Quota gives every player a personal target based on their handicap, then awards points for how you score on each hole: 8 for eagle, 4 for birdie, 2 for par, 1 for bogey, 0 for double bogey or worse. Beat your target and you're in the money. Fall short and you're paying. It's also called Chicago, Point Quota, or just "the points game" depending on where you play.
Quota is one of the few golf betting games that works equally well for a Saturday morning threesome and a 30-player club outing. Everyone plays their own ball, everyone chases their own number, and the handicap system makes it genuinely fair. A 20-handicap player beating their target by 5 points wins the same amount as a scratch player beating theirs by 5.
Your Target: 36 Minus Your Handicap
The formula is simple: take 36 and subtract your course handicap. That's your quota — the number of points you need to earn across 18 holes to break even.
| Player | Handicap | Quota | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin | 5 | 31 | Needs 31 points. All pars = 36. He's expected to beat quota by 5. |
| Jason | 12 | 24 | Needs 24 points. Has more room — a few bogeys won't kill him. |
| Evan | 20 | 16 | Needs 16 points. Eight pars gets him there. |
| Todd | 28 | 8 | Needs 8 points. Four pars or two birdies and he's done. |
Why 36? On a par-72 course, if you par every hole you earn 2 points each — 36 total. A scratch golfer is expected to shoot around par, so their target is 36. Everyone else gets a lower target proportional to their handicap.
Some groups use 39 instead of 36 — that's the Chicago variant. It makes the game harder because now a scratch player needs 39 points (better than all pars) to break even. Stick supports both: toggle between Standard (36) and Chicago (39) before the round.
The Point System
Points are based on your gross score relative to par. No handicap strokes per hole — your handicap is already factored into your target.
| Score | Points |
|---|---|
| Eagle or better | 8 |
| Birdie | 4 |
| Par | 2 |
| Bogey | 1 |
| Double bogey | 0 |
| Triple bogey or worse | 0 (or -1 in penalty mode) |
A gross 3 on a par 5 is an eagle (8 points). A gross 3 on a par 4 is a birdie (4 points). The engine is par-aware — same score, different points depending on the hole.
Double bogey or worse gives you nothing. That's actually a feature: once you're at double, you can pick up and move to the next tee. No need to finish the hole. In most other formats, picking up means a penalty. In Quota, it just means zero points and zero damage to your mood.
Stick also offers a penalty mode toggle: when enabled, triple bogey or worse costs you -1 point instead of 0. Adds a sting to blow-up holes for groups that want more accountability.
And the eagle points are configurable too: standard gives 8 (double a birdie), while modified gives 6 (flatter scale that reduces the luck factor on a single great hole). Four total configurations across these two toggles.
How Handicaps Work (This Is Different)
Here's where Quota is unlike every other game in Stick. In Nassau, Skins, or Wolf, your handicap gives you strokes on specific holes — a gross bogey on a stroke hole becomes a net par. Quota doesn't do that.
In Quota, every player scores gross. A bogey is a bogey is a bogey — 1 point, no matter who you are or what hole you're on. The fairness comes entirely from the target. Justin (5 handicap) needs to earn 31 points. Todd (28 handicap) needs to earn 8. They're both earning gross points on every hole, but their bars are set at completely different heights.
This design has a practical benefit: there's no arguing about which holes someone gets strokes on. No "wait, do I get a stroke here?" conversations. Everyone tracks the same thing — gross score, points, running total vs. quota. It's cleaner.
Track Quota automatically with Stick — points calculated on every hole, running differential updated in real time, pairwise settlement at the end. Download on the App Store →
A Full Round Walkthrough
Justin (5 handicap, quota 31), Jason (12 handicap, quota 24), Evan (20 handicap, quota 16). Playing $2 per point of differential.
