The dirty point. It might be the most satisfying expression of how deeply Stableford can transform that most boring phase of the game: putting. The dirty point isn’t the only improvement for putting. There’s also the clarity of match-putting–where a savvy lag does you no good and you have to play for contact.
But the dirty point is maybe the most satisfying stroke in the format, because it means it was your last stroke you could score on, and you did. Yes, the possession so far was ugly. Yes, your ball touched both bark and sand in its hideous, shambolic journey. But a member bounce and a legit sand splash later, here you are with the chance to still card a point, to do something productive with the possession.
It sounds obvious perhaps but it’s the deepest thing I can say about the format: when you switch to Stableford you never stand over a boring putt. You’re recruited, keen-eyed and engaged, every time because there’s a point to be scored, and the best are almost always dirty.