Stableford query

[mikejohnchapman]

You asked about buffer zones.

These are used as part of the handicap adjustment process following a qualifying round.

In simple terms when a qualifying round is played all all the score as in a CSS (Competition Standard Scratch) is calculated. This can be higher or lower than the course SSS depending on the scoring (a tough day will normally see it go up but an easy day may see it go down). The CSS is used as the basis for handicap adjustment. There is one CSS for the competition but a buffer zone is added depending on your handicap category. A category 1 play has a buffer zone of 1, Category 2 has 2, Category 3 has 3.

Therefore lets assume the CSS for a course is 71 but for the competition in question the CSS is calculated at 72.

If you are a category 3 player with a 17 handicap the following handicap adjustments will be made:

Shoot 88 and your handicap goes down by 0.3, for every shot better than this your handicap goes down another 0.3
Shoot 89 to 92 (in the buffer zone - 72 + 3) - your handicap stays the same.
Shoot over 92 and your handicap goes up by 0.1.

This is simplified and doesn't go into how CSS is calculated (nightmare) or the impact of stableford blobs (covered earlier).

Hope it helps.

 

[Tashyboy]

Basically as Lord Tyrion via smiffy says, however when playing a normal/ non comp game. When marking your score, practice scoring by using the stableford scoring method. As you have mentioned you are playing off 17.3 which equates to 17 shots. Anything that is within 17.4 to 16.5 will be played off 17. From 17.5 to 18.4 will be 18. So quite simply you will get a shot on every hole apart from the easiest hole on the course. All that is the easy bit.
What has not been explained yet is. You cannot Mark your own card. A playing partner must ( PP). You must mark your playing partners. If he is off 17 happy days, same as you. Off 18 even better. But if he is off 11 you have to work out the holes he has a shot on, or work out the holes he does not have a shot on. He will of course be keeping his own score and will no doubt let you know his score. If his handicap is above 18 and has two shots on some holes, then basically your head can become a shed. That is why it is a good idea to practice putting down stableford when playing non comp.
After a short time it will become as easy as opening a can of corned beef. Apart from the bit where you cut your finger open and end up in A and E having um stitched up.
good luck me man.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

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

Having recently been stuck behind a four ball who insisted on putting everything out, no a 9 does not get you a point, neither does a 10, then that has to be tempered with judgement. When your 4 hour round turns into a 5 hour round..................😡

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Corned beef, Tashy you are showing your age 😂. Does anyone under the age of 50 eat it? Good point added though. It is why you always write down the actual shots taken rather than purely the points scored. After the 18th you can then go through the card and check you have applied the correct number of points per hole. Easier to do that at the end when the pressure is off.

 

[guest100718]

Having recently been stuck behind a four ball who insisted on putting everything out, no a 9 does not get you a point, neither does a 10, then that has to be tempered with judgement. When your 4 hour round turns into a 5 hour round..................

Tell em to let you through

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Tried that, they weren't having it. Easier said than done when you are dealing with ignorant golfers.

 

[Smiffy]

A good tip when marking a fellow competitors card in a Stableford is to mark the holes where they are getting a shot with a little pencil dot next to the hole number, or even draw a circle (in very light pencil) around it before you go out.
This way it will remind you that they are "shotting" there.
And no, you don't have to pick up on a hole if you cannot score, you CAN carry on..... always bearing in mind the pace of play.
If somebody is tight up your chuff and is being held up on every hole, it doesn't look great when you get back in the clubhouse and you have 10's and 11's marked on your card.
I speak from experience.
Obviously, if the course behind you is clear, putt, putt, putt away to your hearts content.

 

[louise_a]

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?

Yes a birdie on a shot hole is a nett eagle, so worth 4 points, remember though that you must record the gross score on the scorecard.

 

[Smiffy]

Yes a birdie on a shot hole is a nett eagle, so worth 4 points, remember though that you must record the gross score on the scorecard.

It suddenly got complicated again...

 

[Deleted member 15344]

As all clubs now use software computer score input

I would suggest just filling your gross scores down at the moment as that's the only score you put into the computer - as you do that it shows you what score you have and then learn from there. Or complete the points after the round sat down on a table to make sure you get it right

Let your partners know you are unsure about stableford and whoever is doing your card will tell you when you can't score anymore

 

[Matty6]

When I'm marking someone else's card in a stableford comp I will always circle the holes they get shots at. If they are playing off 19, or higher, I'll circle the holes they get 2 shots at. Makes calculating the stableford scores a little quicker and easier. Also, don't forget to mark your score on the playing partners card you are marking.

As others have said, ask your playing partners if you are unsure. I'm still relatively new to the game so I ask if I'm ever unsure. Everyone has been more than happy to give a helping hand when needed.

 

[duncan mackie]

At the risk of confusing everyone I would just point out that for the purposes of handicapping it's stableford points that count! Even a medal round is converted to stableford points for handicapping. It's not the other way round as most of the posts above suggest with reference to net double bogeys etc

Buffer - when par = CSS 36 points is playing to handicap. For a cat 3 golfer this means that you will play to your buffer with 35, 34 or 33 points.

You should be prepared to pick up once you are unable to score a point; consider your fellow competitors both behind and those you are playing with eg don't mess around moving markers on the green when you can't score and someone else is waiting to putt.

Get into the habit of putting a line through the box for your score (or the box for the person whose card you are scoring) if they pick up on a hole. This saves confusion and critically makes it less likely that you will subsequently put the score for the next hole into a blank box.

Finally set out to enjoy the game, and stay aware of what's happening around you (when not actually making a stroke!).