Scramble
Teams of 2 to 4: everyone tees off, the best shot is chosen and everyone plays again from there until the ball is holed.
- Players
- Teams of two, three or four
- Scored by
- Strokes
- Difficulty
- Simple
- WHS allowance
- 25/20/15/10 %
One hole, shot by shot
Hole 1 · Par 4 · SI 7
| Shot | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EmmaHcp 8 | |||
| JackHcp 14 | |||
| SophieHcp 20 | |||
| TomHcp 28 |
- Strokes
- 1
Step by step
How it is played
Everyone tees off, one drive is chosen and every player plays a second shot from that spot; one of those is chosen and everyone plays the third shot from there, and so on until the ball is holed (Committee Procedures, 9C).
The cases that raise questions
How each ball is put at the chosen spot.
Section 9C says every player plays from the chosen spot. How far each ball may be from that spot, whether it is placed or dropped and what happens on the putting green are not set by the Rules: the terms of the competition say. If they say nothing more, play from that same spot.
Not set by the Rules: the terms of the competition decideR&A, Committee Procedures, Section 9: Other Forms of PlayRFEG (Spanish Golf Federation), Forms of play
Every drive out of bounds or lost.
There is no ball to choose. In keeping with the Rules, the team takes stroke and distance (Rule 18.2b): everyone tees off again, playing 3. Check the terms of the competition.
Not set by the Rules: the terms of the competition decideR&A, Committee Procedures, Section 9: Other Forms of PlayRules of Golf (R&A), Rule 18: Stroke-and-Distance Relief, Ball Lost or Out of Bounds, Provisional Ball
Handicap
WHS recommendation (Appendix C): team of 4, 25/20/15/10% from lowest to highest handicap; team of 3, 30/20/10%; team of 2, 35/15%. The Committee sets it.
Source: WHS Rules of Handicapping, 2024 edition, Appendix C
Scramble scorer and team handicapYour playing handicap
Enter each player's course handicap: the format's allowance does the rest.
The side's playing handicap11
- You: 25 % × 8 = 2
- Player 2: 20 % × 14 = 2.8
- Player 3: 15 % × 20 = 3
- Player 4: 10 % × 28 = 2.8
- Σ 10.6 → 11
- Rounded to the nearest whole number.
Basis in the Rules
Not a form of play of its own in the Rules: Rule 21.5 lets them be adapted and the R&A describes it in its Committee Procedures (Section 9C). Whatever that does not cover is set by the terms of the competition.
Got it?
A 4-question recap to check you have it. Every answer comes with its why and its source.
The card, for your group
The format at a glance, with its short link. Send it to your group before you tee off.
Organising a Scramble?
Morris sets up the terms, the groups and the handicap allowance with you on WhatsApp.
Sources
- R&A, Committee Procedures, Section 9: Other Forms of Play
- Rules of Golf (R&A), Rule 21: Other Forms of Individual Stroke Play and Match Play
- Rules of Golf (R&A), Rule 18: Stroke-and-Distance Relief, Ball Lost or Out of Bounds, Provisional Ball
- WHS Rules of Handicapping, 2024 edition, Appendix C
- RFEG (Spanish Golf Federation), Forms of play