The Stableford System is an alternate scoring system for golf that is designed to reward a player for taking risks.
Under Stableford System, players receive points based on their score on each hole in relation to par, adjusted for their handicap.
Stableford Scoring System
| Points | Strokes taken in relation to adjusted fixed score |
|---|---|
| 0 | 2 strokes or more over, or no score recorded |
| 1 | 1 stroke over |
| 2 | Same number of strokes |
| 3 | 1 stroke under |
| 4 | 2 strokes under |
| 5 | 3 strokes under |
| 6 | 4 strokes under |
In the Stableford System, the worst score is “0,” so once a competitor is two or more adjusted strokes over par, the ball can be picked up.
One advantage of the Stableford System is that it produces competitive results with disparate skills. A player who has a tendency to “blow up” on a few holes will not run up a huge score, because “0” is the worst result. Further, knowing that the worst possibility is a “0,” a player can try that “one in a million” shot rather than playing safe and chipping out of a bad situation.
The PGA TOUR has used a Modified Stableford System for the International, and now the Barracuda Championship:
Modified Stableford Scoring System
| Points | Strokes in relation to par |
|---|---|
| 8 | Albatross (3 strokes under par) |
| 5 | Eagle (2 strokes under par) |
| 2 | Birdie (1 stroke under par) |
| 0 | Par |
| −1 | Bogey (1 stroke over par) |
| −3 | Double bogey or worse (2 strokes or more over par) |
The Stableford System was invented by an Englishman named Barney Stableford.
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