Golf: How to Play the Two-Man Scramble

Golf tournaments raise millions of dollars each year for various charities. Promoters plan many different formats for these tournaments, using teams of two or four players, including best ball, alternate shots and scramble. While most charity tournaments use four-person scramble, since it can involve more players and potentially raise more money, two-person scramble tournaments allow pairs to challenge another pair in competition. Two-person scramble matches can be played for fun by a group of friends, changing golf from an individual sport to a team sport.

Instructions

    • 1

      Pair up with a partner. This can be done randomly or you can choose your partner. In charity tournaments, you often sign up as a team.

    • 2

      Tee off from the tee box. After each pair hits from the tee box, determine which shot will be chosen for the second shot. Pick up the ball not chosen, and then both of you hit from the chosen ball spot.

    • 3

      Repeat this for each successive shot on each hole. You could have a hole where the team uses the same person's shot for each hole. In contrast, alternate-shot games require alternating shots, while in best ball, each player plays his own shots in the hole. At the end of the hole, the team uses the lower of the two scores. In two-person scramble, by using the best shot throughout the hole, scores tend to be lower for a round.

    • 4

      Choose which shot has the best chance to come closer to the pin or hole. Sometimes the decision involves choosing the ball farther away from the pin. Examples of this include the lie of the ball, angle of the shot, and obstructions such as trees blocking the shorter shot.

    • 5

      Identify strengths and weaknesses of each player and decide the order of hitting each shot accordingly. The better driver may choose to hit first to ease the pressure on the weaker driver. On a putt, the better putter may choose to allow the weaker putter to hit first so he can study the break.