How it works
Rules
Stableford in two minutes
You score points on every hole against your net score — your strokes minus the shots your handicap gives you on that hole. Most points wins.
Where your shots fall. Every hole has a stroke index (SI) from 1, the hardest, to 18. Off 18 you get a shot on every hole. Off 10 you get one on SI 1–10. Off 28 you get one everywhere and a second on SI 1–10.
Blobs are fine.Once you can't score on a hole, pick up. It's zero points and it keeps the round moving — nobody's card is ruined by one bad hole.
| On the hole | Points |
|---|---|
| Net double bogey or worse | 0 |
| Net bogey | 1 |
| Net par | 2 |
| Net birdie | 3 |
| Net eagle | 4 |
| Net albatross | 5 |
Thirty-six points means you played exactly to your handicap.
Season points
Each open is ranked on Stableford points and pays season points. Your best 5 results count towards the season total.
| Finish | Season points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 10 |
| 2nd | 8 |
| 3rd | 6 |
| 4th | 5 |
| 5th | 4 |
| 6th | 3 |
| 7th | 2 |
| Anyone else who completes the round | 1 |
| Didn't complete | 0 |
Ties on the day are split on countback: back 9, then back 6, back 3, and the 18th. If two cards are still identical — or there's no hole-by-hole card to compare — the players share the position and the average of the points for the places they occupy, rounded to the nearest point. On the season table, equal totals share a position.
Handicaps
Everyone starts on a society handicap — a rough guide, open to discussion. The committee reviews them through the season, and every change is published with its reason on the Players page.
For each open the committee sets the handicap you play off. It starts at your society handicap (times the allowance, if the open uses one) and can be adjusted for that round. Once set, it's fixed for that open: later changes to your society handicap don't rewrite past results.
On the course
- The host course's local rules apply. The committee will confirm anything extra on the first tee.
- Play ready golf. If you can't score on a hole, pick up.
- Mark each other's cards. Enter yours on the site under My card straight after the round, or hand it to the committee.
- Nearest the pin only counts if your tee shot finishes on the green. Longest drive must finish on the fairway.
- Disputes go to the committee, whose decision stands — and is open to banter.