Here are 6 holes to show how the math works:
| Hole | Par | Justin Gross (Pts) | Jason Gross (Pts) | Evan Gross (Pts) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 (2) | 5 (1) | 6 (0) |
| 2 | 3 | 3 (2) | 3 (2) | 4 (1) |
| 3 | 5 | 4 (4) | 5 (2) | 7 (0) |
| 4 | 4 | 5 (1) | 4 (2) | 5 (1) |
| 5 | 4 | 3 (4) | 5 (1) | 6 (0) |
| 6 | 3 | 4 (1) | 3 (2) | 5 (0) |
After 6 holes:
- Justin: 14 points (needs 31 → 17 more from 12 holes)
- Jason: 10 points (needs 24 → 14 more from 12 holes)
- Evan: 2 points (needs 16 → 14 more from 12 holes)
Justin's birdie on hole 3 (a par-5 eagle attempt that came up short — still a birdie for 4 points) and another on hole 5 are carrying him. Evan's in trouble with three 0-point holes already, but the beauty of Quota is that he only needs 14 more points from 12 holes. Seven pars gets him there.
Settlement
Pairwise differential. Each pair of players settles independently based on the difference between their differentials (total points minus quota).
Full 18-hole example at $2 per point:
| Player | Handicap | Quota | Total Points | Differential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin | 5 | 31 | 34 | +3 |
| Jason | 12 | 24 | 26 | +2 |
| Evan | 20 | 16 | 13 | -3 |
Three settlement lines:
Justin vs Jason: differentials +3 vs +2 = 1 point gap. Jason pays Justin $2. Justin vs Evan: differentials +3 vs -3 = 6 point gap. Evan pays Justin $12. Jason vs Evan: differentials +2 vs -3 = 5 point gap. Evan pays Jason $10.
Net: Justin +$14, Jason +$8, Evan -$22. Zero-sum.
Notice it's the differential that matters, not total points. Learn how settlement works with handicap targets. Justin earned 34 points and Jason earned 26, but they only settle by 1 point ($2) because their handicap-adjusted targets are different. That's the whole point of the quota system — it levels the field.
Why Quota Works for Large Groups
Most golf betting games cap at 3 or 4 players. Quota doesn't. Twenty players across five foursomes? Everyone plays their own round, earns their own points, and settles based on differential. The guy in Group 1 is competing directly against the woman in Group 5 without ever seeing each other's shots.
This is why Quota is the default format for golf outings, leagues, and charity tournaments. It's why Justin's Wednesday group at the club runs it for 20-30 players every week.
For bigger groups, some clubs use a pot model instead of pairwise settlement: everyone puts in $10, and the top 3 differentials split the pot. Stick uses pairwise (each pair settles independently), which works well up to about 10 players. For larger events, a pot model is on the roadmap.
Quota vs Stableford: What's the Difference?
Golfers confuse these constantly because they use similar point values. The difference is fundamental:
Stableford applies your handicap per-hole (you get strokes on specific holes), then awards points based on your net score. A gross bogey on a stroke hole becomes a net par, worth net-par points. There's no personal target — highest total points wins.
Quota uses your handicap only to set a target. Every score is gross. A bogey is 1 point for everyone, everywhere. The winner isn't the person with the most points — it's the person who beats their target by the most.
The practical difference: in Stableford, a high-handicapper gets strokes that convert gross bogeys into net pars. In Quota, a gross bogey is always 1 point, but the high-handicapper has a much lower target to beat. Same fairness, different mechanism. Quota is simpler to track because there's no hole-by-hole stroke adjustment — just gross score and points.
Modified Stableford is a different format entirely — it uses a more aggressive point scale with negative values for bogey and worse (the PGA Tour uses it at the Barracuda Championship). Stick's engine is architecturally ready for custom point scales, but V1 uses the traditional Quota scale.
Variations
Chicago (39-base). Uses 39 minus handicap instead of 36. A scratch golfer needs 39 points to break even — better than all pars. Makes the game harder across the board. Toggle this in Stick's config before the round. Some groups use 38 as a middle ground, but 36 and 39 are the two standard options.
Eagle point adjustment. Standard gives eagles 8 points (double a birdie). Modified gives 6. If your group thinks one lucky eagle shouldn't be worth two birdies, switch to the flatter scale.
Triple bogey penalty. Default is 0 points for double bogey or worse. Turn on penalty mode and triple bogey or worse costs -1. Adds consequences for blow-up holes beyond just the lost opportunity.
Team Quota. For 2-person or 4-person team events, add each player's quota to get a team target, then add their individual points to get a team score. Stick tracks individual Quota — team aggregation is something organizers handle.
Skins alongside Quota. Very common in weekly club games. Quota for the overall competition, Skins for hole-by-hole drama. Run them as separate games in the same Stick round.
