How to Play Team Golf

Playing golf as a team transforms the sport from a purely individual test into a shared experience of strategy, communication, and fun. It's one of the best ways to enjoy a day on the course, especially for groups with different skill levels. This guide will walk you through the most popular team formats, offering simple strategies and practical advice to help your team play smarter and win more.

What Makes Team Golf So Great?

Before we get into the different formats, it’s worth noting why you should try them. Team golf is more than just a novelty, it’s a better way to play for many golfers. The pressure is reduced because you’re not solely responsible for every outcome. This often leads to looser swings and better shots. It speeds up play, particularly in formats like a scramble, and it allows players of all abilities to contribute to the team’s success. A high-handicapper can hit a great drive or sink a long putt that proves to be the winning shot, making everyone feel like a valuable part of the team.

Mastering the Scramble: The All-Time Favorite

The scramble is, without a doubt, the most popular and social team golf format. It’s perfect for charity events, casual outings, and groups with a wide range of handicaps. Understanding how to play it strategically can give your team a an advantage.

How a Scramble Works

The rules are simple. In a typical four-person scramble, every player hits a tee shot on each hole. The team then collectively decides which tee shot is the best one. From that spot, all four players hit their second shots. They repeat this process - choosing the best shot and everyone playing from that spot - until the ball is in the hole. The team records one score for the hole.

Winning Scramble Strategy: Know Your Role

The best scramble teams assign player roles, even if unofficially. It's about putting each player in a position to use their strengths. You can think of the lineup as A, B, C, and D players based on consistency and handicap.

• The "Get it in Play" Player (usually C- or D-Player): This player often hits first. Their job is simple: get a ball in a safe, playable position. Whether it’s in the fairway off the tee or just somewhere on the green for an approach shot, a safe shot takes the pressure off everyone else.
• The “Average” Players (usually B-Players): These players hit second or third. With one ball already safe, they have a green light to be slightly more aggressive. They can take a more direct line to the hole or try to hit an approach shot closer to the pin.
• The "Anchor" Player (usually A-Player): This is typically the team’s best or most consistent golfer. They go last for a reason. They've seen how the previous shots have played out and have a clear objective. Off the tee, they can swing confidently to place the ball in the perfect position for the second shot. On approach shots and putts, they have the benefit of seeing the a few attempts and have the most information to execute the shot successfully.

Strategic Putting in a Scramble

Putting is where scrambles are won or lost. Having four chances at every putt is a massive advantage, but only if you use them wisely.

1. The First Putter: This player’s main job is to show the team the line. If it’s a tricky breaking putt, they should focus almost entirely on getting the line right. Speed is secondary. A putt that misses with perfect speed gives you no information, but a putt that rolls right over the edge of the hole tells everyone exactly where to aim. The first putter should give confident feedback: "I pushed that" or "The brake was a little harder than it looked."
2. The Second and Third Putters: Now, the team has a good read. These players can focus on adding the correct speed to the correct line. They make adjustments based on the result of the first putt.
3. The Last Putter: This is the hero. They have the line and speed information from the previous putts. Their job is to put it all together and knock it in with confidence.

Understanding Best Ball (or Better Ball)

Best Ball is another extremely popular format, commonly played in two-person teams but sometimes in fours. It feels more like regular golf, but with a teamwork safety net.

How Best Ball Works

It's straightforward: every golfer on the team plays their own golf ball from tee to hole, just like they normally would. At the end of the hole, you compare scores, and the team takes the single lowest score (the "better ball") as their official score for that hole. If Player A makes a 4 and Player B makes a 5, the team score is 4.

Game Plan for Two-Person Best Ball

The beauty of two-person Best Ball is the dynamic partnership it creates. The strategy is to have one player take on the role of the "Anchor" and the other as the "Aggressor."

