Change the allowance, format or hole data
Every affected result is recalculated from the reviewed scores. The scores themselves are untouched: they are what was written on the card, and changing a rule does not change what somebody shot.
The maths, done the same way every time
Once the scores are checked, the maths should be the boring part. Strokes received, points against par, the allowance, the format, ties and countback, applied identically every week.
Try it
Change something and watch it rebuild
The table below is computed by the same functions that score a real competition. Two of these players finish level, and countback separates them without anyone intervening.
Format
Handicap allowance
One result per player.
| # | Player | Plays off | Points | Back 9 | Back 6 | Back 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T. Bhengu | 8 | 35 | 17 | 12 | 6 |
| T2 | A. Fourie | 13 | 33 | 16 | 10 | 5 |
| T3 | S. Dlamini | 10 | 33 | 15 | 9 | 5 |
| 4 | P. Nel | 17 | 27 | 13 | 9 | 4 |
Two results are level on points. Countback has separated them on the back nine, and the ranks are marked so nobody has to wonder why.
Points, playing handicaps, countback and ranks come from src/lib/scoring — the production engine, not a lookup table.
The maths
How a Stableford point is arrived at
Written out in full, because a committee should be able to check it by hand for any one hole.
1. The playing handicap
The exact handicap is multiplied by the competition allowance and rounded half away from zero. At a 95% allowance, an exact 14 becomes 13.3 and therefore a playing handicap of 13. An exact 11 becomes 10.45 and therefore 10.
2. Strokes received on each hole
A playing handicap of 13 over 18 holes gives one stroke on each of the thirteen hardest holes — those with stroke index 1 to 13 — and none on the other five. A handicap above 18 gives a stroke everywhere and a second stroke on the hardest holes. A plus-handicap gives strokes back, starting at the easiest hole.
3. Points for the hole
Points are par + strokes received − gross + 2, and never below zero. A net par is 2 points, a net birdie 3, a net bogey 1, and a net double bogey or worse is 0.
So a 5 on a par 4 where you receive a stroke is a net par: 4 + 1 − 5 + 2 = 2 points.
4. The format decides what counts
Individual Stableford totals one player's points. A four-ball alliance takes the best one, two, three or four scores in the group on each hole. Better ball takes the higher of a pair on each hole. Combined Stableford adds everyone in the group on every hole.
Live in the productLive in the product
Ties
Countback, and what happens when countback runs out
The standard sequence, applied consistently, and marked on the board when it decides something.
| Step | Over 18 holes | Over 9 holes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Last nine | Holes 10 to 18 | All nine |
| 2. Last six | Holes 13 to 18 | Holes 4 to 9 |
| 3. Last three | Holes 16 to 18 | Holes 7 to 9 |
| 4. Last hole | Hole 18 | Hole 9 |
If they are still level after all four.
They share the rank, and the next rank is skipped. Two players tied for first are both shown as first, and the next player is third. The board marks any result where countback did the separating, so nobody has to wonder why one player sits above another on the same points.
Live in the productLive in the product
Changing your mind
Nothing is retyped when the rules change
Committees revise the allowance more often than they would admit, and somebody always notices a wrong stroke index halfway through.
Correct a score after publishing
The result rebuilds and the correction joins the audit trail. The record shows what changed and who changed it, which is what a query weeks later actually needs.
The output
What you can take away
Every competition exports in full.
| player | playing_handicap | h1 | h1_pts | … | h18 | h18_pts | gross | points | back9 | back6 | back3 | last | rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T. Bhengu | 8 | 4 | 3 | … | 5 | 2 | 81 | 35 | 17 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| A. Fourie | 13 | 5 | 2 | … | 5 | 2 | 88 | 33 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| S. Dlamini | 10 | 4 | 3 | … | 5 | 2 | 85 | 33 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| P. Nel | 17 | 5 | 2 | … | 6 | 1 | 98 | 27 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
Every hole, both totals, all four countback figures and the rank. If you ever leave, you leave with your records.
The real export's columns, in the real order.
Live in the product
Questions
About formats and handicaps
Can we apply a handicap allowance?
Yes, as a percentage across the competition, with the common ones a tap away. The playing handicap is calculated from the exact handicap and the allowance, rounded half away from zero, and the leaderboard shows what each player is playing off.
Change the allowance after cards are in and every result is recalculated. You do not re-enter anything.
How are ties broken?
By countback, in the standard sequence: the last nine, then the last six, then the last three, then the last hole.
If two players or teams are still exactly level after all four, they share the rank and the next rank is skipped, so two players tied on first are both shown as first and the next is third. The leaderboard marks a result where countback did the separating, so nobody has to wonder why one player is above another on the same points.
Which competition formats are supported?
Four, each with its rules, rounding and countback behaviour covered by automated tests: individual Stableford, four-ball alliance, two-ball alliance (better ball) and combined Stableford.
For the alliance format you choose how many scores count on each hole, from one to four. The handicap allowance percentage is adjustable per competition, so a format played off 85% is scored off 85%.
If your club plays a format that is not on the list, ask: formats are added on request, and we only list one publicly once its behaviour is under test, because a format that is nearly right is worse than one we do not offer.
Do we have to set up the course every time?
No, and often you do not have to set it up at all. ScribbleScore reads the printed par and stroke index rows off the card itself.
If you have not told it which course you are playing, it takes the layout from the card. If you have set a course up and the card disagrees with it, it shows you both and asks once which is right, rather than asking again on every card in the pile.
Is ScribbleScore connected to HNA or GolfRSA?
No, and we are careful about how we describe this. GolfRSA is the official World Handicap System authority in South Africa and HNA operates the technology behind it. They hold the official handicap relationship with the golfer, and they calculate the official Handicap Index.
ScribbleScore works alongside that. It runs an HNA-compatible workflow: it uses the handicaps you give it to score your competition, and it produces a reviewed record of what was played. It does not submit scores for official handicap purposes, it does not calculate an official Handicap Index, and it is not integrated with HNA.
Related