# Golf Stableford Points Calculator

> Score a Stableford round: enter par, stroke index and your gross score for each hole and your playing handicap to get points per hole and in total.

Category: Everyday tools · Applies to: Worldwide · Last updated: 2026-10-29
Interactive calculator: https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/golf-stableford-points-calculator

In Stableford you score points against a net par on every hole: 2 for net par, 1 for net bogey, 3 for net birdie and so on, and nothing for net double bogey or worse or a pick-up.

Also called: Stableford score calculator.

## Inputs
- Playing handicap (default 18)
- Each hole: par, stroke index, score (x for no score) (default 4, 7, 5
4, 15, 4
3, 11, 4
5, 1, 6
4, 9, 6
4, 3, 5
3, 17, 3
5, 13, 5
4, 5, 4
4, 8, 5
4, 16, 5
3, 12, 3
5, 2, 7
4, 10, 4
4, 4, 5
3, 18, 4
5, 14, 6
4, 6, x)

## Results
- Stableford points
- Points above (+) or below (−) 2 per hole
- Gross strokes on scored holes
- Holes with a score

## Formula

```
Strokes received = ⌊PH ÷ n⌋ + (1 if SI ≤ PH mod n);  Points = max(0, 2 + Par + Strokes received − Gross score);  no score = 0 points
```

Where:
- PH: playing handicap (plus handicaps give strokes back from the highest SI)
- n: holes played (9 or 18)
- SI: the hole’s stroke index

## Worked example
1. Playing handicap 10: one stroke on stroke-index holes 1–10, none on 11–18.
2. Hole 1 (par 4, SI 7, score 5): net 4 = net par = 2 points. Hole 2 (par 4, SI 15, score 4): no stroke, par = 2 points.
3. Hole 5 (par 4, SI 9, score 6): net 5 = net bogey = 1 point. Hole 18 was not finished: 0 points.
4. Adding all 18 holes gives 30 points.

**Result:** With a playing handicap of 10 this card scores 30 Stableford points, 6 below the 36 that means playing to handicap.

## What the result means

36 points over 18 holes (18 over 9) means you played exactly to your handicap. Each point above or below is roughly one stroke better or worse.

## Assumptions and limits
- The fixed target score on each hole is par (Rule 21.1b), and handicap strokes follow the stroke index as in WHS Appendix E.
- A blank score or x means the hole was not completed and scores 0.
- Competitions can set a handicap allowance (for example 95%); enter the playing handicap after the allowance.
- Modified Stableford tables (as used in some professional events) are different.

## Questions

### How many points is each net score worth?

Net double bogey or worse 0, net bogey 1, net par 2, net birdie 3, net eagle 4, net albatross 5.

### Can I pick up in Stableford?

Yes. Once you cannot score a point on the hole you can pick up; the hole simply scores zero and you are not disqualified.

### How do plus handicaps work?

A plus handicap gives strokes back, starting from the hole with stroke index 18, so on those holes your net score is one more than your gross.

## Sources
- [Rules of Golf, Rule 21 (The R&A)](https://www.randa.org/rog/the-rules-of-golf/rule-21)
- [Stroke index allocation FAQ (USGA)](https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping/world-handicap-system/world-handicap-system-usga-golf-faqs/faqs---stroke-index-allocation.html)
- [How Stableford points are calculated (Golfshake)](https://www.golfshake.com/news/view/15/How_Stableford_points_are_calculated_in_golf.html)

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Source: GM¹X CalcVerse — https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/golf-stableford-points-calculator