Stableford - Is It Real Golf ?

JezzE said:
Trust that all those purists for whom it's medal or bust will happily give back all those nett double bogey adjustments that mean their handicap is lower than it really should be!!
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Well said that man...
I like Medal in summer when playing comps off the whites but Stableford is a good winter format
Steve...
 
We play stableford on a weekly basis as it gives our higher handicappers in the group room for error without getting demotivated. Only downside is if a 20+ capper has a half consistent day you struggle to compete. I think stableford Definately favours a higher capper.

Now stroke play, our club is relatively small as its a membership within a muni, but it's split over 2 divisions 1-14 & 15-28 (I think) it's quite apparent that as a rule the lower hc players in each category generally score better in medal or stroke play format.
 
To me i prefer Strokes for the same reason as others , il judge my own round and quality (or not) of play by the ammount of strokes played, i take no consolation in shooting 37 points if i know i have not finishd a hole or two for what ever reason , but as to the OP is it real golf , yes it can affect my handicap so i will treat it as very real , and wher i state above i will take no consolation in my score if i dont finish a couple of holes i will take consolation in fighting back to avoid .1 back .. even beter if i manage a cut .. my golf to me is about my handicap so every qualifying round is very real ..
 
As a couple of peopel have said.... matchplay is REAL golf. Nothing better than teeing it up against someone with the same handicap and just going toe to toe. Love it.

Back on the OP, I still feel that a sub-handicap score in medal play is a "real" score. No knock on those who prefer stableford, but it's just what I grew up playing.

Standing on the tee with a medal card in your hand sorts the men from the boys.
 
of course playing stableford will affect your decisions on the course. do i attempt this 210yard 2nd shot over the lake into the wind and risk a big number or do i lay up to 100 yards and pitch on. if its stableford id usually go for it. if its stroke then im playing safe(ish) most of the time and laying up.
 
Stuart_C said:
I don't agree with that because you are capable of hitting a 7 under your handicap which on a par 70 would be a nett 63, for the lower fellas to get anywhere near that they would have to go round a couple under gross.

I think the biggest difference between us high handicappers and the low handicappers is the low fellas are more likely to hit a couple under their hcap more consistently.

From my experience as a high hcapper playing stableford, i was in a comfort zone where I'm counting my 2 shot holes thinking " I don't have to par this I've got 2 shots double bogey will do".

I always play for a medal score and will putt out even if I can't score on a hole stableford.
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if you played with me i would tell you to pick your ball up,if you cant score and kept putting out would that not be deemed as practicing on the course as you are aware stableford is classed as a stroke play comp.
 
my old club was prodomenatly stablefords and as i was injured last year i didnt play in one medal. Althoguh the new club im at plays alot more medals and hardly any stablefords, they seem to use them more for the womens comps. Our first medal is in march so im hoping to get a slot in that.
 
papyt said:
if you played with me i would tell you to pick your ball up,if you cant score and kept putting out would that not be deemed as practicing on the course as you are aware stableford is classed as a stroke play comp.
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You are allowed to complete the hole, it isn't practicing, it is just not good form. You can practice putting on any green, after you have finished the hole, even in medal.
 
JezzE said:
Trust that all those purists for whom it's medal or bust will happily give back all those nett double bogey adjustments that mean their handicap is lower than it really should be!!
Click to expand...

Thats why i dont understand the love for stableford.

In Strokeplay, if you do blow a hole then you know that the 'adjustment' will only count as a nett double and you can keep fighting and try and make the buffer zone on your nett score, etc. I think it protects the leaderboard for those that have played well on the day and returned good gross scores.
 
papyt said:
if you played with me i would tell you to pick your ball up,if you cant score and kept putting out would that not be deemed as practicing on the course as you are aware stableford is classed as a stroke play comp.
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If you told me to pick up, i would tell you to shove it. :ears:

I'm only picking up when its in the cup.......or we're playin gimmes.

How do people expect to improve or play better under pressure if they only play half their short game. :rolleyes:
 
Medal is real golf but it's nice to be able to a mess a hole or two up and still get a cut from time to time :D

I would rather we had more medals but I do wonder how many entrants we'd get.
 
bluetoon said:
Thats why i dont understand the love for stableford.

In Strokeplay, if you do blow a hole then you know that the 'adjustment' will only count as a nett double and you can keep fighting and try and make the buffer zone on your nett score, etc. I think it protects the leaderboard for those that have played well on the day and returned good gross scores.
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so if i get a 9 or even the dreaded 10 it doesnt matter? and wont ruin my card??
 
Of course its real golf. You have to get the ball from the tee to in the hole in as few a shots as possible. How is that not real golf ???Is matchplay not real golf either then ?? ?
 
HawkeyeMS said:
Medal is real golf but it's nice to be able to a mess a hole or two up and still get a cut from time to time :D

I would rather we had more medals but I do wonder how many entrants we'd get.
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Think you only have to look at the low(ish) number we get for the blue riband event - Club Championship. Not so bad now they have it over two days and have a cut but when we moved to the new course (longer and a harder walk) a lot of the older guys and higher handicaps didn't play in it and it was down to fields of 30-40. At least now most players can enter and try and qualify on the Saturday and then compete for the handicap prize
 
papyt said:
if you played with me i would tell you to pick your ball up,if you cant score and kept putting out would that not be deemed as practicing on the course as you are aware stableford is classed as a stroke play comp.
Click to expand...

How is holing out deemed as practicing?

As stableford is a stroke play comp then you shouldn't tell nobody to pick their ball up.
 
my understanding is the same as stroke play,you are not allowed to practice (making contact with the ball)once you have teed off in a comp,thus if you cant score on a hole in stableford any shot played is deemed as practice,in match play it is different you can practice a put but only after the hole is deemed finished ( when all players have holed out or been given the hole ) i was told this a few years ago by a pro in a pro/am but stand to be corrected.
 
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