Page type: Format comparison (two named formats)
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When each fits
Choose Nassau when you want three linked match-play contests—front nine, back nine and overall—with separately agreed stakes and handicap terms. Choose Stableford par when you want points against par, but first confirm that individual Stableford—not Par/Bogey—is intended and document its scoring and handicap basis.
Nassau in brief
Three linked matches: front nine, back nine and the overall 18-hole result.
Stableford par in brief
An ambiguous label usually intended to mean Stableford scored against par, not a separate official format.
Table
| Comparison | Nassau | Stableford par |
|---|---|---|
| One line | Three linked matches: front nine, back nine and the overall 18-hole result. | An ambiguous label usually intended to mean Stableford scored against par, not a separate official format. |
| Players | Minimum 2 in a head-to-head match; 4 is ideal for two sides, with 1v1 or 2v2 agreed in advance. | Minimum 1; ideal as an individual field of 2 or more. It can also be played by a side, but ‘Stableford par’ needs the Committee or group to define the format before play. |
| Scoring unit | Holes for each match segment; the front nine, back nine and overall 18-hole contests are tracked separately. | Stableford points per hole, normally awarded by comparing the player’s net or gross score with a fixed target, usually par. If the intended game is Par/Bogey, the unit is holes won, lost or halved instead. |
| Handicap method | For 1v1 match play, use the recommended 100% individual match-play allowance and give the full Playing Handicap difference from the lower player. For 2v2 better-ball/four-ball sides, the recommended allowance is 90% for four-ball; apply strokes within each side under the Terms of the Competition. Allowances are applied to unrounded Course Handicap when calculating Playing Handicap, not directly to Handicap Index. | For an individual Stableford competition, the WHS Appendix C recommended allowance is 95% applied to the unrounded Course Handicap as the final step in calculating Playing Handicap. For individual Par/Bogey it is also 95%. There is no separate evidenced WHS allowance called ‘Stableford par’; a hybrid or house game requires the Committee’s stated terms. |
| Money settles how | Agree one stake for each of the three contests before teeing off. Settle the front-nine, back-nine and overall bets separately at the agreed amount; presses or unequal values are optional house terms, not automatic Nassau rules. | No inherent money settlement. If players agree a stake, settle it using the pre-agreed basis, such as total points or a per-point amount; write that house rule down before starting. |
| Pace | Same to slightly slower than ordinary stroke play: playing the holes does not require extra shots, but recording three concurrent results and any agreed presses adds administration. | Often faster than ordinary stroke play when played as Stableford, because a player may stop a hole once the result will be zero points; this is a rules-based pace feature, not a measured time claim. |
| Best for | Two golfers or a foursome who want match-play pressure with three chances to win, while keeping an 18-hole result in play after a poor nine. | Groups wanting a forgiving points-based individual competition and a clear handicap framework, provided they state whether ‘par’ means Stableford’s usual target of par or the separate Par/Bogey form. |
| Weakness | Unagreed press rules and unclear handicap treatment can make the settlement confusing, especially when a 2v2 side is mixed with individual scoring. | The name is not sufficiently precise: Stableford and Par/Bogey use different scoring systems, so players can disagree about points, hole results, handicaps or settlement unless the terms are written first. |
Worked example
Illustrative inputs and selected terms, not historical results. For an agreed $2 singles Nassau with no presses, Alex wins the front nine, ties the back nine and wins the overall match: net +$4 for Alex and −$4 for Ben. On a par-4 hole, a score of 4 earns 2 points in ordinary Stableford or a tied-hole result in Par/Bogey. Confirm which meaning the label intends.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf Rule 3.2; Rule 21.1 and Rule 21.3; WHS Rules of Handicapping Appendix C
Sources: www.golfdigest.com , www.randa.org , www.randa.org , www.usga.org
Common questions
How do Nassau and Stableford par score differently?
For Nassau: Holes for each match segment; the front nine, back nine and overall 18-hole contests are tracked separately. For Stableford par: Stableford points per hole, normally awarded by comparing the player’s net or gross score with a fixed target, usually par. If the intended game is Par/Bogey, the unit is holes won, lost or halved instead.
How do handicaps apply in Nassau vs Stableford par?
Nassau: For 1v1 match play, use the recommended 100% individual match-play allowance and give the full Playing Handicap difference from the lower player. For 2v2 better-ball/four-ball sides, the recommended allowance is 90% for four-ball; apply strokes within each side under the Terms of the Competition. Allowances are applied to unrounded Course Handicap when calculating Playing Handicap, not directly to Handicap Index. Stableford par: For an individual Stableford competition, the WHS Appendix C recommended allowance is 95% applied to the unrounded Course Handicap as the final step in calculating Playing Handicap. For individual Par/Bogey it is also 95%. There is no separate evidenced WHS allowance called ‘Stableford par’; a hybrid or house game requires the Committee’s stated terms.
When should I choose Nassau instead of Stableford par?
Choose Nassau when you want three linked match-play contests—front nine, back nine and overall—with separately agreed stakes and handicap terms. Choose Stableford par when you want points against par, but first confirm that individual Stableford—not Par/Bogey—is intended and document its scoring and handicap basis.