Where the Stableford scoring system came from and how it works

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One of the best aspects of golf is the fact that there are a variety of formats which play a part in allowing players of various abilities to compete on almost a level-playing field.

Of course, strokeplay is the most common format in the professional game. Meanwhile, there is often a clamour for more matchplay, with the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup proving to be two of the best events in the game.

Perhaps the next most famous format is stableford, with many club golfers well-versed in the system which, like matchplay, allows golfers to quickly put their worst holes behind them and still enjoy a superb round.

Here is a look at where stableford came from, how it works, and where it is used in the professional game today.

What is the stableford scoring system?

The stableford system was founded by Frank Stableford who wanted to create a format which meant that one bad hole would not completely ruin a player’s round. It was initially used at Glamorganshire Golf Club in Penarth in 1898 and first used in competition at Wallasey in 1932 – where Stableford was also a member.

The system sees players receive points for their scores on each hole, so a quintuple bogey would not destroy a round in the same way it would in strokeplay where every shot counts.

Stableford scoring system with handicap

Players receive up to six points on each hole. A net par would earn two points, so anything above 36 points for a round sees a player outperform their handicap. Anything worse than a net bogey results in a player receiving no points on that particular hole.

Modified stableford scoring system

Modified stableford involves the number of points for each score varying. It is a system that has been used on the PGA Tour at the Barracuda Championship since 2012, with minus points for anything worse than a par, while an eagle is worth five points.

Nick Dunlap won the 2024 staging of the event with 49 points, while Erik van Rooyen has the best ever score in the competition after getting to 50 points in 2021.