Buying Guides
Stableford Scoring Explained
Fayrway Pros · 25 September 2026
Table of Contents
Stableford is the most popular scoring format in UK club golf, and beginners love it. Instead of counting total strokes, you earn points on each hole based on your net score against par, and the highest points total wins. Crucially, one disastrous hole does not wreck your whole round.
How Stableford points work
On each hole you take your net score (your strokes minus any handicap shot you get on that hole) and compare it to par. The points, using net double bogey as zero, are:
| Net score vs par | Points |
|---|---|
| Albatross (3 under) | 5 |
| Eagle (2 under) | 4 |
| Birdie (1 under) | 3 |
| Par | 2 |
| Bogey (1 over) | 1 |
| Double bogey or worse | 0 |
Why beginners love it
In stroke play, one blow-up hole where you take 10 can ruin your card. In Stableford, that hole simply scores 0 points and you move on with the rest of your round intact. It rewards steady play and keeps you in the game even after a bad hole, which makes it far less demoralising.
What is a good Stableford score?
Because handicaps are designed around it, 36 points is the benchmark, roughly the equivalent of playing to your handicap. Anything above 36 is a good day, and in the high 30s or 40s you may find your handicap gets cut.
When you pick up
Once you cannot score any points on a hole (you have used all your shots and cannot make net double bogey), you simply pick up your ball and move on. This also speeds up play. For the terms used here, see our golf glossary, and how to keep score.
New to the game? Start with a forgiving package set.
Frequently asked questions
How does Stableford scoring work?
You earn points per hole based on your net score against par: 2 for a par, 3 for a birdie, 1 for a bogey, and 0 for a net double bogey or worse. The highest points total wins.
What is a good Stableford score?
36 points is the benchmark, roughly equal to playing to your handicap. Above 36 is a good round, and a high total can see your handicap cut.
Why is Stableford good for beginners?
Because a single bad hole only scores 0 points rather than wrecking your whole card. It rewards steady play, keeps you in the round, and is far less demoralising than stroke play.
When do you pick up in Stableford?
Once you can no longer score a point on a hole, meaning you cannot make a net double bogey, you pick up your ball and move to the next hole. It keeps play moving.