• The Anchor: This player’s primary goal is to make par. They play conservative, safe golf. They hit irons off tees where driver is risky, aim for the middle of greens, and try to avoid bogey at all costs. Their steady play frees up their partner to take chances.
• The Aggressor: Knowing their partner is likely to post a solid par, this player can take more risks. They can try to cut the corner on a dogleg, aim directly at sucker pins tucked behind a bunker, or be more aggressive on long putts. Their goal is to make birdies, and if they end up with a bogey, the Anchor's par is there to back them up.

Constant communication is vital. If the Anchor is safely in the fairway, they should let their partner know: "I'm good, you can go for it." Conversely, if the Anchor hits one into the woods, they need to communicate that as well: "I'm in trouble, so maybe just hit an iron into the fairway."

Other Team Formats Worth Playing

Beyond the Scramble and Best Ball, there are several other fun formats that can liven up your regular Saturday game.

Chapman / Pinehurst

The Rules: A two-person format. Both players hit a tee shot. Player A then walks over and hits Player B’s ball, and Player B hits Player A’s ball. After these second shots, they choose which ball is in the better position. From that point, they play alternate shot until the ball is in the hole. (e.g., if they choose Player A's second shot, Player B hits the third shot, A hits the fourth, and so on).

Strategy Tip: The goal of your second shot is to leave your partner with an easy third shot. Don't be a hero trying to hit a miracle shot from the "other" fairway. A smart layup can be much more valuable than a high-risk attempt at the green.

Shamble

The Rules: This is a hybrid of a scramble and stroke play. In a four-person shamble, everyone hits a tee shot, and the team selects the best one. From that point on, every player plays their own ball into the hole. The team usually takes the one or two best scores on each hole.

Strategy Tip: Because everyone plays their own ball after the tee shot, choosing the best drive is critical. It isn’t always the longest drive. A 250-yard drive in the fairway with a clear angle to the pin might be better for the team than a 280-yard drive in the first cut of rough.

Alternate Shot (Foursomes)

The Rules: This is the truest - and arguably most difficult - test of team golf. Two players on a team use only one ball, taking turns hitting a shot until it's holed. One player tees off on the odd-numbered holes, and the other tees off on the even-numbered holes.

Strategy Tip: Leave your ego at the door. Your one and only goal should be to leave your partner with the easiest possible next shot. Hitting a bad shot can feel terrible because you feel like you've let your partner down. Positivity and short-term memory are mandatory. Apologize once for a poor shot, then move on and support your partner on theirs.

Universal Keys to Success in Team Golf

Regardless of what format you’re playing, a few principles always apply.

• Communicate All the Time: Don't be silent. Talk about club choices, strategy on the tee box, and what you see in a putt. Teammates who communicate well make smarter on-course decisions.
• Play to Your Strengths: If you are a great iron player but an inconsistent driver, volunteer to be the one who hits second or third off the tee in a scramble. Let the bomber on your team handle being aggressive.
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Team morale is a real thing. No one likes playing with the person who sulks after a bad shot. Celebrate good shots together and support each other after bad ones. A simple "great putt" or "don't worry, we're still in it" can make a world of difference. -

The little things matter. Watch where every player's ball goes. Help look for lost balls. Tend the pin for your teammates. The best teams act like a well-oiled machine.

Final Thoughts

Team golf brings a fresh and exciting dimension to the game, emphasizing camaraderie and strategy over individual grinding. Understanding the rules and basic strategies of formats like Scramble, Best Ball, and Alternate Shot allows you and your partners to not just play, but to play intelligently together.

And when you're the one stepping up to that pivotal shot for your team, having extra confidence is a game-changer. We designed Caddie AI to be that on-demand Caddie that eliminates guesswork and helps you make the sanest decision in any situation. If your scramble partner hit their ball into a safe position, you can ask CaddieAI for the risk/reward on going for the pin. If you're faced with a tough shot for your Best Ball partner, you can get instant advice on the smart play. We put that expert knowledge in your pocket so you can feel more confident, contribute more to your team, and enjoy the game a whole lot more.