Stableford is a scoring game where every hole earns points against par instead of counting strokes: 2 for par, 3 for a birdie, 1 for a bogey and 0 for anything worse. Most points wins. Because a disaster hole is just zero, you can pick up and move on, which makes it one of the friendliest formats for mixed groups.
Stableford
How to play Stableford in golf: points, scoring and money
Stableford turns every hole into points against par, so one bad hole costs you nothing more than zero. The points table, a worked example and modified Stableford.
Jim CampbellUpdated 4 min read
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It is one of the fun golf games that works for any number of players, alone or in teams.
How Stableford works
- Play your own ball and count your strokes as usual.
- On each hole, turn your score into points against par (see the table below). Played net, take your strokes off first.
- Once you can’t score a point on a hole, pick up. The hole is a zero.
- Add your points over the round. Most points wins.
Score on the hole | Points |
|---|---|
Albatross (3 under) | 5 |
Eagle (2 under) | 4 |
Birdie (1 under) | 3 |
Par | 2 |
Bogey (1 over) | 1 |
Double bogey or worse | 0 |
Scoring example
Jim, Mike, Dana and Priya play nine holes of net Stableford for $2 a player. For the nine, Jim gets 2 strokes, Mike 4, Dana 0 and Priya 6, on the hardest holes. Each cell shows the gross score, a star for each stroke, and the points in brackets.
| Hole | Par | Jim | Mike | Dana | Priya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 5 (1) | 5* (2) | 4 (2) | 6* (1) |
| 2 | 5 | 5* (3) | 6* (2) | 5 (2) | 7* (1) |
| 3 | 3 | 3 (2) | 4 (1) | 3 (2) | 4 (1) |
| 4 | 4 | 5* (2) | 6* (1) | 6 (0) | 9* (0) |
| 5 | 4 | 4 (2) | 5 (1) | 4 (2) | 5* (2) |
| 6 | 3 | 4 (1) | 3 (2) | 3 (2) | 3 (2) |
| 7 | 5 | 6 (1) | 6* (2) | 5 (2) | 6* (2) |
| 8 | 4 | 4 (2) | 5 (1) | 4 (2) | 5 (1) |
| 9 | 4 | 4 (2) | 5 (1) | 5 (1) | 6* (1) |
| Points | 16 | 13 | 15 | 11 |
Jim wins with 16 points, one ahead of Dana on 15. Mike has 13 and Priya 11.
Hole 4 is where Stableford earns its name for being kind. Priya makes a 9 on a par 4. In stroke play that is five shots gone; here her stroke makes it a net 8, which is still worse than a double bogey, so she scores zero and loses nothing more. Dana’s 6 on the same hole is also zero. Jim’s stroke on hole 2 is the other one to notice: a gross par 5 becomes a net birdie and 3 points.
With $2 a player on the most points, Mike, Dana and Priya each pay Jim $2, so Jim is up $6.
Strokes: playing Stableford net
Net Stableford gives each player their strokes on the hardest holes by stroke index, then scores the net result. A player who gets a stroke on a hole and makes a bogey has a net par, worth 2.
Picnic plays Stableford net by default with 95 percent of each player’s strokes, and the lowest player playing off zero. Percent handicaps changes the allowance and Net strokes switches to Full handicap, where everyone keeps all their strokes against par. With full strokes, 36 points over 18 holes is playing to your handicap.
Variations
- Modified Stableford. Rewards birdies, punishes bogeys: eagle 5, birdie 2, par 0, bogey minus 1, double or worse minus 3. Picnic: yes (Points per hole: Modified).
- Your own points table. Picnic: yes (edit any row of Points per hole; negatives allowed).
- Front, back and total. Three bets on the points: the front nine, the back nine and the 18. Picnic: yes (Bets: Front, back, and total).
- Team Stableford. The best one or two points scores on each team count, or every score counts. Picnic: yes (Teams in setup; Best 1, Best 2 or All in the format settings).
- Gross Stableford. No strokes, points on the actual score. Picnic: yes (Handicaps: Gross).
The money
Most groups play Stableford for one stake on the most points: each other player pays the winner, often $2 to $10. Splitting it into the front nine, the back nine and the total gives three chances to win and keeps a slow start from ending the day. Teams can play the same way.
Picnic keeps the tally and shows who owes whom; your group settles up.
Tips
- Pick up as soon as you can’t score. It keeps the pace up and costs nothing.
- On a hole where you get a stroke, a bogey is a par. Play for the safe five rather than the heroic four.
Stableford FAQ
How does Stableford scoring work?
Each hole earns points based on your score against par: 1 for a bogey, 2 for a par, 3 for a birdie, 4 for an eagle and 0 for anything worse than bogey. Most points wins.
Is Stableford good for high handicappers?
Yes. Played net, each player’s strokes come off before the points are counted, and a blow-up hole scores zero instead of ruining the card. High handicappers can pick up once they can’t score and move on.
What is modified Stableford?
A version that rewards birdies and punishes bogeys: typically 2 for a birdie, 0 for par, minus 1 for a bogey and minus 3 for a double or worse. It suits stronger players who make birdies.
How many Stableford points is a good score?
Playing net, 36 points over 18 holes means you played to your handicap, since that is a net par on every hole. Anything above 36 is a good day.
How do you break a tie in Stableford?
Usually by countback: the better score over the last nine, then the last six, three and the final hole. In Picnic, a tie for the most points pays nothing, so agree on a countback before you start if you want one.
Related games
- Nassau2 to 8 playersA Nassau is three match play bets in one round: the front nine, the back nine and the full 18. How it works, how presses work, and a scored round.
- Match Play2 to 8 playersMatch play is scored by holes, not strokes: win more holes than the other side and you win the match. The rules, how strokes work and a scored match.
- Skins2 or more playersSkins puts a prize on every hole: the lone low score wins it, and a tie carries it to the next hole. The rules, carryovers, a scored nine and the money.
Built Picnic
Jim built Picnic after too many rounds where someone got the math wrong by the turn. He writes up the games his group plays, and the ones they want to try next.
Rules checked against Picnic 1.1.0
