Ever showed up for a golf event and heard you're not starting on the first tee? Instead, you and your group are being sent out to hole #12. This is the classic shotgun start, a popular tournament format designed to get a large group of golfers on the course and back to the clubhouse at roughly the same time. This article will break down exactly how a shotgun tournament works, why it's so common for fundraisers and corporate outings, and a few tips to help you enjoy the day.
A shotgun start is a tournament format where every group of golfers tees off simultaneously from a different hole on the course. Instead of a steady stream of groups starting from the first tee every 10-15 minutes (known as sequential tee times), a shotgun event puts everyone in position on their assigned hole and starts them all at once with a single signal.
The name "shotgun" comes from the idea of a shotgun being fired into the air to signal the start of play, so everyone on the course could hear it. While you'll rarely see an actual shotgun on the course today - it's almost always an air horn or a loudspeaker announcement - the name has stuck. It’s an efficient way to manage a full field of players - typically between 72 and 144 golfers - and is prized for its logistical simplicity and social atmosphere.
If you're signed up for your first shotgun event, it can feel a little different from a regular round of golf. But the process is straightforward and designed to be easy for everyone, from beginners to experienced players. Here’s a rundown of what to expect.
When you arrive at the course, the first step is to check in at the registration table. Here, you'll confirm your spot, Fften get some complimentary swag (like a sleeve of balls or a hat), and find out your starting hole. Most shotgun events are team-based, so you'll also be told who is in your foursome if you didn't sign up as a full team.
After registering, you'll head to the staging area where the golf carts are lined up. This is where the organization of a shotgun event really shines. Each cart will have a placard with the names of the players in the foursome and, most importantly, the hole number you'll be starting on. Find your cart, load up your clubs, and get ready for a fun day.
About 15-20 minutes before the official start time, the tournament organizer or the head golf professional will gather everyone near the clubhouse for some pre-round announcements. Pay attention here, because this is where they'll cover the important details for the day:
Once the announcement is over, it’s a modern-day land rush! All the carts will disperse from the staging area and drive out to their assigned holes. If you're starting on hole #7, you'll drive down the cart path past holes #1 through #6 until you get to the 7th tee box. If you're on hole #18, you'll drive all the way to the end of the course.
The key is to get to your hole, park the cart, and wait. Do not hit a shot yet. Use this time to take a few practice swings, decide on the order of play with your teammates, and enjoy the anticipation as you see other carts getting into position all over the course.
When the appointed time arrives, you'll hear the horn blow. That’s your signal to officially begin play. Everyone on the course, from hole #1 to hole #18, tees off at the same time.
From there, you play golf just like you normally would, proceeding from one hole to the next in numerical order. Let’s say your starting hole was #12. Your group will play holes 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. When you finish 18, you won’t head back to the clubhouse. Instead, you'll loop around and drive to the tee on hole #1 and continue playing until you complete hole #11. Once you finish your 18th hole (in this case, #11), your round is over.
This is the main benefit of the shotgun format. Since everyone started at once, everyone should finish within about 15-30 minutes of each other. This eliminates the long waits that can happen at a typical tournament, where the first group might finish four hours before the last one.
As groups finish, they all head back to the clubhouse for what is usually a post-round meal, an awards ceremony, and a raffle. It creates a fantastic, communal atmosphere and is the perfect cap to a social event.
Because shotguns are often used for charity and corporate events where players have a wide range of skill levels, the format is almost always designed to take the pressure off individual performance and focus on team fun.
More than 90% of shotgun tournaments use a Scramble format. It's fun, fast, and incredibly beginner-friendly. Here’s how it works:
The beauty of the Scramble is that it allows golfers of all abilities to contribute. The beginner might hit a lucky putt, or the big-hitter might provide along drive. It takes away the stress of hitting a bad shot, as there are always three other teammates to back you up.
A less common but still popular format is the Best Ball. In this format, every player plays their own golf ball from tee to green on every hole, just like regular golf. At the end of each hole, the team compares their four individual scores and writes down only the lowest score as the team score. If the players on your team score a 4, 5, 5, and 6, your team score for that hole is a 4. This format allows you to play your own game but still have partners to fall back on if you have a bad hole.
From a tournament organizer’s perspective, shotguns are a dream. They allow the course to maximize its capacity and create a predictable timeline. An 8 AM shotgun start typically means everyone will be off the course and ready for lunch by 1 PM. This streamlined scheduling is perfect for events with post-round activities.
For players, the benefits are also clear:
In short, a shotgun tournament is an inclusive and efficient way to host a large golf event, emphasizing fun and social interaction over intense competition. By starting every group on a different tee at the same time, it ensures everyone enjoys a fluid round and finishes together, making it perfect for post-event celebrations.
Even in a fun format like a Scramble, your team will still face tough decisions - Is the aggressive play worth the risk? How do we handle this tricky downhill lie in the rough? For those moments when your team needs expert advice, our app is designed to be your instant on-course strategist. You can get a smart recommendation for a specific shot, or even snap a photo of a challenging lie and ask for the best way to play it. With Caddie AI, you have a tour-level opinion in your pocket, helping your foursome make smarter decisions so you can focus on hitting great shots and hopefully win that first-place prize.
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