Stableford golf game rules
In Stableford you score points on each hole for how you did against par. Big numbers only cost you zero, so one bad hole can't ruin your round.
Standard points
- Double bogey or worse: 0
- Bogey: 1
- Par: 2
- Birdie: 3
- Eagle: 4
- Albatross: 5
Modified Stableford
A more aggressive table that rewards birdies and punishes bogeys: double bogey or worse −3, bogey −1, par 0, birdie +2, eagle +5, albatross +8.
Scoring and payouts
Highest total wins. Side Pot can pay per point (each pair of players settles the difference in points) or as a pot split 60/30/10 between the top three. Net Stableford compares each player's net score to par.
Worked example
Four players, gross, standard points at $1 a point, on a par 4, a par 3 and a par 5. Dave: birdie, par, bogey (6 pts). Mike: par, par, par (6). Sam: bogey, bogey, par (4). Jon: double, bogey, double (1).
Paid by the difference in points between each pair: Dave +$7, Mike +$7, Sam −$1, Jon −$13.
These numbers come straight from the scoring Side Pot uses in a real round. Load them into the calculator below and change anything.
Stableford calculator
Dave, Mike, Sam, Jon
- Dave+$7Net up
- Mike+$7Net up
- Sam−$1Net down
- Jon−$13Net down
Why (15 entries)
- Mike → Dave $1 · Stableford hole 1: Dave 3 pts v Mike 2
- Sam → Dave $2 · Stableford hole 1: Dave 3 pts v Sam 1
- Jon → Dave $3 · Stableford hole 1: Dave 3 pts v Jon 0
- Sam → Mike $1 · Stableford hole 1: Mike 2 pts v Sam 1
- Jon → Mike $2 · Stableford hole 1: Mike 2 pts v Jon 0
- Jon → Sam $1 · Stableford hole 1: Sam 1 pts v Jon 0
- Sam → Dave $1 · Stableford hole 2: Dave 2 pts v Sam 1
- Jon → Dave $1 · Stableford hole 2: Dave 2 pts v Jon 1
- Sam → Mike $1 · Stableford hole 2: Mike 2 pts v Sam 1
- Jon → Mike $1 · Stableford hole 2: Mike 2 pts v Jon 1
- Dave → Mike $1 · Stableford hole 3: Mike 2 pts v Dave 1
- Dave → Sam $1 · Stableford hole 3: Sam 2 pts v Dave 1
- Jon → Dave $1 · Stableford hole 3: Dave 1 pts v Jon 0
- Jon → Mike $2 · Stableford hole 3: Mike 2 pts v Jon 0
- Jon → Sam $2 · Stableford hole 3: Sam 2 pts v Jon 0
Common questions
Why play Stableford instead of stroke play?
It keeps everyone in the game — a blow-up hole only costs you points on that hole — and speeds up play because you can pick up once you can't score.
Is higher better in Stableford?
Yes. Unlike stroke play, the most points wins.
Related games
Let Side Pot keep the book.
Tap scores, and every Stableford result, the money and the settle-up are worked out for you.
Score your next Stableford round