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).
Step 1 - Calculate HoD
Formula: HoD = 36 - gross score
To calculate 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 of Player A and Player B, then I'll explain how Player B with HoD 22 can defeat Player A with HoD 21 in this system.
- 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 stroke according to index holes. If we played with HoD 18, we will get 1 stroke for each hole. If someone played with HoD 24, apart from he will get 1 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). Meaning hole index 1 until 6, he will get 2 strokes in total.
For example:
- Player with HoD 19, he will get 2 strokes for hole index 1. For hole index 2 until 18, he will get 1 stroke each hole. If that hole is par 4, now it will become new par 6. If he shot par, he will score eagle for that hole (4 - 6 = - 2).
- Player with HoD 12, he will get 1 stoke for hole index 1 until 12 only. For hole index 13 until 18, he won't get any stroke. So if he shot double bogey on hole index 15, he will still score double bogey as he doesn't have stroke for that hole.
Step 2 - Calculate Stableford Point
Attention: Kindly bear in mind that this method is used to calculate Stableford points only, as calculating HoD has been done in Step 1.
After we use HoD to add stroke to hole, that hole will have new par. Then 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 get new par for hole index 1 to 17. he will not get new par for hole index 18.
- For hole index 12, he will get 1 stroke. If that hole is par 4, it will become new par 5. If he shot 4, he will get 3 points (4 - 5 = - 1)
- For hole index 18, he won't get stroke. If that hole is par 3, it will remain as par 3. If he shot bogey, he will get 1 point.
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
Summary
The better we played (par or better), the less strokes we will get (less mistake can be made). Mistakes means no burst or double bogey for non index hole. If we played bogey every holes, we will get HoD 18 and 36 points. If we get one birdie and don't burst any holes, we will get 37 points.
Normally corporate tournament will prepare prizes for 3 categories, Medal A, B and C by HoD as below (subject to change by organizer):
- 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.