the strokes on each hole, the net points and your total.
Read more Course Handicap calculatorTurn a Handicap Index into a Course Handicap and a Playing Handicap for any set of tees, and see which holes you get strokes on.
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