Scramble Golf Games to Play on the Course

Golf may be, as Mark Twain said, "a good walk spoiled," but it remains a hugely popular way to ruin a stroll. Though the sport is frustrating at times, people around the world dedicate endless hours and resources to it. They are forever inventing new ways to play the game, but the scramble remains one of the most popular formats among golfers. The scramble format comes in several variations, each presenting its own unique challenges and enjoyment.

  1. Standard Scramble

    • The standard scramble format is the best-known and most popular. It's often employed at charity events and other informal tournaments. Four golfers -- playing either as a team or as two separate teams -- tee off. The group then determines the best tee shot and the players hit their second shot from that spot. This continues after every shot. If the foursome is divided into two teams, each team hits from the spot of its respective team member's best shot.

    Shamble

    • The shamble format tweaks the standard scramble format slightly. The players tee off and use the best tee shot as the spot from which to hit their second shots. From the second shot on, though, players play their own balls regardless of where they lie, as in traditional competitive golf.

    Opposite Scramble

    • The opposite scramble format is just as the name suggests. After players tee off, instead of using the best shot off the tee, teams hit from the spot of the shortest tee shot. This process is repeated throughout so that players are constantly playing the worst ball in their group. This form of scramble challenges golfers and is recommended for higher-skilled players.

    Putting Scramble

    • The scramble format is not limited to the tee box and the fairway. Players can also adopt the format on the putting green. This type of scramble counts the collective number of putts each team takes; the team with the fewest putting strokes wins. Once a player sinks a putt, there's no reason for anyone else on the team to putt. This putting scramble can be played within an overall scramble format.

    Non-Repeater Scramble

    • The non-repeater format is a way to spice up the traditional scramble format. All the same rules apply except that the team may not use the shot of the same player on consecutive shots, even if that player hits the two best shots. If a player does hit the best back-to-back shots, the second-best shot is used as the spot from which the team hits the next shot. This format equalizes the playing field and prevents one player from carrying the team.