MIND / GAME ON M
This fun variation on Stableford is good for groups of any size BY CHRISTOPHER POWER Chicago, Chicago, You’re My Kinda Game
BEFORE GETTING INTO the nuances of Chicago, here is a quick refresher on Stableford
caps is 3. The goal is to rack up as many points as you can over your designated quota using this type of scoring system (or similar):
swinging. In a typical game, a pot is set before the round and the winner takes it all. However, you could pay out based on the quota tallies, assigning a value to each point. For example, a player finishing five points above the quota would get R50 from a player who only met his or her quota and R100 from a player who came up five points short of his or her quota. For larger groups, you could tally the quotas of fourballs and the high group splits the pot. You also could pay for second, third, etc. What happens if no one makes their quota? Well, that’s up to you. Chip off? VARIATIONS: Is 39 too much? Lower the benchmark to, say, 36. You also could “fine” players for not reaching their quotas. Adjust the scoring if you like. Birdies are worth 5 and triples minus-1. Get creative to spice it up even more. If you have another game or some on- course wagering you’d recommend, message me on Twitter/X @Cpowers14.
scoring (Rule 21.1). An eagle or two un- der a fixed score on any hole is worth four points. A birdie or one under is worth three. A par is two and a bogey one. Now let’s talk about Chicago, a game that puts a fun twist on that for- mat and is designed for players of all handicaps. NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Up to you. BEST FOR: Groups with varying skill lev- els, good scorekeepers, players who can avoid double bogey, players who like to go it alone . . . and birdie machines. HOW TO PLAY: All players are given a “quota” they must meet based on their handicap and a base number of 39. If your course handicap is a 1, for exam- ple, your “quota” would be 38 points (39-1=38). As a 10 handicap, your quota would be 29 points (39-10=29). As a 15, it’s 24 points. The minimum point to- tal for beginners or super-high handi-
EAGLE: 8 POINTS BIRDIE: 4 POINTS PAR: 2 POINTS BOGEY: 1 POINT
To further clarify scoring, let’s say a 10-handicap makes seven pars (14 points), two birdies (8 points), seven bogeys (7) and two double bogeys (0). That’s 29 points, so the quota was met. One less double bogey and that golfer would have gone over the quota, and that’s how to get in the money. The winner exceeds the quota by the most points. Keep in mind, the game is meant to be played using gross scores (not adjusted for handicaps). The rea- son why Chicago is great for players of all levels is because the quota makes winning realistic no matter who is
18 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JUNE 2025
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