How Stableford scoring works

Standard Stableford is the scale in Rule 21 of the Rules of Golf and the one most groups play. The Rules also give 6 points for 4 under par on a hole, a score rare enough that most tables, Wedge's included, stop at the albatross. Modified Stableford, the scale some professional events use, pays more for birdies and eagles and takes points away for bogeys, so it rewards aggressive play. A net par round on standard scoring is 36 points; on modified scoring it is 0.

1. Work out each player's course handicap from their Handicap Index and the tees they play (the course handicap calculator does this).
2. Place the strokes using the stroke index, the hole handicap row on the scorecard. A course handicap of 14 gets one stroke on each of the holes ranked 1 through 14. A course handicap of 22 gets one stroke on every hole plus a second stroke on the holes ranked 1 through 4.
3. On each hole, subtract that hole's strokes from the gross score to get the net score.
4. Compare the net score with par and look up the points.
5. Add the points. Highest total wins.

How Wedge scores it: Wedge's Stableford game is net by default and gives each player their full course handicap. Its game scoring gives at most two strokes on any hole, so a course handicap above 36 is scored as 36, and a plus handicap plays off zero.

Pat has a course handicap of 14 on a par 72. That is one stroke on every hole except the four ranked 15 through 18 (holes 3, 7, 11 and 15 here).

Pat shot a gross 90, a net 76, and scored 32 points. A quick check: every stroke over net par costs 1 point from the 36-point baseline, so net 4 over par is 32 points, as long as no hole was worse than a net double bogey. On modified scoring the same card is 4 birdies (plus 8), 9 pars (0), 2 bogeys (minus 2) and 3 double bogeys (minus 9), for a total of minus 3.

In best-ball (four-ball) Stableford, two partners each play their own ball and the pair scores the higher of their two point totals on every hole. Here Pat (course handicap 14) is paired with Lee (course handicap 8) over the first six holes of the same course. Lee gets strokes only on the holes ranked 1 through 8.

If one partner picks up or misses a hole, the other partner's points count alone.

• Modified Stableford. The 8, 5, 2, 0, minus 1, minus 3 scale above. Wedge offers it as a setting on both Stableford games.
• Handicap allowance. Many events follow the USGA's recommended allowances of 95% of course handicap for individual Stableford and 85% for four-ball. Wedge's Stableford games use the full course handicap.
• Gross Stableford. No strokes, points from gross scores. It suits a group of similar ability and is also a setting in Wedge.
• One day or the whole trip. On a golf trip, Stableford can be one game with points added across every round (Wedge's default) or a new game each day with its own payout.
• Tiebreaks. Some events break a tie on points by counting back over the last nine, six, three and final hole. Wedge splits the prize instead.

Stableford is usually paid by finishing place. With eight players at $20 each, a $160 pot paid 60%, 30% and 10% gives $96 for first, $48 for second and $16 for third. When players tie, they add up the places they cover and split them. If two players tie for second, they share second and third (40%, or $64) and take $32 each.

• Strokes by par instead of stroke index. Strokes go on the holes ranked hardest on the card's handicap row, not on the par 5s.
• Using the Handicap Index directly. Strokes come from the course handicap for the tees played, which can differ from the index by several strokes on a difficult course.
• Picking up. Once a player cannot score a point on a hole, they can pick up. Record a score for the hole anyway (a net double bogey is the usual entry) so the card is complete for handicap posting.
• Low total wins by mistake. In Stableford the highest total wins. Groups used to stroke play sometimes rank it backwards.
• A player who leaves early. Their points from the holes they played still count, so they finish with a lower total rather than no score.