A shotgun start simply means that every team in a tournament starts playing at the exact same time, but on different holes. Paired with the popular scramble format, it creates one of the most fun and social ways to play golf. This article will guide you through exactly what a shotgun scramble is, how it works step-by-step, and provide some winning strategies to help your team take home the prize.
Let's break this down into its two parts: the start and the format. Understanding both is the first step to feeling comfortable and ready to play.
Imagine a typical round of golf. You and your group have a tee time, say 9:00 AM, and you start on the first tee. The group behind you has a 9:10 AM tee time, and so on. This is called a sequential start. A shotgun start throws that out the window.
In a shotgun start, all participating teams - let's say there are 18 teams in the event - are assigned to a different starting hole. One team starts on hole 1, another on hole 2, a third on an hole 3, and so on, all the way to hole 18. An organizer, often with a bullhorn or sometimes with an actual (blank-firing) shotgun, will signal the start of play. Once the horn sounds, every team begins playing their assigned hole simultaneously.
The main benefit of a shotgun start is efficiency. Because everyone starts and finishes at roughly the same time, it’s perfect for large group outings, charity tournaments, and corporate events. It means everyone can gather for post-round food, drinks, and awards without waiting for the last few groups to trickle in over a couple of hours.
The scramble is a team-based format, usually played with four players per team. It's wildly popular because it takes the pressure off any single golfer and allows players of all skill levels to contribute and have a great time.
Here’s the basic idea:
The team records one score for the hole, which is the total number of strokes taken in this best-ball process. This format is fun because you get to see some great shots, big putts are always in play, and a single bad shot doesn’t ruin the hole for the team.
Walking up to your first scramble can feel a little intimidating if you don't know the procedure. Here’s a simple a walkthrough of what to expect from the moment you arrive.
When you get to the course, there will almost always be a check-in table. Here, you'll pay your entry fee (if you haven't already), get your goodie bag, and most importantly, find out your starting hole number. You'll either be assigned a team or you'll find the teammates you signed up with. Your scorecard will typically have the name of your foursome and your starting hole clearly marked (e.g., "TEAM SMITH - STARTING ON 7A").
After warming up and grabbing your cart, organizers will tell everyone to head out to their starting holes about 15-20 minutes before the official start time. If you're starting on hole 12, for example, you'll drive your cart directly out to the 12th tee box and wait. This is a great time to introduce yourself to your teammates, discuss strategy, and get a feel for the hole.
Right at the designated start time, you will hear a loud horn, siren, or signal. That’s your cue to start playing. On your starting hole, all four members of your team hit their tee shots.
Once all four drives have been hit, your team walks or drives out to look at the results. As a group, you decide which shot to use. Remember, the best shot isn't always the longest one. A 250-yard drive in themiddle of the fairway with a clear attack angle is often much better than a 280-yard drive in the rough behind a tree. Once the decision is made, the player whose shot you selected can mark it with a tee or a ball marker.
The other three players pick up their own balls and bring them to the spot of the chosen shot. Standard scramble etiquette allows players to place their ball within one club-length of the original spot, but no closer to the hole. The area you drop in must be similar - so no moving the ball from the rough to the fairway. From this same spot, all four players now hit their second shots.
You continue this process all the way to the green. If one player hits an approach shot to 10 feet, everyone will putt from that 10-foot spot. Choose the best putt, and continue until someone sinks it. As soon as one player's ball goes into the hole, the team's score is final for that hole. You write down the single team score on the scorecard and move on.
After you finish your starting hole (hole 12 in our example), you simply proceed to the next hole (hole 13) and repeat the process. You'll continue playing the holes in order (14, 15, ... 18) and then "wrap around" to play holes 1, 2, 3, etc., until you’ve played a full 18 and you're back at hole 11, the hole directly before where you started.
While the basics are usually the same, many scrambles have a few extra rules to keep things interesting and fair.
To level the playing field between teams of scratch golfers and teams of beginners, organizers often use a team handicap. This is calculated using a formula, such as taking a certain percentage of each player's individual handicap (e.g., 25% of the A player's, 20% of the B's, etc.) and adding them together. The final number is then subtracted from the team's gross score to get their net score for the tournament leaderboard.
This is probably the most common scramble variation. To prevent a team from just relying on one bomber's drives all day, the rules often state that the team must use a certain number of drives from each player. For example, in a foursome, you might be required to use at least two drives from every team member. This adds a layer of strategy, as you'll need to use some drives from shorter hitters on strategic holes where accuracy is more valuable than distance.
Once on the green, the process is the same: choose the best ball's position, and everyone putts from there. A key putting rule to clarify: if the first player to putt misses, can the next player watch the line and play from the exact same spot? Usually, yes. However, some tournaments state that once a ball is putted, the marker must be moved to that new position for the next players. Always ask about putting etiquette at the start.
In fundraisers, you'll often be able to "buy" advantages.
A scramble isn't just about hitting good shots - it's about thinking as a team. Here’s how you can play smarter.
The order in which your team members hit can make a big difference.
Don’t just hit and hope. Talk before every series of shots. Before the tee shots on a tricky par-4, ask: "Where is the best place to leave our second shot? Does a 220-yard drive up the left side give us a better angle than a 250-yard drive up the right?" On a par-5, decide whether it's better to lay up to a "perfect" yardage for your best wedge player or to just go for the green in two.
Every player brings something to the table. Identify your roles early on. Who's the straightest driver? Who hits towering long irons? Who's an amazing chipper? Who is the best at reading greens? When it's on the line, let the specialist for that situation take the lead and provide input for the team strategy.
A shotgun scramble removes much of the individual pressure from golf and replaces it with camaraderie and teamwork. It’s a dynamic format built for fun, allowing every golfer, regardless of their skill level, to contribute to the team's success and enjoy a great day on the course.
Having a smart plan is a huge advantage in a scramble and gives your team the best chance to win. With Caddie AI, you can get instant advice on the best way to play a hole, helping your foursome make smarter decisions about target lines and club selection on the fly. You can even shoot a quick photo of a nasty lie to get a recommendation on how to play the shot, giving your entire team the confidence to choose the right strategy and a better opportunity to post a winning score.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
