Best ball · Stableford¶
What it is¶
Best ball is the team version of better ball: everyone on the team plays their own ball all the way to the hole, and the side keeps only its best result on each hole — so one player's disaster never sinks the team. This is the Stableford version: each member scores points on every hole, the team keeps the highest of them, and the highest total wins. Because a wiped hole simply scores nothing instead of wrecking the card, it is the most forgiving way to run a team event.
How scoring works¶
- Every team member plays their own ball and records a gross score on every hole.
- Each player scores Stableford points for the hole from their net result: 2 points for a net par, one more for each shot better, one fewer for each shot worse, never below zero (a net double bogey or worse scores nothing). Handicap strokes fall on the hardest holes by stroke index, and best ball is played off 85% of each player's handicap by default.
- The team's score for the hole is the highest points among the members.
- Add the team's points across the round; the highest total wins.
- Level teams are separated on countback — the better back nine, then the last six holes, then the last three, then the final hole.
Worked example¶
One team of three — Player A, Player B, and Player C — over three holes, Stableford points shown:
| Hole | Par | Player A | Player B | Player C | Team (highest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 9 |
The team scores 9 points. On the 2nd, Player B's blank (a net double bogey) was simply ignored — Player C's 3 points carried the hole.
When to use it¶
The default team comp for clubs and societies. Because a wiped hole scores zero rather than wrecking the card, it keeps higher handicaps in the game and play moving. Best ball runs with teams of three or more; a group seats up to four players, so a full team can play and score together. At home in a casual outing or a league team round.
Variations¶
- Counting scores. By default the side's single best Stableford score counts each hole (best ball). A competition can instead count the best 2, best 3, or all 4 of a four-player side; the handicap allowance tracks the choice per USGA Appendix C — best 1 → 75%, best 2 → 85%, best 3 or all 4 → 100%.
- Team size. Three or four to a side is typical; with more players the team's best points climb, so countback decides more often.
- Gross or net. Score the points off gross for a scratch result, or apply the handicap allowance (see Counting scores) and score off net.
- For the stroke version see Best ball · Stroke. For the two-player game it grows out of, see Better ball · Stableford.
Last updated: 2026-05-07