Stableford Strategy

[Moxley]

I have my annual society day soon ,and , unlike our monthly outings, this one will be Stableford. I am familiar with Stableford but normally play it in very relaxed games where I'm not really as focused on the points as just playing good golf. 

I was wondering  about how to best maximise the potential of stableford (with handicaps). Obviously the main difference is that disaster holes are penalised no more than a hole that doesn't get any points (given I have  shot on most holes, that's triple bogey), but I rarely see any practical ways to make the difference count , since a double bogey would just as penal under either format on most holes. 

If i have a putt or chip for double bogey, then I'll not worry about it going past. Also, if I have an approach where, perhaps due to penalties, I have only 3 shots left for a point, then I'll cease worrying about hitting into hazards. I don't really change my strategy otherwise, certainly not off the tee, although it may make sense to do so. 

Interested to hear any thoughts & tips as to how to maximise this format. 



 

[boogielicious]

2 minutes ago, Moxley said:

I have my annual society day soon ,and , unlike our monthly outings, this one will be Stableford. I am familiar with Stableford but normally play it in very relaxed games where I'm not really as focused on the points as just playing good golf. 

I was wondering  about how to best maximise the potential of stableford (with handicaps). Obviously the main difference is that disaster holes are penalised no more than a hole that doesn't get any points (given I have  shot on most holes, that's triple bogey), but I rarely see any practical ways to make the difference count , since a double bogey would just as penal under either format on most holes. 

If i have a putt or chip for double bogey, then I'll not worry about it going past. Also, if I have an approach where, perhaps due to penalties, I have only 3 shots left for a point, then I'll cease worrying about hitting into hazards. I don't really change my strategy otherwise, certainly not off the tee, although it may make sense to do so. 

Interested to hear any thoughts & tips as to how to maximise this format. 



 

I am assuming you are applying your course handicap to the scorecard. For Stableford, I focus on putting myself in position to get points. If I have a good drive, obviously I am looking for par or net birdie if that applies.

For bad drives, I focus on getting myself into position for no less than a bogey or net par if that applies. This means no 'hero' shots after a bad tee shot, but getting the ball back into the fairway as far down as possible to give myself a good approach shot. I know this strategy should apply at all times, even in stroke play, but it is crucial in Stableford.

Also, if you know your shot zones, use them! Avoid penalty areas and bunkers. 

[iacas]

Essentially, unless you’re near a border where nothing changes (like bogey is 1 point but anything higher is 0), play your normal game. Too many people get tricked into trying to do something special or different.

[Zeph]

I wouldn't think you played any differently. Try using as few strokes as possible. The exception might be putts or chips where you get one point if it drains. There's nothing to lose on using ten more shots, so make sure you don't hit it short.

Sit down and write down how many extra strokes you are given on every hole. You might get two strokes on one par four and one on the next. Again, this mostly matters when you need to hole the next stroke to get a point. For instance if you got a long uphill putt for one point that you most likely won't make. Normally you might avoid hitting past the hole to get an uphill putt next. With Stableford there's no risk and you don't want to leave it short.

The biggest difference with Stableford is that you can't get less than zero points on any hole. 

Edited September 13, 2018 by Zeph

[uitar9]

Our mens night is a stableford using handicap.

Trying to shoot no worse than bogey appears to be the strategy. 

 

 

[GolfLug]

Yes, Stableford is slightly skewed in favor of mid/high HCPs who tend to make one of more triple bogey or worse in a round. 

I don't know if there is a Stableford 'strategy' that would be diff from normal round but since you are a 14, please know that nGIRs are very acceptable. And when you do get one, the sole purpose for the next shot should be to get anywhere you can putt from. 

[Moxley]

Fair enough, consensus seems to be mostly play your normal game. 

 

1 hour ago, GolfLug said:

Yes, Stableford is slightly skewed in favor of mid/high HCPs who tend to make one of more triple bogey or worse in a round. 

 

 

On the whole I think it's a slight equaliser, although I think it's more skewed towards younger players / bigger hitters than it is just on handicap. The sort of player whose card has both birdies and 8+'s.

[cutchemist42]

On 9/13/2018 at 5:22 AM, iacas said:

Essentially, unless you’re near a border where nothing changes (like bogey is 1 point but anything higher is 0), play your normal game. Too many people get tricked into trying to do something special or different.

Would the strategy be much different for modified stableford seen at the Barracuda?

2 hours ago, Moxley said:

Fair enough, consensus seems to be mostly play your normal game. 

 

 

On the whole I think it's a slight equaliser, although I think it's more skewed towards younger players / bigger hitters than it is just on handicap. The sort of player whose card has both birdies and 8+'s.

Looking at my game, I think I'd be a better Stableford player than stroke.

Saw this from mygolfspy, but compared to my handicap, I have more pars but more triple/quad bogeys than the average 20 HI.

[Killa]

Do you play net or gross?

[GolfLug]

 

2 hours ago, Moxley said:

The sort of player whose card has both birdies and 8+'s.

Yeah, anybody can come and kill it every now and then. But how likely/frequent is that type of mix on the same card? Not very, IMO. If it is frequent enough, they would have an accordingly higher quota. 

In the long run, it's still an equitable system.

40 minutes ago, cutchemist42 said:

Looking at my game, I think I'd be a better Stableford player than stroke.

Saw this from mygolfspy, but compared to my handicap, I have more pars but more triple/quad bogeys than the average 20 HI.

I'm not sure that's a given. Unlike HCP where only the top 50% of the last 20 rounds count, every score counts in your running Stableford quota. 

Right now my Sunday league Stableford quota is 3 strokes/points worse cuz all my scores are counted towards the running average of the last 5 rounds. I actually like that it is a more current (in my league, last 5 rounds only) representation of the state of one's game. But based on yesterday's round it will jump a couple for the next round. Obviously my HCP's won't change as much that quickly.