How Stableford Scoring Works
Stableford is a points-based golf scoring system designed to keep rounds enjoyable — a disaster hole costs you nothing more than zero points, so you can pick up and move on. The higher your total, the better.
Standard Stableford points per hole
- Albatross (3 under par) – 5 points
- Eagle (2 under par) – 4 points
- Birdie (1 under par) – 3 points
- Par – 2 points
- Bogey (1 over par) – 1 point
- Double bogey or worse – 0 points
Gross vs Net Stableford
Gross Stableford uses your raw score on each hole. Net Stableford applies your course handicap first — strokes are distributed across the holes using each hole's stroke index (SI 1 is the hardest). On a hole where you receive a shot, your gross score is reduced by 1 before points are calculated.
What's a good Stableford score?
36 points = level handicap, i.e. a net par on every hole. Most club competitions are won with somewhere between 36 and 42 points. Anything above 40 is a very good round.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to play 18 holes?
No — leave holes blank in the calculator above and you'll get your running points total for the holes you have played.
Why is my net score sometimes lower than gross?
If you've already scored well on a hole (say a birdie), receiving an extra handicap stroke can't add more than the 5-point cap, and strokes never reduce points. Net will always be ≥ gross when a handicap is entered correctly.