Claudia Laurent
Golf writer, Golf Handicapp · 26 May 2026
The short answer
Stableford turns each hole into points instead of strokes. You score against your own net par for that hole: 2 points for a net par, 3 for a net birdie, 1 for a net bogey, and 0 once you can no longer beat a net double bogey, so you pick up and move on. Playing exactly to your handicap gives 36 points over 18 holes.
Most golfers assume strokeplay is the standard, but the format that actually fills the club diary is Stableford. It is kinder, it is faster, and it rewards a steady card over a spectacular one. Once it clicks, it is genuinely the more enjoyable way to play. Here is how the points work and how your handicap turns into shots on the card.
The points table
Every hole is scored against your net par, which is the hole's par plus any handicap strokes you receive on it. Beat that target and you bank points, miss it badly and you simply score nothing and walk on.
| Result against net par | Points |
|---|---|
| Net double bogey or worse | 0 points |
| Net bogey (one over net par) | 1 point |
| Net par | 2 points |
| Net birdie (one under net par) | 3 points |
| Net eagle (two under net par) | 4 points |
| Net albatross (three under net par) | 5 points |
Turning your handicap into shots
The key word above is “net”. Before the round, your playing handicap is spread across the 18 holes using the stroke index printed on the card. The hardest hole is stroke index 1, the easiest is 18, and your shots are handed out in that order. A player with a course handicap of 12 receives one shot on the 12 hardest holes, stroke index 1 through 12. A player off 22 gets a shot on every hole and a second shot on the four hardest, stroke index 1 through 4. On a hole where you get a shot, a net par is one over the hole's par, so a 5 on a par 4 is still worth 2 points.
A worked hole
Say you are off a course handicap of 18, so you get exactly one shot on every hole, and you are playing the 4th, a par 4 with stroke index 6. Your net par there is 5. Make a 5 and you score 2 points, make a 4 and that is a net birdie for 3, and even a 6 still banks you 1 point. Only a 7, a net double bogey, scores nothing. That is the magic of the format: one ugly hole costs you a single point, not your whole card.
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Why clubs love it
Two reasons. First, pace of play. The moment you cannot score, you lift your ball and head to the next tee, which removes the slow, deflating grind of holing out for an 8. Second, fairness across abilities. Because everyone plays to their own net par, a 6 handicap and a 24 handicap can fight over the same prize. That is also why Stableford is a natural fit for society days and tournaments, where mixed abilities are the norm.
What score to aim for
Here is the anchor: playing exactly to your handicap returns 36 points. Score 36 and you played to your number, beat 36 and you bettered it, which on a qualifying day will nudge your Handicap Index down. Most club competitions are won somewhere in the high 30s to low 40s. If you want to check what shots you will get at a specific course before you tee off, run it through our WHS handicap calculator.
Common questions
How many points is a par in Stableford?+
A net par is worth 2 points. A net birdie is 3, a net eagle 4. A net bogey is 1 point, and a net double bogey or worse scores 0.
What is a good Stableford score?+
Playing exactly to your handicap returns 36 points over 18 holes. Anything above 36 means you beat your handicap that day, and club competitions are often won in the high 30s or low 40s.
Why does Stableford speed up play?+
Once you cannot score a point on a hole, you pick up and move on rather than holing out for a big number. That removes the slowest, most demoralising moments of a round.
How do I know how many shots I get on each hole?+
Your course handicap is spread across the 18 holes using the stroke index. The hardest holes, stroke index 1, 2, 3 and so on, get your shots first, and if your handicap is over 18 some holes get two.
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About the author
Claudia Laurent · Golf writer, Golf Handicapp
Claudia writes about the World Handicap System, golf scoring and getting more from every round for Golf Handicapp. She is a mid-handicap golfer who logs every card, the good ones and the ones she would rather forget.
Last updated 26 May 2026.