HOW TO COUNT STABLEFORD POINTS USING SYSTEM 36 HANDICAP OF THE DAY
Introduction:
This format is being widely used in Malaysia as it allows golfer without official handicap to participate in social/corporate tournament. This article aims to help golfers to understand how Stableford points being calculated based on Handicap Of The Day (HoD). If you found my article helpful, please share to your golf friends.
Step 1 - Calculate HoD
First we will calculate total gross score and subtracted by 36. To get gross score, we'll assign point as following:
- Par or better (birdie or eagle) = 2 point
- Bogey = 1 point
- Double bogey or worst (triple or double par) = 0 point
I will give example and explain how Player B with HoD 22 can defeat Player A with HoD 21 in this system. Both shot 94.
- Player A played 5 par, 5 bogey, 7 double & 1 triple, so HoD Player A = 36 - [(5 x 2) + (5 x 1) + (8 x 0)]= 21
- Player B played 2 par, 10 bogey & 6 double, so HoD Player B = 36 - [(2 x 2) + (10 x 1) + (6 x 0)] = 22
Once we get HoD, we will use HoD to give extra stroke according to index holes. If we played with HoD 18, we will get one extra stroke for hole index 1 until 18. If someone played with HoD 24, other than he will get one extra stroke for hole index 1 until 18, he will get one more extra stroke for hole index 1 until 6 (24 - 18 = 6 more extra strokes).
For example, if someone with HoD 19, he will get one extra stroke for hole index 1 until 18. Since he got 19 strokes, balance 1 stroke will be given to most difficult holes first. Meaning that for hole index 1, he will get 2 extra strokes in total. If that hole is par 4, now it will become new par 6 for him.
Step 2 - Calculate Stableford Point
After we use HoD to add stroke to holes, we will calculate Stableford points based on following method:
- Double Bogey or worse - 0 points
- Bogey - 1 point
- Par - 2 points
- Birdie - 3 points
- Eagle - 4 points
- Albatross - 5 points
Let's say someone with HoD 17, he will not earn stroke for hole index 18. If he shot double bogey, he won't get any point. However if he shot birdie for hole index 17, his birdie will be equivalent to eagle as he got 1 stroke for that hole. If that hole is par 4, after given 1 extra stroke that hole will become new par 5. Scoring 3 will be eagle (-2) and entitled 4 points.
Attention: Kindly bear in mind that this marking can be used to calculate Stableford points only, as calculating HoD can only use method in Step 1.
Now we will look how much points will be earned by Player A dan Player B.
Player A (HoD = 21):
Player B (HoD = 22):
Total point: 36
The better we played (par or better), the less strokes we will get (less mistake can we make). Mistakes means no burst or double bogey for non index hole. If played bogey every holes, we will get HoD 18 and 36 points. If get one birdie and don't burst any holes, we will get 37 points.
Normally corporate tournament will prepare prizes for 3 skills level so that good players and average players can compete in their league. Normally Medal A, B and C will have default HoD as below:
- Medal A - handicap 0 until 16
- Medal B - handicap 17 until 20
- Medal C - handicap 21 until 24
For those who target to win, you need to make sure you get top stop in desired category and don't fall into higher category as you will be at bottom.