Scramble Golf is basically the easiest and most popular team format of golf, which you can find there are casual rounds, business competitions, and charity fundraisers happening all over the globe on a regular basis. Most people in a golf scramble, which is the most common type of team play in golf, are under the impression that they can still play individually, but this is not the case; the play is done as a team. A golf scramble works in this manner: Every player takes a shot, the team chooses the best ball, and all the players play from that spot. Until the hole is completed, you continue in this manner. In this approach, everyone has an opportunity to support the team and the game progresses more quickly.
This article will provide a complete list of the standard golf scramble rules for tournament play as well as the many variations that may exist.
Golf Scramble Rules
Scramble Golf event rules are mostly straightforward and uncomplicated, though some minor local variations do exist. Technically, the format is seen as an alternative by the world governing bodies, but it is based upon the spirit of the USGA Rules of Golf for play from hazards, out of bounds, etc. Here are the fundamentals you would want to know about Golf Scramble Rules.
The Tee Shot
Every player on your team will tee off, no matter the skill level. Once all balls have been hit, the team would walk out and decide which ball is in the best position (i.e. longest, or safest, or best angle to the pin). After agreement and selection of the best ball, all other players on the team would pick their ball up.
Shot Selection and Ball Placement
This is where the format gets its name. After selecting the best ball:
- Placement: All players in the team (not including the player whose ball was determined) will drop/place their ball within one club length of the location of the best ball. You would not usually alter the type of playing surface (i.e. you could not move a ball from the rough to the fairway, or onto the green from the rough if that best ball happened to be in the rough).
- Order: The player whose shot was selected typically plays last from the new location. This way they can see their teammates hit before they hit their shot.
- Green: Once the ball is on the green, you will usually be able to place the ball within one putter-head length of the location of the best ball, the ball must be placed on the green, and not dropped.
Scoring
In a Scramble event, the team keeps one score marker with respect to the hole which uses the last ball that was holed as the score.
Real-World Example: On a Par 4:
- Shot 1 (Tee): Player B hits the longest drive. The team picks B’s spot.
- Shot 2 (Fairway): Everyone hits from B’s spot. Player C hits the approach shot closest to the pin. The team picks C’s spot.
- Shot 3 (Green): Everyone putts from C’s spot. Player A sinks the putt.
- The Team Score is 3 (a Birdie).
Thus, low scores and high spirits! If you want to review the base you can check Golf Scoring Terms.
Handicaps
Golf Scramble Rules will use a modified handicap to establish parity among the teams in the event. Each player does not use their own handicap, the team has a team handicap, usually calculated based on the handicaps of the other players on the team.
- A typical team rule, for example, on a team of 4 would be as follows, Player A gets 10% of their handicap, Player B gets 20%, Player C gets 30%, Player D gets 40%.
- The resulting number is the team’s allowance subtracted from the final gross score.
(If you need help figuring out your own index, you can use a quick handicap estimator or learn how to calculate golf handicap.)
Player Rotation / Minimum Drives Rule
To promote fair play and contributions from all players in a scramble tournament, there are many times a minimum drives rule in place.
- For a standard 18-hole round, a rule stating each player must contribute a minimum of four (or three) tee shots for the team to select as the best ball may be in place.
- A team will need to keep track of the player used in the scorecard to meet this minimum drives rule at the end of the round. This is an important rule to ensure the game is a team effort.
Scramble Golf Rules at a Glance (Summary Table)
| Rule | Typical Application / Example |
|---|---|
| Tee Shot | Everyone hits their ball from the tee. The team collectively decides on the best shot, usually based on distance or position. |
| Ball Placement | After selecting the best ball, players drop their ball within one club length of that spot (no changing surfaces, like moving from rough to fairway). |
| Order of Play | The player whose shot was chosen hits last from the new spot, allowing them to see their teammates attempt the shot first. |
| Holing Out | Once any player sinks the putt, the hole is finished. The team records one single score for the hole (e.g., one Birdie, one Par). |
| Minimum Drives | Most teams require each player to have a minimum number of their tee shots used, usually 3 or 4, during the 18-hole round to make sure everyone contributed. |
Scramble Golf Variations and Rule Changes
The basic structure for team play is all that the typical scramble format offers. Alternative versions are frequently used in tournaments to add strategic components and change accepted patterns of play. These formats modify certain rules to alter how teams decide during a round while building on the fundamental scramble notion. Players can also consult the USGA’s guidance on other forms of play for more information on alternate formats.
