Sheerin's Golf Society

Texas Scramble Format

 

The Texas Scramble is one of the most popular tournament formats in golf. 

Used in charity events and pro-am golf tournaments, especially those involving professional athletes from other sports, the Texas Scramble offers numerous formats for fun-loving golfers.

All offer a combination of strategy, camaraderie, skill, and heartbreak. All are fun if played in the right spirit.

Originally called Captain’s Choice, since the leading player in each group made the choice on shot selection, the format became widely known as the Texas Scramble. It flourished in Texas during the Depression and attained great popularity in Las Vegas in the 1950s. It eventually become a staple of charity events and pro-am tournaments and was played a lot on the LPGA tour.

 

Basic Format

 

The Texas Scramble’s basic format is simple and straightforward:Each player hits a tee shot. Any ball can be selected for the second shot. Each member of the team hits his or her shot from that spot. The process continues until the hole is played out.

 

Playing The Game

 

The game calls for the tee shot of each player to be used at least four/five times with four players and nine times with two. This format is an excellent way to bring everyone into the game. It also involves more strategy.

For example, some captains get the four/five tee shots with four players and nine with two players of the weaker players used up quickly, saving the big guns for later in the round.

Other captains like to leave the weaker player’s shots until the end.

Each strategy has its advantages. A cardinal rule in a 4/5-shot format is never allowing a weaker player to be forced to hit the final tee shot.

If you want to make this format more of a challenge, add The Anderson Rule, which stipulates that no player’s tee shot can be used more than five times four players and nine time two players. This rule was instituted years ago after Dick Anderson, a former defensive back for the Miami Dolphins, hit such prodigious drives during a pro-am tournament that they gave his team a marked advantage.

 

Scramble With Handicaps

 

If you like to use handicaps in scoring here’s a format that will interest you.

In setting up the tournament, the key is whether you use handicaps in the scoring it’s essential to choose each team carefully, with each team having an A, B, C, and D player with four players or A,and B with two players

The general guideline for each rank is 0 to 10 is an A, 11 through 15 is a B, 16 for 24 is a C, and 25 and above. The same with two players as a team

Try to balance all the pairs/team on there handicaps off a strong C with a weak D etc to keep the balance right.

Regardless of what format is used or how you set up the tournament, a scramble is fun.

Playing a Texas Scramble is a great way to spend a nice day on the course starting the golf season off, or finishing league play.