Scramble
A scramble is a team golf format in which every player on a team tees off, the team selects the best of those shots, and all players then play their next shot from that spot, repeating the process until the ball is holed.
What is a scramble in golf?
Within golf’s broader system of play formats, the scramble sits outside the two main forms (match play and stroke play) as an officially recognised alternative. The R&A includes it in its Official Guide to the Rules of Golf alongside greensomes and modified Stableford under the heading of other forms of play (R&A, “Other Forms of Play”).
The format exists to flatten the gap between skill levels. A weaker player who tops a drive can still contribute by sinking the putt, and a stronger player who shanks one off the tee is not penalised, because the team picks the better ball. That structure is why the scramble is the most common format used at charity tournaments, corporate outings, and club fundraisers. It also appears on the PGA Tour at the PNC Championship and the Grant Thornton Invitational (the successor to the long-running QBE Shootout), two events built around team play rather than individual stroke play.
How a scramble works
Every player on the team hits a tee shot. The team then walks to the balls, compares positions, and agrees on the one in the best spot. The remaining players pick their balls up. From the selected spot, every player on the team plays their next shot, and the team again picks the best one. The pattern repeats until the ball is holed.
A few placement rules apply once the best shot is chosen. The other players drop within one club length of the selected ball, no closer to the hole. They also have to stay in the same cut of grass. A ball selected in the rough cannot be moved to the fairway, and a ball selected in a bunker stays in the bunker (PGA of America). On the green, balls are placed by hand within roughly one putter-head length of the marked spot.
Only one team score is recorded for each hole, totalled from the chosen tee shot through to the holed putt. The team with the lowest total at the end of the round wins.
Scramble vs. best ball
These two team formats get mixed up constantly, but they play almost nothing alike. The short version: in a scramble, the team plays one ball; in best ball, each player plays their own ball start to finish, and the lowest score on the team counts for that hole.
| Feature | Scramble | Best ball (four-ball) |
|---|---|---|
| Balls in play | One per shot, team picks the best | Every player plays their own ball |
| How the hole is finished | Team plays from the best spot each time until holed | Each player holes their own ball |
| Team score | One combined score from the chosen shots | The lowest individual score among teammates |
| Best fit | Mixed-skill groups, charity events, beginners | Mid-to-low handicappers wanting to play their own round |
| Pace of play | Faster | Slower |
Best ball is what Ryder Cup viewers know as four-ball. Scores in best ball tend to run higher than in a scramble, because every shot has to be played by the player who hit it (PGA of America).
Scramble vs. shamble
A shamble is a hybrid of the two. Every player tees off, the team picks the best drive, and everyone plays from that spot, just like a scramble. From the second shot onward, though, each player plays their own ball into the hole. The team score is usually the lowest individual score on the hole, although some events count the best two scores combined. It rewards a strong drive without removing individual play for the rest of the hole.
Common variations of the scramble
Tournament organisers regularly tweak the basic scramble rules to add strategy or share the load more evenly across a team. The R&A names three official variants in its rule guidance, and several others are common in club and society play.
| Variation | What changes |
|---|---|
| Texas scramble | A minimum number of each player’s tee shots must be used during the round, often four per player in a four-person team. Some versions require players to play their own ball on par 3s. |
| Florida scramble | Also called dropout, step aside, or stand aside. The player whose ball is selected sits out the following stroke. |
| Las Vegas scramble | A six-sided die is rolled after each tee shot. Numbers 1 to 4 correspond to assigned players and force the team to use that player’s drive; a 5 or 6 lets the team pick. |
| Bramble | Scramble off the tee, then each player plays their own ball into the hole. The lowest individual score counts. |
| Ambrose | Net scoring with a team handicap applied. Common in Australia and the UK. |
| One-person scramble | A single player hits two balls from each spot, picks the better one, and repeats. Defined by the R&A as a recognised variant. |
The Texas scramble is the most common variation at organised events, because the minimum-drives rule keeps any one player from carrying the entire team off the tee.
Related Golf Terms
- Sandbagger — A golfer who deliberately maintains a higher handicap to gain an advantage.
- Scoring average — A player’s mean score per round over a period of time.
- Sand trap — Common term for a bunker filled with sand.
- Sand wedge — A wedge designed with a wide sole for bunker shots (54-56 degrees).
- Sandy — Making par or better after being in a bunker.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players are on a scramble team?
Two, three, or four. The R&A’s official format covers all three sizes. Four-player teams are by far the most common at charity and corporate tournaments, while two-player scrambles are more typical for casual rounds and club competitions.
How is the team handicap calculated for a scramble?
The USGA recommends a four-player team handicap built from 25% of the lowest course handicap, 20% of the next lowest, 15% of the third, and 10% of the highest. For a two-player team, the recommended formula is 35% of the lower handicap plus 15% of the higher (USGA Handicap Allowances; Golf News Net).
Is the scramble used in professional golf?
Yes. The PGA Tour’s PNC Championship uses the scramble format across all 36 holes, pairing major champions with a family member. The Grant Thornton Invitational, which replaced the QBE Shootout in 2023, uses scramble play in its first round before switching to other team formats.
Can players improve their lie in a scramble?
Within limits. After the best shot is selected, other players drop within one club length of that spot, no closer to the hole, and they must stay in the same cut of grass. On the green, the ball is placed within about one putter-head length of the marked position.
Sources
- The R&A. “Other Forms of Play.” Official Guide to the Rules of Golf. Accessed May 2026.
- PGA of America. “What is Best Ball Golf vs. Scramble?” pga.com, 7 November 2023.
- United States Golf Association. “Scramble Tournament Fact Sheet” and Handicap Allowance recommendations. usga.org.
- Golf Channel. “PNC Championship 2025: Teams, format and how to watch.” golfchannel.com, December 2025.
- Golf News Net. “USGA Scramble Team Handicap Calculator” and “2024 Grant Thornton Invitational format.” thegolfnewsnet.com.
- GolfNow Blog. “Mastering the Golf Scramble: Tips, Rules, and Strategies for Success.” blog.golfnow.com, 13 August 2025.
