The format is called points bogey, known internationally as Stableford. Instead of adding up every stroke you hit during a round, you earn points on each hole based on how many strokes you needed in relation to your personal par on that hole. The fewer the strokes, the more points. And the smartest part of all: a disaster hole never costs you more than zero points, because you simply pick up your ball and move on.
That is precisely why points bogey is the format most club competitions in Sweden use, and the one most golfers play day to day without always thinking about it. It rewards good holes, doesn't punish bad ones as harshly as stroke play, and keeps the pace up on the course.
How the points are counted on each hole
The basic logic is based on your playing handicap, which is distributed across the holes on the course according to their stroke index. On the holes where you receive one or more strokes, your personal "par" is raised. A hole that is fundamentally a par 4 can therefore become a par 5 for you if you receive a stroke there.
The points are then counted based on how many strokes you play in relation to the adjusted par on the hole:
- Net birdie or better (one stroke under or more): 3 points or more
- Net par (the same as your par): 2 points
- Net bogey (one stroke over): 1 point
- Net double bogey or worse: 0 points
This is the key to why the format works so well. As soon as you can no longer score points on a hole, there is no reason to finish it. You pick up the ball, write a zero, and move on to the next tee shot. A triple bogey in stroke play can sink your entire round, but in points bogey it costs exactly as little as a net double bogey.
Why points bogey is called Stableford
The name Stableford comes from the English doctor Frank Stableford, who designed the points system in the early 1900s to make golf more enjoyable for amateurs. The idea was simple but revolutionary for its time: a golfer who had ruined two holes would still have everything to play for on the remaining sixteen.
In Sweden the word points bogey is most often used, while Stableford is the international term for exactly the same thing. So if you come across the English expression on a foreign course or in an app, you know it is the same format. If you want to geek out on the Swedish words for this and other formats, our overview of golf terms Swedish can be a good start.
When points bogey is a smarter choice than stroke play
Stroke play, where every single stroke counts and the lowest total wins, is golf's purest and most unforgiving format. It suits elite-level competitions and days when you want to measure exactly where your game stands. But for the vast majority of rounds, points bogey is simply more enjoyable.
If you have a day where the driver won't listen to a single word you say, you avoid dragging along a number that ruins the rest of the round. You zero the hole and start over. That makes points bogey the obvious format for the relaxed social round with friends, but also for most club competitions where players with widely differing handicaps need to meet fairly on the same leaderboard.
If you want to understand how the handicaps that underpin the points are actually calculated, we walk through it step by step in our guide to handicap golf. And if you're curious about how the format relates to other ways of playing, there's a broader overview in golf formats.
How to keep track of the points during the round
The counting is most easily handled directly in the golf app when you register a handicap-qualifying round, but many still prefer the scorecard and pencil. The key is to note both the gross score, i.e. actual strokes, and the points hole by hole. Most scorecards have their own column for points next to the stroke column for precisely this reason.
A common habit among experienced players is to count their dots on the scorecard, the small markings that show where on the course you receive your extra strokes. If you see a dot on the hole, you immediately know that your par is one stroke higher, and counting the points becomes easy. If you get stuck on the exact rules about when a round may be registered, our text on handicap-qualifying round will set you straight.
Clothing that keeps the focus on the points, not on weather and wear
Points bogey rewards those who manage to stay focused all the way onto the eighteenth green. So it's an advantage to avoid having to think about something chafing, a cold draught, or getting too warm midway through the round. The right garments let you put all your energy on the next stroke instead.
A well-fitting polo is the backbone of the golf wardrobe, and our tech polo - dark navy is made from a technical, moisture-wicking material that keeps you dry and cool even when the round drags on and the pressure rises on the final holes. It looks just as good on the course as afterwards in the clubhouse. You'll find more colours and models in the polo shirts collection.
When the morning round is cool or the wind takes hold, an extra layer is needed. Our midlayer q-zip - navy provides warmth without locking your shoulders in the swing, which matters when you need to maintain the same swing tempo from the first to the last hole. If you want to compare different mid-layers, the whole selection is gathered under midlayers.
The trousers often determine how comfortable you feel over eighteen holes. Our tech pants - navy are light, stretchy and withstand a full day of walking and bending without feeling tight, so you can channel your focus onto the points instead of the fit. If you're looking for a model that suits your particular playing style, you'll find more options among trousers & shorts.
Points bogey's siblings and variants worth trying
Once you've mastered counting the points, several fun variants open up. Points bogey works excellently both individually and in team form, and many clubs build their most appreciated competitions around this very logic because it keeps everyone in the match far into the round.
If you want to try team formats where the points mindset is joined by tactics and cooperation, our guide to greensome golf gives a good entry point, and if you're looking for more relaxed and unusual setups, there's inspiration in unusual golf formats. What they all have in common is that they build on the same fundamental feeling: that a single bad hole should never be allowed to sink your whole day.
Once you've found the format that suits you best, the rest is about being properly dressed for the task, whatever the season and weather. If you want to see how the garments in this guide fit together with the rest of the wardrobe, you can see the entire range at Local Rule and build a setup that lets you keep your focus on the points all the way home.
