The Quota System and the Stableford System are two common methods for tournament scoring. In the Quota System a player is given a quota equal to 36 minus his handicap (e.g., a 15 handicap would have a quota of 21). As shown in the table below, a player earns points based on his gross score on each hole. A player’s tournament score is the total of points earned minus his quota. For example, if a player earned 24 points with a quota of 21, his tournament score would be +3. In the Stableford System, a player earns points on his net score as shown in the table. The total number of points earned is his tournament score.
Table
Points
for Quota System and Stableford System
Quota
System
|
Stableford
System
|
||
Gross Double Eagle
|
5
|
Net Double Eagle
|
5
|
Gross Eagle
|
4
|
Net Eagle
|
4
|
Gross Birdie
|
3
|
Net Birdie
|
3
|
Gross Par
|
2
|
Net Par
|
2
|
Gross Bogey
|
1
|
Net Bogey
|
1
|
Gross Double Bogey
|
0
|
Net Double Bogey
|
0
|
It would seem a system based on gross
scores would not necessarily produce the same winners as one based on net
scores. A closer analysis reveals that is not the case except in one
instance. (For simplicity, eagles and double eagles have been
excluded from the proof.)
The Quota System is described by:
Eq. 1)
Q= 3∙(Xs + Xn) + 2∙ (Ps +
Pn) +1∙(Bs +Bn) – (36-H)
Where,
Q= Quota Score
Xs = Number of Birdies
on stroke holes
Xn = Number of Birdies
on non-stroke holes
Ps = Number of Pars on
stroke holes
Pn = Number of Pars on
non-stroke holes
Bs = Number of Bogeys
on stroke holes
Bn = Number of Bogeys
on non-stroke holes
The Stableford System is described by:
Eq. 2)
S = 4∙Xs + 3∙Xn + 3∙Ps +2∙Pn +
2∙Bs + 1∙Bn + 1∙Ds + 0∙Dn
+ 0∙Ts
Where,
S
= Stableford Score
Ds
= Number of Double Bogeys on
stroke hole
Dn
= Number of Double Bogeys on non-stroke hole
Ts
= Number of Triple Bogeys on stroke holes
Now a player’s handicap must equal:
Eq. 3)
H = Xs +Ps + Bs +
Ds +Ts
Substituting equation 3) into equation
2 a player's Stableford Score is:
Eq. 4)
S = H + 3∙Xs + 3Xn + 2∙Ps +
2∙Pn + 1∙Bs +1∙Bn + 1∙Ds + 0∙Dn
+ 0∙Ts
The difference between a player's
Stableford score and his Quota score is shown in equation 5):
Eq.
5) S – Q = H + 3∙(Xs + Xn) 2∙(Ps +
Pn) + 1∙(Bs +Bn) – (3∙(Xs +Xn)
+ 2∙(Ps + Pn) + 1∙(Bs +Bn)
+ 1∙Ds +
Ts - (36 –
H)
=
36 - Ts
In summary, a player’s Stableford
score will be 36 points higher than his Quota score minus the number of holes
where a player scored a triple bogey on a stroke hole. The appendix gives an example that includes
the case where a player’s score is his adjusted gross score minus his
handicap. Where no player scores a
triple bogey with a stroke (i.e., Ts=0) all three scoring system
yield the same order of finish and margin of victory.
When one player has a triple bogey
instead of a double bogey on a stroke hole stroke (player D on the par 4 ninth
hole), his Quota score remains
unchanged. His Stableford score is
reduced by one point and his adjusted score minus his handicap is increased by
one. The Quota System gives a slight
edge to players more likely to have a triple bogey.
Which scoring system should be preferred? Since a player must post his adjusted score,
a player’s adjusted score minus his handicap would seem to be the
simplest. Under the World Handicap
system, the Adjusted score minus handicap will always produce the same results
as the Stableford System. A player’s
adjusted score on a par 72 course is ((72 + (36-Stableford Points) + Handicap).
Therefore, the Stableford System is acceptable since it is easy to use and
generates a players adjusted score. It
is not possible to translate a Quota Score to a player’s adjusted score. This means a player should also keep his
adjusted score as well as his Quota Score. Having to keep two sets of scores
should eliminate the Quota System from consideration.
