Look up your course handicap in the first column. The other columns show which stroke indexes, the small numbers on the scorecard, get one, two or three strokes. Your club sets the order of its holes, so the stroke index printed on your own card always wins.
The ChartWhich stroke indexes get your strokes
| Course handicap | 1 stroke on index | 2 strokes on index | 3 strokes on index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | None | None |
| 2 | 1 to 2 | None | None |
| 3 | 1 to 3 | None | None |
| 4 | 1 to 4 | None | None |
| 5 | 1 to 5 | None | None |
| 6 | 1 to 6 | None | None |
| 7 | 1 to 7 | None | None |
| 8 | 1 to 8 | None | None |
| 9 | 1 to 9 | None | None |
| 10 | 1 to 10 | None | None |
| 11 | 1 to 11 | None | None |
| 12 | 1 to 12 | None | None |
| 13 | 1 to 13 | None | None |
| 14 | 1 to 14 | None | None |
| 15 | 1 to 15 | None | None |
| 16 | 1 to 16 | None | None |
| 17 | 1 to 17 | None | None |
| 18 | 1 to 18 | None | None |
| 19 | 2 to 18 | 1 | None |
| 20 | 3 to 18 | 1 to 2 | None |
| 21 | 4 to 18 | 1 to 3 | None |
| 22 | 5 to 18 | 1 to 4 | None |
| 23 | 6 to 18 | 1 to 5 | None |
| 24 | 7 to 18 | 1 to 6 | None |
| 25 | 8 to 18 | 1 to 7 | None |
| 26 | 9 to 18 | 1 to 8 | None |
| 27 | 10 to 18 | 1 to 9 | None |
| 28 | 11 to 18 | 1 to 10 | None |
| 29 | 12 to 18 | 1 to 11 | None |
| 30 | 13 to 18 | 1 to 12 | None |
| 31 | 14 to 18 | 1 to 13 | None |
| 32 | 15 to 18 | 1 to 14 | None |
| 33 | 16 to 18 | 1 to 15 | None |
| 34 | 17 to 18 | 1 to 16 | None |
| 35 | 18 | 1 to 17 | None |
| 36 | None | 1 to 18 | None |
| 37 | None | 2 to 18 | 1 |
| 38 | None | 3 to 18 | 1 to 2 |
| 39 | None | 4 to 18 | 1 to 3 |
| 40 | None | 5 to 18 | 1 to 4 |
| 41 | None | 6 to 18 | 1 to 5 |
| 42 | None | 7 to 18 | 1 to 6 |
| 43 | None | 8 to 18 | 1 to 7 |
| 44 | None | 9 to 18 | 1 to 8 |
| 45 | None | 10 to 18 | 1 to 9 |
| 46 | None | 11 to 18 | 1 to 10 |
| 47 | None | 12 to 18 | 1 to 11 |
| 48 | None | 13 to 18 | 1 to 12 |
| 49 | None | 14 to 18 | 1 to 13 |
| 50 | None | 15 to 18 | 1 to 14 |
| 51 | None | 16 to 18 | 1 to 15 |
| 52 | None | 17 to 18 | 1 to 16 |
| 53 | None | 18 | 1 to 17 |
| 54 | None | None | 1 to 18 |
Source: The R&A, The Rules of Handicapping, Appendix E: Stroke Index Allocation.
Each stroke index sits in one column only, the one that matches how many strokes that hole gives you. Take a 24: stroke index 1 to 6 give two strokes, and 7 to 18 give one.
The stroke index on your scorecard decides. The Rules of Golf require the course to publish the order of its holes, and each club sets its own. The R&A recommends odd numbers on the front nine and even numbers on the back, and says the two sets can be swapped if the back nine plays harder. Use this chart to learn the pattern, then check it against the card.
How to Use ItRead your strokes in three steps
1. Find your course handicap. It is the number of strokes you get on the course and tees you are playing. If your club gives you a playing handicap for the day, use that one instead. That is your course handicap after any allowance for the format.
