What is the highest score I can count on a hole?

Once you have a Handicap Index: your maximum hole score is a net double bogey:

par of the hole + 2 + any handicap strokes you receive on that hole

(a plus-handicap player subtracts strokes given back). It is the lowest score that would earn zero Stableford points. You can apply it on as many holes as needed, and it uses your full Course Handicap, even if the competition limits your strokes.

Example: par 4, you get one stroke on the hole: maximum is 4 + 2 + 1 = 7.

Before you have a Handicap Index: the maximum is par + 5 on each hole.

If your Course Handicap is over 54 and you get 4 or more strokes on a hole, the maximum is par + 5.

Hole-by-hole score entry applies the adjustment automatically; if you enter a total, you must adjust it yourself.

Source: Rules of Handicapping (2024), Rule 3.1.