What Is a Choose Up in Golf?

Showing up for a casual weekend round with your friends is one of golf’s simple pleasures, but figuring out how to split into fair teams can sometimes be tricky. This is where the classic choose up comes in, offering a simple and time-honored way to create balanced teams for your match. This article will break down exactly what a choose up is, how to run one on the first tee, and a few different game formats that work perfectly with it, so your group can spend less time organizing and more time competing.

What Exactly Is a Choose Up in Golf?

At its heart, a choose up is a method for selecting teams, not a scoring format in its own right. Its one and only goal is to create random and balanced teams for a round of golf, especially when you have a group of players with different skill levels. Think of it as the golfer's version of drawing straws or flipping a coin. Instead of playing with the same partner every week or having the best players team up and dominate, a choose up shuffles the deck and creates fresh, unpredictable pairings.

Unlike pre-set pairings you might get from a tournament committee or a starter, a choose up is spontaneous and impartial. It’s organized by the players themselves, usually right on the first tee box just moments before the round begins. The beauty of this method lies in its fairness and simplicity. It injects a friendly, competitive spirit into the round right from the very start. No one can complain about stacked teams because fate, in one form or another, made the decision for everyone. It's an organic way to kick off a match that’s rooted in friendly competition and the social spirit of the game.

Why Play a Choose Up? The Big Benefits

Introducing a choose up to your regular golf group can instantly enhance the experience. It does more than just determine who plays with whom, it brings several fantastic benefits to any casual or competitive round.

• Fair and Balanced Teams: This is the number one reason to do a choose up. It is the best system for preventing a single "super team" from forming and running away with the match every weekend. When teams are created randomly, the odds are good that the handicaps will be spread out evenly, leading to a much closer and more exciting match for everyone involved.
• Social Mixing and Camaraderie: If you play with the same group often, it's easy to fall into the habit of playing with the same one or two partners. A choose up forces you out of that comfort zone. You’ll be paired with different players from your group, giving you a chance to bond with everyone. It's a fantastic way to strengthen friendships and build camaraderie across the entire group, not just within small cliques.
• Adds a Fun Competitive Edge: The moment the teams are set, a casual round transforms into a meaningful match. There's a little more pressure on that 5-foot putt when you know your partner is counting on you. This added layer of competition makes the round more engaging and memorable. Even a small wager for a drink or lunch "on the losers" can make every shot feel a bit more important.
• Simple and Spontaneous: There's zero preparation needed for a choose up. You don't need spreadsheets, sign-up sheets, or a committee to make it happen. You just need your group of golfers, a bit of open space on the tee box, and a mutual agreement to let chance decide the teams. The whole process takes about two minutes, and then you’re ready to play.

How to Run a Choose Up: Step-by-Step Methods

Creating teams with a choose up is quick and easy. There isn't one single "official" way to do it, different groups have their favorite methods. Here are three of the most popular and effective ways to run a choose up, suitable for any group size.

The Classic "Golf Ball Toss" Method

This is arguably the most common and visual way to do a choose up. All you need are the golfers and their golf balls.

1. Gather Everybody on the Tee: Get all the players participating in the game in one spot. This works for groups of four, eight, twelve, or more.
2. Designate a "Tosser": One person from the group is chosen to be the tosser. This person will an impartial divider of the golf balls.
3. Players Toss Their Balls: All other players in the group take their uniquely marked golf ball and, on the count of three, gently toss it into a small pile on the ground in front of the tosser. Tip: A soft, underhand toss works best to keep the balls from scattering everywhere.
4. Divide the Pile: With their back turned to the pile (to remain unbiased), the tosser uses a club to separate the balls into the necessary number of teams. For an eight-person game with two teams of four, they’d split the pile into two groups of four balls. For a 4 vs. 4 two-man team game, they might make four piles of two balls each. They simply group the balls that are closest to each other.
5. Announce the Teams: The tosser turns around and reads out the names on the balls in each group. Just like that, your teams are set for the day's match.