Each of the versions listed below modifies regular scramble rules in a unique way. Instead than altering the basic goal of picking the greatest shot, they impose certain restrictions that have an impact on who may play, what shots can be selected, or how the team makes decisions during the round.
Texas Scramble
The Texas Scramble is a variation that makes sure every player contributes from the tee instead of the team depending on just one big hitter.
Each player is required to have their drive selected as the team’s tee shot a set number of times during the round (for example, four times), even if another player hits a longer or cleaner drive on that hole.
Florida Scramble
This variation, also called the Spanish Scramble, modifies the order of play following the selection of each shot, altering the traditional scramble pattern. The format imposes a temporary restriction based on whose ball was selected, instead of requiring every player to hit every stroke.
The player who hits the best ball is not allowed to play the next stroke once the team has chosen it. All team members are once again eligible to participate on the next shot once the remaining players hit from the chosen position. Teams must be aware of which players will be participating in each shot as this process is repeated throughout the hole.
Las Vegas Scramble
In this variation, a die is used to determine which player’s ball cannot be selected on a given hole. Before play begins, the team rolls a die (commonly a ten-sided die), with each number assigned to a specific player.
For that hole, the ball struck by the player whose number is rolled is ineligible to be chosen as the team’s selected shot, regardless of the result. All other players’ shots may be considered, and the process is repeated at the start of each hole.
Bramble (or Shamble)
The Bramble is a combination of rules that merges the team advantage of a Scramble drive with the individual pressure of a Best Ball format.
The team only employs the Scramble method for the tee shot. After the best drive has been chosen, every player carries on the game with his/her own ball individually from that chosen spot till they hole out. Afterwards, the team takes the single lowest individual score (Best Ball) made by any player on that hole as their representative one.
Ambrose
The Ambrose format closely resembles Texas Scramble in terms of the play, but the changes of the rules for the final score recording is what makes them different.
The change is made at the way the score is figured out. A team handicap (usually 1/8th of the total combined team handicap) is figured out and is deducted from the final gross Scramble score to give the net score.
Tips for Organizing a Scramble Round
While organizing a Scramble Golf event for a fun play or charity has its own structure, it essentially only requires a couple of strict steps to make sure that everyone has fun.
- Specify handicap rules in advance so everyone knows how they’ll be applied.
- Explain placement rules clearly to keep play fair and consistent.
- When appropriate, add a column to the scorecard for “drives used” when players must mandatory drive.
- Provide your players with a cart sign that summarizes scramble rules for easy reference.
Holing Out
Scramble formats are so simple to understand and use because it is easy for any golfer to understand the primary function of the format (i.e. to determine the best shot). While there may be minor changes between the different variations (i.e., Texas Scramble requires each player’s drive to be used a minimum number of times during the round), the real complexities of team dynamics, and strategy come from these specific variations of the format. Being able to know and understand the golf scramble rules that are unique to your specific format leads to confidence when approaching the various formats and competitions.
FAQs
What’s the difference between scramble and best ball?
In Scramble, the team plays one single best shot after every shot, and all players hit from that position. Whereas in Best Ball, each player is playing their own ball the entire hole, and the team only takes the score of the lowest player. They are very different formats! (For a detailed explanation, see our Best Ball vs. Scramble article).
Is a scramble faster than regular golf?
Typically yes. Because you are only playing one shot, teams will waste less time looking for lost golf balls, hitting out of trouble and waiting for four players to putt, which saves a considerable amount of time.
Is scramble golf good for beginners?
Absolutely! The scramble format is very new-player friendly because it literally takes the pressure off of you. You can swing as hard as you want, practice those difficult shots that you would never take in fear of ruining a scorecard, and your fellow teammates will be there a close ball to play. Everybody gets to be part of that low team score!
How long does a game of scramble golf take?
A round of 18 holes with a four-person scramble typically takes between 4 to 4.5 hours to finish. You will finishing faster since you are only playing the best ball.
Are mulligans allowed in scramble golf?
Mulligans are not standard Golf Scramble Rules. However, in charity or social events, mulligans are often sold as a fundraising item before the round. If you purchase one, the rules of the event will determine who can use it and when.
