Mastering the Golf Scramble: Tips, Rules, and Strategies for Success
By Kyle Moss
The golf scramble is a popular golf game for both casual rounds and golf tournaments, due to its ability to include players of varying skill levels and for its overall relaxed nature. Unlike traditional stroke play, where each golfer plays their ball from tee to green, the golf scramble is a team-based game that emphasizes strategic collaboration and camaraderie.
At its core, a scramble golf format involves teams of two or four golfers (or more) all hitting a tee shot. The team then collectively decides which of these shots is the most advantageous, and from the spot of that selected shot, all team members then play their second shot. This process of selecting the best shot and having the entire team play from that location continues until the ball is holed. Only one team’s score is recorded for each hole.
This is not to be confused with best ball, which is another popular format among serious and casual golfers that involves everyone playing their ball, but only one ball — the one with the best score — counts toward the team score on each hole.
A scramble round format is particularly popular for charity events and corporate outings because it improves pace of play, and minimizes individual pressure by allowing less experienced golfers to contribute to the team’s success without the stress of playing every shot from potentially difficult lies.
The scramble format could be a great way to amp up the fun at your next tee time. So here is a look at the rules of the golf scramble, and how to play other variations of the format as well.
The Rules of the Game: How to Play a Scramble
While there are no universally mandated golf scramble rules, a standard set of guidelines is widely followed for most scrambles. The scramble tournament or event organizers may introduce minor alterations, so it’s always wise to check the specific golf rules for that day before teeing off.
The Tee Shot
On the tee boxes, every player on the team tees off on each hole. This is a key moment for strategy, as teams will want to ensure at least one ball is in a good position in the fairway. A common plan may include any good golfer or the longest hitter in the group teeing off last, and either trying to hit the fairway or attempting to bomb it further down, depending on what the other players in the group have done.
Shot Selection and Ball Placement
After all team members have hit their tee shots, the team walks or drives to the locations of the balls. They then decide which single ball is in the best position to play the next shot from. This decision is usually based on a combination of factors, including the ball with the best lie, the clearest line to the green, and the most favorable distance.
Once the best shot is selected, its position is marked, typically with a tee or a ball marker. All other team members then pick up their balls and place them within one club length of the marked spot, but no closer to the hole. A common rule is that the ball must be placed in the same condition of the ground the original shot. For example, if the selected ball is in the rough, all players must play from the same spot or a similar spot in the rough.
On the putting green, the process is similar. The best putt is selected, and the other team members then place their balls within one putter-head length of that spot to attempt their putts. How far away the putt is can determine when to let the best putter in the group attempt the shot.
Scoring
Before heading to the next hole, a single score is recorded for the team on each hole for the full round. This is the total number of strokes taken from the best-shot positions until the ball is holed. The team with the lowest total score at the end of the round wins.
Handicaps
In some scrambles, team handicaps are used to level the playing field. The method for calculating a team handicap can vary, but it often involves a percentage, to create a team total that is then subtracted from the gross score.
Popular Scramble Variations
To add an extra layer of strategy and excitement at the golf course, several variations of the scramble format have emerged. Here are some of the most common:
Texas Scramble
The Texas Scramble follows the basic scramble rules with one significant addition: a minimum number of drives from each team member must be used throughout the round. For example, in four-player teams, the rules might require that at least four drives from every player are selected during the 18 holes. This prevents a team from relying solely on the drives of their longest or most accurate player, and ensures that high handicap players contribute to a team’s tee shots just as much as those players with good handicaps.
Florida Scramble (or Step Aside Scramble)
In a Florida Scramble, the player whose shot is selected “steps aside” and does not play the following stroke. For instance, if Player A’s drive is chosen as the best, Players B, C, and D will all hit their second shots from that spot, but Player A will not. This rotation continues for each subsequent shot until the ball is holed. This variation ensures that different players are contributing to each shot on a hole.
Las Vegas Scramble
This Las Vegas Scramble introduces an element of chance. Before the round, each player on a four-person team is assigned a number from one to four. After all players have teed off on a hole, a six-sided die is rolled. If the die shows a 1, 2, 3, or 4, the team must use the tee shot of the corresponding player. If a 5 or 6 is rolled, the team can choose the best tee shot among the four. This adds a constant flow of fun and brings an unpredictable twist to the game.
Bramble
The Bramble is a hybrid format that combines a scramble off the tee with individual stroke play for the remainder of the hole. All players hit a tee shot, and the best drive is selected. From that point, each player plays their ball for the approach shots and so on until they hole out. The team’s score for the hole is typically the lowest score among the individual team members, although variations exist where the two best scores are counted. This format allows for team collaboration on the drive while still incorporating an element of individual play.