The "Hat Draw" Method

This method is even simpler than the ball toss and is a great alternative if the tee box is crowded or wet. It works best with ball markers or uniquely colored tees.

1. Pass the Hat: One player takes off their golf cap and holds it out.
2. Collect Markers or Tees: Each player in the game places a unique, personally identifiable item - like a custom ball marker or a colored tee - into the hat.
3. Shake and Draw: The player holding the hat gives it a good shuffle to mix everything up. Then, a player draws the items out of the hat to form the teams. If playing an eight-person, two-team match, they would draw four markers and declare them "Team A." The four remaining markers in the aht would become "Team B."

The "Captain's Pick" Method

This approach adds a layer of strategy and feels a bit like a playground draft. It's often used when two captains want to strategically build what they believe is the best possible team.

1. Establish Captains: The two players in the group with the lowest handicaps are typically designated as the team captains.
2. Flip for First Pick: The two captains flip a coin or a tee to determine who gets the first pick.
3. Draft the Players: The winner of the coin flip gets to pick first from the remaining pool of players. The other captain gets the second and third picks. The first captain then gets the fourth and fifth picks, and so on, following a "snake draft" format (A, B, B, A, A, B...). This drafting style helps to ensure that one captain doesn't get all the best remaining players. The draft continues until all players are on a team.

Game Formats to Play After the Choose Up

Remember, the choose up only creates the teams. After that, you need to decide on a format for the match itself. Here are a few popular game formats that pair perfectly with newly chosen teams.

• Four-Ball (or Best Ball): In pairs, each golfer plays their own ball from tee to green. At the end of each hole, you take the lower of the two partners’ scores as the team score for that hole. This is great because it lets everyone play their own game while still contributing to a team effort. You can compete either as stroke play (lowest total score wins) or match play (most holes won wins).
• Scramble: This is a very popular and relaxed format, perfect for groups with a wide range of skill levels. On every shot, all members of a team tee off. The team captain chooses the best shot, and all players then play their next shot from that spot. This process continues until the ball is holed. It relieves pressure on higher-handicap players and promotes great teamwork.
• Shamble (or Texas Scramble): A fun hybrid format. Every player on the team tees off. The team selects the best drive, and all players place their own ball at that spot. From there, each player plays their own ball individually until it is holed. It combines the fun of seeing a great team drive with the challenge of playing your own approach shot and putts.

Last-Minute Tips for a Great Experience

To make sure your choose up game goes off without a hitch, keep these final points in mind before you get started.

• Decide on the Game and Stakes First: Before you toss your balls or draw from a hat, make sure everyone agrees on the format (scramble, four-ball, etc.), whether you're using handicaps, and what the stakes are. Whether it's for pride, a round of drinks, or a $5 nassau, having a clear understanding beforehand prevents disagreements on the 18th green.
• Embrace Your Team: The whole point of a choose up is the randomness of it all. You might not get paired with your usual partner, and that’s part of the fun. Be a good teammate - provide encouragement, read putts together, and celebrate your partner's good shots.
• Keep a Good Pace of Play: Team games are a blast, but they can sometimes slow down if you're not careful. Be ready to play when it's your turn, limit your practice swings, and keep the energy and momentum moving forward.

Final Thoughts

A choose up is a fantastic, informal method for establishing fair teams and injecting some spirited competition into a round of golf. Whether you prefer tossing balls, drawing markers from a hat, or drafting players like a team captain, it’s a brilliant way to ensure everybody feels like they have a fair shot at winning and gets a chance to socialize with everyone in the group.

Once your game is underway, team strategy and good decision-making become essential for winning your match. This is exactly where we designed Caddie AI to come in handy. When your team is facing a tough lay-up decision or you're stuck in a difficult lie in the rough an wondering how to handle the shot, our app acts as your on-demand strategy expert. You can get an instant, intelligent recommendation to help steer your team toward the smart play, giving you the confidence to execute the shot and win the hole.