Stableford is a points system applied to Stroke Play and is based upon the net score obtained on each hole. Points are awarded as follows:-

1 point for a net bogey        2 points for a net par          3 points for a net birdie      4 points for a net eagle ... and so on. Any score greater than a net double bogey (net 2 over par) scores 0 points.

 

Stableford can be played with full or part handicap – for valor society days, we employ full handicap - the player who earns the most points being the winner. Stableford is a more forgiving competition format, because, even if you have a dreadful hole, you still only record a zero score on your card.

 

A player works out how many strokes he receives at each hole by means of the STROKE INDEX for the particular hole. This is found on the scorecard, each hole having a stroke index between 1 and 18, with 1 indicating that this is deemed the most difficult hole on the course and 18 being deemed the easiest.

 

If a player has a handicap of 10, he receives 1 shot for each hole from stroke index (SI) 1 to stroke index 10. For holes SI no. 11 to no. 18 he receives no shots.

 

For a player with a handicap of 18, they obviously receive 1 shot at every hole.

 

For a player with a handicap of 28, they receive 2 shots on holes SI no 1 to no. 10, and then 1 shot at holes SI no. 11 to no. 18 (i.e. 2 shots multiplied by 10 holes = 20 shots plus 1 shot at 8 holes = 20 + 8  = 28 shots in total).

 

The scorecard below shows how a typical card should be completed during the course of a competition round. Please note that Player A, Mr. Woods does not mark his own card, the marker, a one Mr. Nicklaus is marking Mr. Woods’ card. Mr. Woods handicap as circled in pink is 28.

 

 - The column beneath the blue arrow shows the STROKE INDEX for each hole.

 - Beneath the red arrow is the gross or actual score that Mr. Woods has taken at each hole (as recorded by Mr. Nicklaus).

 - The column beneath the green arrow is the net score at each hole.

 - The column beneath the purple arrow is the number of STABLEFORD points scored at that particular hole.

HOLE-BY-HOLE EXAMPLES   REMEMBER, MR. WOODS (MW) HAS A HANDICAP OF 28.   Hole 2 – MW scores a gross 4. The stroke index is 17, so he receives 1 shot. 4 (his gross score) minus 1 (the shot he receives) is 3, hence his net score at that hole is 3 which is a net par (as the hole itself is a par 3). Hence, for a net par MW scores 2 stableford points.   Hole 5 - MW scores a gross 3. The stroke index is 9, so he receives 2 shots. 3 (his gross score) minus 2 (the shots he receives) is 1, hence his net score at that hole is 1 which is a net eagle or two under par (as the hole itself is a par 3). Hence, for a net eagle MW scores 4 stableford points.   Hole 10 - MW scores a gross 9. The stroke index is 10, so he receives 2 shots. 9 (his gross score) minus 2 (the shots he receives) is 7, hence his net score at that hole is 7 which is a net treble bogey (as the hole itself is a par 4). Hence, MW scores 0 stableford points.   MW’s accumulative stableford score for the front 9 is 18 points (circled in yellow). His accumulative score for the back 9 is also 18 points (circled in green).   So MW’s final STABLEFORD score is 36 points (circled in purple).   NOTE THAT MR. WOODS WOULD DOUBLE CHECK THIS CARD AGAINST THE CARD HE WAS MARKING TO VERIFY HIS SCORE AND SIGN THE CARD IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACE.  THE CARD IS ALSO SIGNED BY THE MARKER, MR. NICKLAUS AGAIN IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACE.

 

The following is a useful illustration