What is Stableford?

Stableford Scoring is an individual scoring system used by many golf leagues. It is where points are given depending on the number of stokes relative to par. Your league needs to decide whether it wants to use “Net Scores” vs. “Gross Scores” relative to par for awarding points.

You decide how many points to award for each score relative to par. Below is an example of how Stableford can be set up. It is the standard used by a majority of golfers who use the Stableford scoring method. Of course, you can customize the Stableford system however your golf league deems necessary. One popular modified version is called “The International” and it is geared more towards penalizing golfers for scoring worse than par on a hole by doling out negative points for such scores.

Here is an example of how the points are calculated for ‘PlayerF’. This golfer is getting a stroke per hole because of his handicap.

(Screen shots courtesy of netGolfLeague.com)

What is a Course Handicap?

Course Handicap represents the number of strokes needed to play to the level of a scratch golfer—or the Course Rating of a particular set of tees. A Course Handicap is expressed as a whole number (11 for example).

Course Handicap is determined by using your Handicap Index and the Slope Rating of the golf course. You can calculate your Course Handicap using one of these methods:

You can try calculating your Course Handicap by using this handicap calculator:
www.netgolfleague.com/HandicapCalculator.aspx

Formula:
Handicap Index multiplied by Slope Rating of tees played, divided by Standard Slope Rating (113) = Answer (rounded to nearest whole number, .4 rounds down and .5 rounds up)

Example: 8.6 Handicap Index x 134 Slope Rating / 113 Standard Slope Rating = 10.2 = 10 Course Handicap

What is a handicap index?

It is a number, to one decimal place (e.g., 5.6), that is a generic (i.e., not tied to any one course) representation of a golfer’s game relative to par. So, for example, a golfer with a 5.6 Handicap Index means that that golfer could be expected to shoot somewhere between 5 and 6 strokes over par on any given day.