How to Play Captain's Choice Golf

Captain's Choice, often called a scramble, is one of the most popular and enjoyable golf tournament formats you'll find, turning an individual sport into a fantastic team game. Instead of the pressure of playing your own ball for 18 holes, you work as a team, using the best shot from your group on every stroke to make a single team score. This article breaks down exactly how to play Captain's Choice, walking you through the basic rules and sharing powerful team strategies that will give you the best chance to win your next outing.

What Is Captain's Choice? (And Is It the Same as a Scramble?)

At its heart, Captain’s Choice is a team golf format where all players hit a shot, the team chooses the best result, and then all players take their next shot from that *exact* spot. This continues until the ball is holed. The team records one score for the hole, and the group with the lowest total score at the end wins.

You’ll often hear the terms "Captain's Choice" and "Scramble" used to describe the same event, and for the most part, they are interchangeable. While there might be some minor historical differences where a designated "captain" has the final say on which shot to take, in modern charity and corporate tournaments, the terms almost always refer to the same set of rules where the team decides collectively. So, if you see a flyer for a Scramble, you can apply everything we're about to cover.

The beauty of this format is that it relieves so much pressure. A bad shot is quickly forgotten because a teammate can bail you out. It allows golfers of all skill levels to play together and feel like they’re making a real contribution, which is why it's a favorite for fundraising events and social gatherings.

The Rules: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Captain's Choice Hole

Understanding the flow of a Captain’s Choice hole is simple. Let’s imagine you’re on a par-4 and walk through it from tee to green.

1. Everyone Tees Off

Each member of your team (usually a foursome) hits their tee shot. Let's say Player A hits a slice into the right rough, Player B pulls one into the left trees, Player C hits it short but in the fairway, and Player D crushes a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway.

2. Select the Best Drive

Your team walks or drives up to the four shots and evaluates them. Clearly, Player D’s shot is the best option. The team decides to play their next shots from this spot.

3. Mark the Spot and Play On

Player D’s ball is marked with a tee or ball marker. The other three players pick up their own balls from their original locations (in the rough and the trees). Now, all four players will play their second shots from the location of Player D’s best drive. Golfers usually must play within one club-length of the marked spot, and it must be in the same type of condition (e.g., if the ball is in rough, you must play from the rough, not move it to the fairway). Player D, whose ball was chosen, hits from the original spot, and the other three players place their ball at the marked location and play their shots from there.

4. Repeat for Approach Shots

All four players hit their second shots. Let's say two players miss the green, one finds a greenside bunker, and one hits a beautiful shot to 10 feet from the hole. Your team once again selects the best result - the ball that’s 10 feet away.

5. And Repeat on the Green

The three players who didn't hit the best shot pick up their balls. Everyone proceeds to the spot 10 feet from the hole. The player whose ball was chosen putts from that original spot. The other three team members place their own balls at the same spot and attempt the same putt. As long as one person sinks the putt, the hole is over! This process gives your team four different looks at making the same putt.

6. Record the Score

In our example, you used one tee shot, one approach shot, and one putt. That’s a total of three strokes, so your team scores a birdie 3 on the hole. You write "3" on the scorecard and move on to the next tee.

Common Tournament Variations

To keep things interesting and fair, tournament organizers often add a few special rules to the format. It's smart to ask about any of these rules before you tee off.

• Minimum Drives Per Player: This is the most common variation. To prevent one great player from dominating, the rules might require the team to use a minimum number of tee shots from each player throughout the round (e.g., in a foursome, you must use at least three tee shots from each member). This adds a layer of strategy, as you'll need to track whose drives you’ve used and sometimes select a less-than-ideal tee shot to meet the quota.
• Mulligans and String: In charity events, you can often "buy" advantages. A mulligan is a do-over shot that doesn't count against your score. Some tournaments also sell "string," which allows you to move your ball a certain length (equal to the length of the string) without penalty - ideal for getting a putt to drop into the hole when it stops just short.
• Gender Rules: In a mixed-gender team, there are often rules allowing men and women to hit from different tee boxes. Common rules also state that if a woman’s tee shot is chosen, all four players will then play their next shot from the ladies' tee box location.
• Maximum Score: Many events set a maximum score per hole, such as double bogey. This is called "par is your friend" or "bogey golf" and helps speed up play and keep players from getting too frustrated on a tough hole.