2. Find your row. A 10 gets one stroke on stroke index 1 to 10. A handicap of 18 gets one stroke on every hole. A 24 gets one on every hole and a second on stroke index 1 to 6.
3. Match it to the card. On each tee, look at the stroke index of the hole, not the hole number. If your row includes it, you get the stroke or strokes on that hole.
Past 18, the order simply starts again at the top. Stroke index 1 counts as 19, 37 and 55 as well, so it picks up your second stroke first, then your third.
StablefordPoints for each hole
Stableford scores each hole on its own, against par unless the committee sets a different target. Take your strokes off first, then read the points from your net score. A hole you do not finish scores zero.
| Net score on the hole | Points | Example: par 4, one stroke received |
|---|---|---|
| Net double bogey or worse | 0 | Gross 7 or more |
| Net bogey | 1 | Gross 6 |
| Net par | 2 | Gross 5 |
| Net birdie | 3 | Gross 4 |
| Net eagle | 4 | Gross 3 |
| Net albatross | 5 | Gross 2 |
| Net condor | 6 | Gross 1 |
Source: The R&A, The Rules of Golf, Rule 21 (Stableford), and The Rules of Handicapping, Rule 3; Golf Handicap Calculator, Stableford Scoring Point Table.
Gross is what you actually took. Net is gross minus the strokes you receive on that hole. A net double bogey is the lowest score that earns zero points, so once a hole is going badly you can pick up and move on.
Worked ExampleA 24 handicap over five holes
A course handicap of 24 is 18 plus 6. That means one stroke on every hole, and a second stroke on stroke index 1 to 6. Here is how five holes play out.
| Hole | Par | Stroke index | Strokes received | Gross | Net | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| B | 3 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| C | 5 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| D | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| E | 4 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Source: Strokes from the chart above; points from the Stableford table above.
Hole A is a gross 6 on a par 4, normally a double bogey. With two strokes it is a net par, worth 2 points. Hole E is a plain par on the card, but with one stroke it becomes a net birdie and earns 3. Hole D is a gross 8, which is a net double bogey, so it scores nothing. The five holes add up to 8 points.
Common MistakesWhere the arithmetic goes wrong
Using the hole number. Hole 1 is rarely stroke index 1. Always read the stroke index row on the card.
Using your handicap index. Your index travels with you. Your course handicap changes with the course and the tees, and that is the number that decides your strokes.
Forgetting the second stroke. Over 18, the extra strokes go back to stroke index 1, then 2, and so on. Not to the easiest holes.
Reading the wrong column. If your card prints more than one set of stroke indexes, use the set for your tees and your competition. When in doubt, ask in the pro shop.
RelatedKeep it handy
Strokes are easier to remember when they are written next to the yardage. The printable yardage card has room for it, and the golf glossary explains the scoring and handicap terms used here.
FAQQuick answers
How do I know which holes I get strokes on?
Take your course handicap and find its row in the chart. The stroke indexes listed there are your stroke holes. Then match them to the stroke index printed on the scorecard, because each club sets its own order.
What is a stroke index?
It is a number from 1 to 18 given to every hole to show the order in which handicap strokes are used. Index 1 is where the first stroke goes, and index 18 is where the last one goes.
What if my course handicap is over 18?
You get a stroke on every hole, and the extra strokes start again from the top. A 20 gets a second stroke on stroke index 1 and 2. A 24 gets a second stroke on stroke index 1 to 6.
How many Stableford points is a net par worth?
Two. A net bogey is 1, a net birdie is 3, a net eagle is 4, and a net double bogey or worse is 0. A hole you do not finish also scores 0.
What is a net double bogey?
It is par plus 2 plus any strokes you receive on the hole. It is the lowest score that still earns zero Stableford points, which makes it a handy point to pick up.
Which stroke indexes do I use for nine holes?
Strokes are normally taken in order from the published 18-hole stroke index. A club may instead renumber the nine holes from 1 to 9, so check the card or ask before you play.