Side game · 2–4 players
How to play Quota
Also called: quota points · point quota · chicago
Everyone gets a points target from their handicap. Beat your number by more than the next player beats theirs and you win.
The rules
- Each player’s quota is usually 36 minus their course handicap.
- Points per hole are Stableford-style: eagle 4, birdie 3, par 2, bogey 1, double or worse 0.
- Finish above your quota for a surplus; below it for a deficit.
- Players settle the difference between their surpluses at the unit value.
- A high handicap is not a disadvantage — the quota already accounts for it.
A worked example
Setup. Two players, $1 a point.
- A is a 10 handicap, so the quota is 26. A scores 28 points: +2.
- B is a 20 handicap, so the quota is 16. B scores 19 points: +3.
Result. B beats A by one point of surplus and collects $1. The 20 handicap beat the 10 on the day.
This is exactly how Bagpipe Golf settles it: hole by hole, zero-sum, no arguing at the 19th.
Variations and house rules
- Some clubs set quotas from a fixed table rather than 36 minus handicap. Adjust the handicaps at setup if your club differs.
- Others play gross quota for a scratch field. The points table is the same.
How it works in the app
- Add Quota at setup with a unit value.
- Quotas are computed from each player’s course handicap — check they look right before you start.
- The live screen shows each player against their own number, not against each other.
Quota FAQ
- Where does 36 come from?
- A scratch golfer shooting par on every hole scores 36 Stableford points. Subtracting the handicap gives everyone a target they should hit playing to their ability.
- What if everyone misses their quota?
- Then the smallest deficit wins. The settlement is on the difference between surpluses, so negative numbers work the same way.