Winning Strategy: How to Lead Your Team to Victory

Playing in a Captain’s Choice is fun, but winning one is even better. A team with a smart game plan has a massive advantage over groups who just go out there and swing away. Here’s how you and your partners can think your way to a low score.

Team Composition is a Big Deal

An ideal Captain’s Choice team isn't just four bomber-style drivers. A balanced squad is much more effective. Aim for a mix of these roles:

• The Long Hitter: Someone who can consistently get the ball out there on tee shots, especially on Par 5s, to set up eagle opportunities.
• The Straight-Arrow: A player who may not hit it the farthest but is almost always in the fairway. This person is your safety net, ensuring you're always in play.
• The Iron Specialist: That one golfer who seems to have a magnet on their irons. They're excellent at approach shots and hitting greens in regulation.
• The Short Game Magician: Someone with a great touch around the greens. When everyone else misses, this person can chip it close and save the team. Great putters are worth their weight in gold in this format.

Crafting a Tee-Shot Game Plan

The order in which your team members hit their shots is more important than you think.

• Send the Safe Player First: Have your most consistent, "fairway finder" player hit first. Their job is simple: get one ball in play. This takes the pressure off everyone else.
• Let the Long Hitters Swing Freely: Once a safe shot is in the fairway, your long hitters can swing for the fences without fear. If they uncork a massive drive, great. If they hit it wild, it costs you nothing. This "safe-then-aggressive" approach gives you the best of both worlds.
• Manage Your Required Drives: Don't forget this rule! Track whose drives you've used on the scorecard. Don’t wait until the last few holes to try and use your weaker player's drives. Get them out of the way on shorter, safer Par 4s so your long hitter is free to attack the Par 5s late in the round.

Approach and Short Game Strategy

Once you’re in the fairway, the goal is to get the ball as close to the hole as possible.

• First Player Plays Safe: Just like on the tee, have a solid iron player go first with the simple goal of hitting the center of the green. This guarantees a birdie putt and again liberates the other players.
• The Rest Go 'Pin-Seeking': With a ball safely on the green, the remaining players can take dead aim at the flag. If they stick it close, it's a huge bonus. If they get a little too aggressive and miss the green, there's no penalty.
• Chipping from Off the Green: The same logic applies. Have someone chip first with the goal of getting it somewhere on the green to guarantee a putt. Then, the better short-game players can try to hole it.

Putting Strategy: The Secret to Going Low

Putting is where Captain’s Choice tournaments are won and lost. Four looks at every putt is an incredible advantage if you use it wisely.

• Let a decent putter go first. Their job is to give the team a perfect read on the break and speed. Even if they miss, they've provided invaluable information for everyone else. Watch their putt carefully from behind the hole.
• Have your best putter go last. By the time your anchor putter stands over the ball, they will have seen the line from three previous attempts. They can make their stroke with the highest level of confidence.
• Don’t be afraid to be aggressive. On the first or second putt of the group, there's no harm in giving it a little extra pace to take the break out. Someone can always clean up the comebacker if it misses. Once you are two-putting, never leave another putt short. Take a run at it!

Final Thoughts

Captain's Choice is a fantastic way to enjoy a day on the course, fostering teamwork and allowing players of all abilities to make a real contribution to a great score. Understanding the step-by-step process and applying some thoughtful strategy is all it takes to go from simply participating in the event to putting your team in contention to win it.

Even in a team format, you still face individual pressure when it’s your turn to hit from a tricky position - a weird lie in trampled-down rough, a delicate pitch shot over a bunker, or a tough choice between an aggressive play and a safe one. For those moments, we developed Caddie AI. By simply describing the situation or even taking a quick photo of your ball, you can get instant, expert advice on club selection and shot strategy, taking the guesswork out so you can execute your shot with the confidence your team is counting on.