Stableford query

[selwood90]

Played my first medal on Wednesday, am now about to play my first stableford comp tomorow and have a few questions. Google didn't seem to answer what I was after.

So

Is it done on full hc?
Do you pick up if you can't make a point?
What do you put down on card if you do pick up?
And on a more general note, anyone care to explain buffer to me? Recently got cut to 17.3 what is buffer?

Probably pretty simple questions for a lot of you guys, but only have 1 round of competitive golf under my belt and would rather ask here than PP'S on the day.

Cheers

 

[NorfolkShaun]

Stablefords are nearly always full handicap, would be stated if not a full Handicap and I would also suggest it would be a non qualifier if not full.

Not everyone picks up when they cannot score but yes people generally do.

Just put a line or a 0

Buffer oww, this is the people who do not get a 0.1 or a cut. This can move about a bit depending on how good the scoring is (CSS) Buffer can be a bit of a mystery for me.

 

[selwood90]

Thanks alot. So if you put a 0, what do they assume you shot for hc purposes? Or can you not get cut off a stableford round? Ah right, so generally you don't know what you need to shoot to make buffer until after really? As you can probably tell I'm pretty clueless. Nice one for the reply.

 

[GG26]

The round will still count for handicap purposes. A double bogey is assumed on the holes where you pick up.

The buffer is a zone above your handicap (3 shots for a Category 3 player), where your handicap will not change as a result of the round. Above this you will get +0.1 added to the handicap.

 

[anotherdouble]

The worst you can score for handicap is a double bogey (2 over par) for the hole. Even if you had 10 shots on a par 4 it will be scored as a 6 for the handicap but not for your competitive score

 

[selwood90]

Ahhh ofcourse, makes complete sense. Thanks a lot. Final question, do I put down strokes played on the scorecard? Or points scored per hole? I'm assuming strokes played but don't want to mess a card up

 

[anotherdouble]

Ahhh ofcourse, makes complete sense. Thanks a lot. Final question, do I put down strokes played on the scorecard? Or points scored per hole? I'm assuming strokes played but don't want to mess a card up

You must always always enter strokes played and in addition points scored for each hole

 

[anotherdouble]

Don't be afraid to speak with you fellow competitors to check you are completing the card correctly. You should also be able to talk to the pro before you start to ask advise about completing the card. Don't be shy. Just ask

 

[selwood90]

Right that's great thanks. Yeah I really should, just didn't want to seem completely clueless. But that's what they are there for I suppose. Cheers

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Don't forget it is just like driving a car. Everyone had to start out as a learner at some point, everyone. Better to ask a daft question before doing something that would cost you a shot. Unless you are stuck with a really unpleasant person your playing partners should be happy to help. I know I have asked, and continue to ask, questions whenever I am unsure of something on the course.

 

[Ross61]

Just to clarify. If you pick up the hole will be deemed to be nett double bogey. I.e. if you receive 1 stroke on a par 4 and pick up it will count as if you scored 7.
Also the rules state you must put down your gross score for each hole ( or a line or 0 if you picked up) any other info, such as points is supplementary to requirements but most people do and it wil not be a problem.

 

[Dasit]

if your handicap is say 18, you get 3 points for a par, 2 for a bogey and 1 for a double?

then if double bogey is max score, does that mean you get a 1 point every time you score over a double too?

 

[GG26]

if your handicap is say 18, you get 3 points for a par, 2 for a bogey and 1 for a double?

then if double bogey is max score, does that mean you get a 1 point every time you score over a double too?

No, 0 points

 

[Deleted member 1147]

You must always always enter strokes played and in addition points scored for each hole

Not true!
You only have to enter the gross score on each hole. You don't have to calculate stab' points or even add up the total score.

You can pick up if you score a nett double bogey or worse.

Just put a - if you do pick up.

Buffet is the number of shots above your handicap (or number of stab' points below 36) that equal your handicap category, before your handicap will go up 0.1.

 

[louise_a]

any high score is rounded down to a NET double bogey, so depending on how many shots you get on the hole your worst score could be anything from a double bogey to a quadruple bogey

 

[selwood90]

Well I'm off 17.3 so bar stroke index 18 my pars are worth birdies and my bogeys worth pars point wise if I understand it. What about if I make a 2 on a par 3 what's that worth? Have made 3 2's on par 3s in the last 2 rounds. So with a shot that would go down as Eagle? Or am I wrong?

 

[Smiffy]

Well I'm off 17.3 so bar stroke index 18 my pars are worth birdies and my bogeys worth pars point wise if I understand it. What about if I make a 2 on a par 3 what's that worth? Have made 3 2's on par 3s in the last 2 rounds. So with a shot that would go down as Eagle? Or am I wrong?

If you make a 2 on a par 3 where you are getting a shot, it will go down as 4 points. A 3 will give you 3 points. A 4 will give you 2 points and a 5 will give you 1 point.
If you are not getting a shot then it will be 1 point less.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I was getting confused by lots of the answers until Smiffys reply simplified matters for the OP. Stableford is one of the simplest games to play, less stressful than strokeplay. You'll have the hang of it in no time.

Follow what Smiffy says. The minute you reach the stage where you are not going to score a point pick up and put a dash next to that hole. If you are on the green and the group behind are well away then finish out if you like, practice for your putting. Picking up generally happens when you have gone 3 off the tee, or similar, and made a general mess of the hole before you ever actually reach the green. When you are chipping onto the green for a point I would pick up if it doesn't hole out for example. If you are putting for a point and it misses then you may choose to finish for practice as long as you don't spend an age lining up etc. You'll soon work out when it is appropriate to finish out and when it is time to pick up and walk away

 

[Smiffy]

You'll soon work out when it is appropriate to finish out and when it is time to pick up and walk away

Yep. When you've hit your second tee shot out of bounds on a hole where you're not shotting, it's time to get your skates on....

 

[guest100718]

Dont feel you have to pickup if you cant score on a hole. its perfectly acceptable to carry on.