Appendix
Scores Without Triple Bogeys with a
Stroke
Adjusted Score –
Course Handicap
P
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
Tot
|
Score
|
A(8)
|
5*
|
4
|
5*
|
5*
|
6*
|
5*
|
4*
|
6*
|
5*
|
45
|
37
|
B(6)
|
5*
|
4
|
5*
|
3
|
5*
|
4
|
5*
|
5*
|
5*
|
41
|
35
|
C(6)
|
5*
|
5
|
6*
|
3
|
5*
|
6
|
4*
|
6*
|
4*
|
44
|
38
|
D(7)
|
5*
|
4
|
6*
|
2
|
5*
|
3*
|
4*
|
6*
|
6*
|
41
|
34
|
S
Stableford
P(H)
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
Score
|
A(8)
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
17
|
B(6)
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
19
|
C(6)
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
16
|
D(7)
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
0 | 20 |
Quota
P(H)
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
Score
|
A(8)
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
9-10=-1
|
B(6)
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
13-12-=1
|
C(6)
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
10-12=-2
|
D(7)
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
13-11=2
|
Scores with Triple Bogeys with a Stroke
(Player D on hole No. 9)
Adjusted Score –
Course Handicap
P(H)
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
Tot
|
Score
|
A(8)
|
5*
|
4
|
5*
|
5*
|
6*
|
5*
|
4*
|
6*
|
5*
|
45
|
37
|
B(6)
|
5*
|
4
|
5*
|
3
|
5*
|
4
|
5*
|
5*
|
5*
|
41
|
35
|
C(6)
|
5*
|
5
|
6*
|
3
|
5*
|
6
|
4*
|
6*
|
4*
|
44
|
38
|
D(7)
|
5*
|
4
|
6*
|
2
|
5*
|
3*
|
4*
|
6*
|
7*
|
42
|
35
|
Stableford
Stableford
P(H)
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
Score
|
A(8)
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
17
|
B(6)
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
19
|
C(6)
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
16
|
D(7)
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
19
|
Quota
P(H)
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
Score
|
A(8)
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
9-10=-1
|
B(6)
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
13-12=1
|
C(6)
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
10-12=-2
|
D(7)
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
13-11=2
|
It should be worth noting that the rank order might not be the same if using the Modified Stableford Scoring System, since the scoring is not linear. The scoring system for MSS is:
ReplyDelete• Double Eagle: 8 points
• Eagle: 5 points
• Birdie: 2 points
• Par: 0 points
• Bogey: -1 point
• Double Bogey or more: -3 points
We frequently play in groups of 3 somes and 4 somes and play a “team quota” . At the end of the matches, should we divide by 3 or 4 to determine winners or use the actual + or - from total quota?
ReplyDeleteGlad to chat your blog, I seem to be forward to more reliable articles and I think we all wish to thank so many good articles, blog to share with us. Grumpy Gopher
ReplyDeleteI would use the “team average” in deciding a winner. Under the World Handicap System, a player has about a 20 percent chance of having a positive quota score—i.e., having a net score below par. Therefore, on average, a foursome would have a lower team score than a threesome. For example, assume all players have a symmetrical quota score distribution with a mean of -2. The average team quota score from a large sample of threesomes would be -6. The average team quota score for a large sample of foursoursomes would be -8. That is, adding a fourth player decreases the team quota score. If the team score is adjusted by the number of players, the average team score would be -2 for both threesomes and foursomes which would be fair.
ReplyDeleteSince net scores vary widely, the bias against foursomes may not be apparent in small samples. You might want to keep track of individual quota scores to see if the assumption about the average quota score is valid for your group.
the beauty of quota... the quota is the handicap so no one gets strokes on any hole. So no need to announce on each tee "Bob, you get a stroke here". As such, it doesn't matter which holes you play well on... just that you throw in your needed pars and bogeys (and bonus birdies) throughout the round. With stableford, you get strokes on given holes based on your handicap so if you play well on a stroke hole it's a significant bonus. I'm a mid handicap and play with many high handicappers.... I never once believe that they cannot par any given hole... I just know that over the course of the round they'll have less pars than me. That's why quota is the way to go as the great equalizer.
ReplyDeleteIf playing a money game... consider each one throws in a predetermined amount. Front and back nine high points minus 1/2 quota gets their money back. The high points minus full quota after 18 gets remainder of the pot.
I do not believe playing well on a stroke hole yields a significant bonus. Assume a player has a 3 and a 6 on two par four holes. If he gets a stroke on the first hole, he earns 4 and 0 Stableford points. If he gets a stroke on the second hole, he earns 3 and 1 Stableford points. In both cases the player earns 4 Stableford points. The point of the article is that all scoring systems yield the same result (with the exception of triple bogey stroke holes). The Quota System does eliminate the need to know the Stroke Index Allocation but so does Adjusted Score Minus Handicap System. But if everyone is happy with the Quota System, by all means stick with it.
Delete