Average Stableford Score Across Field

[Mudguard]

Maybe more of a question for those that come under R&A umbrella. We are reasonably new club (well we moved courses) and are a year in. So we're still feeling out the course set up somewhat. We've had the course rated three times now in the year it's been open, the first two times for all five tees, and most recently for two sets of tees, which are the most commonly played.

Three of the four Saturdays per month are stableford competitions, with one medal per month. I am able to get access to all the scoring data but I want to know what the most meaningful statistic I should be looking for is.

We've had some very good scores winning (46-50 points) which is essentially 10-14 under one's handicap. Now this isn't a suggestion of sand bagging, far from it, each Saturday it's a new winner and their handicap will be affected by their low score. It's more the course set up, we have three holes in particular that are on the next tee forward, which have made two par fours reachable, one par five that I played most recently, 6i, 7i, 9i. That particular hole design aside, what should I look for, stableford average by 0-5, 6-10, 11-15 etc? A median score across the hole field?

[Halebopp]

The European Golf Association used to have an Annual Handicap Review that was based on median Stableford scores and might work as the best reference for you.

 

Handicap and expected Median score:

 

<4.5 --- 34

4.5 - 11.4 --- 32

11.5 - 18.4 --- 31

18.5 - 26.4 --- 30

26.5 - 36 --- 30

 

For us living up north with long winter breaks the expected median score across all categories was one point less.

 

If your median score was within 2.9 points of the expected value, your handicap stayed the same. For a 5 handicap that meant a range from 29.1 to 34.9 points. Your handicap would drop or increase by a shot or two depending how far outside of that range you were.

 

As for what kind of median scores there are for courses, I checked some of the most recent tournament/competition scores for three different courses earlier this year. One of the two courses at my club is nationally notorious for how difficult it is, the second course was the other course at my home club and the third one was a course at my old home club. The sample sizes are way too small

 

I had 365 scores for course #1, the median Stableford score was 27 points, average was 26.3 points with a range from 9 to 39 points. 5 rounds (1.4%) at 36 points or better.

 

The other course at my club had 400 scores, median being 28 points, average 28.4 points and a range of 10 to 41 points. 41 rounds (10%) at 36 points or better 1.5% of 40 points or more.

 

My old course had 581 scores, median was 30 points, average 29.6 and range from 12 to 44 points. 76 scores (13%) of 36 points or better, 2% of 40 points or more.

 

The general consensus is that the Slope and Course Rating are too low for the first course and the ratings for the third course are considered a joke. :)