Junk alongside Quota. Greenies, sandies, barkies on top of the points game. Also tracked as a separate game in Stick.
Dynamic quota adjustment. In leagues that play weekly, some groups adjust quotas after each round — if you beat your quota by 5, your quota goes up by 2-3 next week. Keeps the game competitive as players improve. Not automated in Stick, but easy to adjust handicaps manually between rounds.
Strategy
Quota has a psychology that's different from stroke play or Match Play. A triple bogey in stroke play can ruin your round. In Quota, a triple bogey is 0 points (or -1 in penalty mode) and the next tee is a fresh start. That mental reset is the game's best feature.
Consistency over heroics. A steady stream of pars (2 points each) is worth more than one birdie (4 points) followed by a double bogey (0 points). The math: par-par = 4 points, birdie-double = 4 points. Same total, but the birdie-double scenario is higher variance and harder to sustain.
Know your number at the turn. Check your running total against your quota at hole 9. If you're on track or ahead, keep doing what you're doing. If you're behind, you know how many points per hole you need on the back nine — and that might change how aggressively you play.
Pick up at double bogey. This isn't quitting — it's strategy. Once you're at double bogey, continuing costs you time and mental energy for 0 additional points. Pick up, reset, and focus on the next hole. Experienced Quota players do this routinely.
Eagles are worth chasing. At 8 points, a single eagle is worth four pars. If you're on a reachable par 5 and the risk is manageable, go for it. The reward-to-risk ratio in Quota favors aggression on par 5s more than any other format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Quota in golf?
Quota is a points-based golf betting game where each player gets a personal target (quota) based on their handicap: 36 minus your course handicap. You earn points on every hole — eagle = 8, birdie = 4, par = 2, bogey = 1, double bogey or worse = 0. Beat your target and you win the difference against other players. Also called Chicago or Point Quota.
Is Chicago the same as Quota?
Yes — Chicago and Quota refer to the same game. The one difference: "Chicago" sometimes specifically means using 39 as the base instead of 36 (making the target harder). Some groups use "Chicago" and "Quota" interchangeably regardless of the base number. Stick supports both: toggle between Standard (36) and Chicago (39) before the round.
How do you calculate your quota in golf?
Subtract your course handicap from 36 (or 39 for the Chicago variant). A 10-handicap has a quota of 26. A 20-handicap has a quota of 16. A scratch golfer has a quota of 36. On a par-72 course, all pars earn 36 points — so a scratch player hitting their quota means they played to their handicap.
What's the difference between Quota and Stableford?
Stableford applies handicap strokes per-hole and awards points based on net score. Quota uses gross scores (no per-hole strokes) and applies the handicap only to set a personal target. Both use similar point values, but the mechanism is different. Quota is simpler to track because there's no hole-by-hole stroke adjustment — just gross score and points.
How do you settle Quota?
Each pair of players settles based on the difference between their differentials (points above or below quota). If Justin finishes at +3 and Jason at -2, that's a 5-point gap. At $2 per point, Jason pays Justin $10. Run this calculation for every pair in the group. The result is always zero-sum — every dollar won is a dollar lost.
Can you play Quota with a large group?
Yes — Quota works for any number of players. Everyone plays their own ball and earns gross points independently. A 30-player outing across 8 foursomes can rank all players on one leaderboard by differential. It's why Quota is the default format for golf outings, leagues, and charity tournaments.
What is Chicago 39 in golf?
Chicago 39 uses 39 minus handicap instead of the standard 36. It makes the target harder for everyone — a scratch golfer needs 39 points (better than all pars) instead of 36. Some groups prefer the extra challenge. Stick lets you toggle between 36 and 39 before the round.
Should I pick up after double bogey in Quota?
Yes. Double bogey earns 0 points, and anything worse also earns 0 (or -1 in penalty mode). Continuing to play the hole costs time and energy for no additional points. Experienced Quota players pick up at double and reset mentally for the next tee. It's not giving up — it's smart play.
Track Quota with Stick
Quota seems simple until you're standing on the 15th tee trying to remember whether you need 6 or 8 more points to beat your number. Stick calculates points on every hole, tracks your running differential against quota, shows you exactly where you stand relative to everyone else, and settles pairwise with a line-item breakdown at the end.