How to play Stableford: points table and examples
Stableford scores points on each hole against par instead of counting every stroke, and the highest total wins. A bad hole costs at most the two points you would have earned, so one disaster does not ruin the round.
- Players: 2 to 144 players
- Also called: Stableford points, 36 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.
Score the most points over the round.
How to play Stableford
- Work out each player's Playing Handicap and give strokes on the hardest holes by stroke index.
- Subtract the strokes received on a hole from the gross score to get the net score, then compare it with par.
- Score points: net double bogey or worse 0, bogey 1, par 2, birdie 3, eagle 4, albatross 5 (the standard table).
- Add up the points. A pick-up scores 0 for the hole.
- The highest total wins. In a money game, each pair settles the difference in points times the value of a point.
A worked example with numbers
The par-4 seventh is stroke index 5 and Ann has a Playing Handicap of 12, so she gets one stroke there. She makes a 5. Her net score is 4, which is par, so she scores 2 points.
On the par-3 eighth, stroke index 15, she gets no stroke and makes a 4, a bogey, so 1 point. On the par-5 ninth, stroke index 1, she receives a stroke and makes a 7, a net 6, which is also a bogey, so 1 point. Suppose Ann finishes the round with 36 points and Bo with 33. At 1 per point, Bo pays Ann 3.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value per point | 1 | 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 5 | What one Stableford point is worth when pairs settle the difference. |
| Points table | standard | standard, modified, custom | Which points table is used: standard, modified, or your own. |
| Custom: double bogey or worse | 0 | Your own values | Points for a net double bogey or worse in the custom table. |
| Custom: bogey | 1 | Your own values | Points for a net bogey in the custom table. |
| Custom: par | 2 | Your own values | Points for a net par in the custom table. |
| Custom: birdie | 3 | Your own values | Points for a net birdie in the custom table. |
| Custom: eagle | 4 | Your own values | Points for a net eagle in the custom table. |
| Custom: albatross | 5 | Your own values | Points for a net albatross in the custom table. |
| Handicap allowance (%) | 100 | 100, 95, 90, 85 | Casual rounds default to 100%; tournaments use 95%. |
| Stroke method | full | full, off the low, pairwise, agreed | Whether everyone takes the full handicap or plays off the lowest player. |
Common disputes
What if someone picks up?
A pick-up scores zero points on the hole, which is the same as a net double bogey or worse.
How many points is a good round?
36 points is playing exactly to your handicap, 2 points a hole on the standard table.
What allowance should we use?
Casual rounds default to 100%. Tournament play usually uses 95%.
Are the modified points different?
Yes. The modified table is 8 for an albatross, 5 for an eagle, 2 for a birdie, 0 for par, minus 1 for a bogey and minus 3 for a double bogey or worse.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Stableford points table?
Standard: double bogey or worse 0, bogey 1, par 2, birdie 3, eagle 4, albatross 5. All measured on net score.
Is Stableford better for high handicappers?
It is more forgiving because a blow-up hole only costs the points you could have earned, and it speeds up play since you can pick up.
Do you use net or gross?
The scorekeeper uses net by default, with the full handicap. The Stableford calculator on this site does the same.
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 Stableford, 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.
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