Ever seen an 'Am-Am' tournament listed on the club notice board and felt a little unsure about what it involved? You're not alone. The name itself can sound a bit like golfer-speak, but it represents one of the most popular and social forms of competitive golf. This guide will walk you through exactly what an Am-Am is, the most common formats you’ll encounter, and some simple tips to help you feel confident and prepared for your next team event.
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What Is an Am-Am in Golf?
At its core, the term "Am-Am" is simply short for "Amateur-Amateur." This means it’s a tournament format where amateur golfers team up to compete against other teams of amateur golfers. This distinguishes it from a "Pro-Am," where teams of amateurs have a professional golfer playing alongside them.
The beauty of the Am-Am lies in its emphasis on teamwork and camaraderie. Instead of the typical pressure of individual stroke play, where every single shot you hit counts towards your solo score, Am-Ams allow players to combine their efforts. This shared responsibility makes the competitive environment less intimidating and a lot more fun, especially for golfers who are new to tournaments or have higher handicaps. They are a brilliant way to meet other members at your club, enjoy a day on the course with friends, and experience the thrill of competition in a relaxed setting.
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While "Am-Am" tells you *who* is playing, it doesn’t tell you *how* they are playing. There are numerous scoring formats used for these events. When you sign up for an Am-Am, the most important thing to know is the format. Let’s break down the most popular ones you’ll likely see.
1. Texas Scramble
The Texas Scramble is arguably the most famous and beloved Am-Am format. It’s a fantastic way to bond with a team because every shot involves a group decision. It maximizes the chance for great scores and minimizes the penalty for poor shots.
How a Texas Scramble Works:
The Tee Shot: Every player on the team (usually four players) hits a tee shot.
Select the Best Drive: The team reviews all four tee shots and decides which one is in the best position. This might be the longest one, but it could also be one simply in the middle of the fairway with a clear line to the green.
Play from the Best Spot: The three other players pick up their balls and take them to the location of the selected "best drive." All four players then hit their second shots from that spot (placing their ball within one club-length of the original spot, not nearer the hole).
Repeat the Process: This sequence continues for every shot. You choose the best second shot, everyone plays their third from there, and so on. This includes putting. If one player hits it to five feet from the hole, everyone will have a putt from that same five-foot distance until the ball is holed.
Scoring: The team records one score per hole. Because of the ability to always play from the best location, scores in a Scramble are typically very low.
A common variation: To ensure everyone contributes, some Scramble rules require the team to use a minimum number of drives from each player (e.g., three drives from each person in a team of four).
2. Team Stableford
If you've played individual Stableford, the team version will feel familiar. Instead of counting strokes, players earn points based on their score relative to par after their handicap has been applied (this is called your net score). It's a fantastic format because one disastrous hole won't ruin your entire round.
How Stableford Points Work:
Net Double Bogey or worse: 0 points
Net Bogey: 1 point
Net Par: 2 points
Net Birdie: 3 points
Net Eagle: 4 points
In a team setting, you aren’t just trying to accumulate points for yourself, you’re working to contribute to the team’s total. The most common arrangement is often called “Best 2 Scores from 4 to Count.”
Here’s how that works on a single hole:
Imagine your foursome plays a par 4. After applying handicap strokes, the Stableford points for the hole are:
Player A gets a Net Birdie for 3 points.
Player B gets a Net Par for 2 points.
Player C gets a Net Bogey for 1 point.
Player D gets a Net Double Bogey for 0 points.
The Pro Shop would take the two best scores from that hole, which are Player A’s 3 points and Player B’s 2 points. The team score for that hole is 5 points (3 + 2). This is repeated across all 18 holes to get a final team total.
3. Shambles (also called a Bramble)
A Shambles is a mix between a Texas Scramble and a standard team event. It offers the benefit of a good drive but still requires each player to play their own ball for the majority of the hole.
How a Shambles Works:
All four players hit a tee shot, just like in a Scramble.
The team chooses the best drive.
Here's the key difference: From that point, all four players play their own golf ball for the rest of the hole.
Scoring is typically done based on the team members’ individual Stableford points or stroke play scores (e.g., taking the best two scores to count on each hole).
This format is a great middle-ground. It takes the pressure off hitting a great drive and allows longer hitters to give the team a strategic advantage, but it still challenges everyone's iron play, chipping, and putting.
4. The 1-2-3 Waltz
This is a fun and increasingly common variation of a team Stableford. The name “Waltz” comes from its rhythmic 1-2-3 counting pattern. Here’s how counting works hole-by-hole for a team of four:
Hole 1: The team records the one best individual Stableford score.
Hole 2: The team adds together the two best individual Stableford scores.
Hole 3: The team adds together the three best individual Stableford scores.
Hole 4: The pattern repeats. You’re back to recording the one best score.
This pattern (1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3...) continues for all 18 holes. It creates an interesting dynamic where different holes have different levels of importance, and teamwork is required to make sure you capitalize on the holes where three scores count.
Handicaps in Am-Am Formats
Handicaps are used in Am-Ams to level the playing field, allowing teams of all skill levels to compete fairly. The calculation method changes depending on the format. You usually won’t have to do the math yourself - it will be calculated for you by the organizers - but it’s helpful to understand the basic concept.
Stableford/Shambles: In these formats where players play a significant portion of the hole with their own ball, each player will usually receive a percentage of their full Course Handicap. It’s very common to see an allowance of 85% or 90%. This adjusted handicap determines where you get your "shots" on the course.
Texas Scramble: Because the format is so advantageous, the team handicap is much smaller. A common method is to take a percentage of each player's course handicap (e.g., 25% for the low handicapper, 20% for the next, 15%, then 10%) and add them together to create a single team handicap. Whatever the final number is, that's how many strokes the team subtracts from their 18-hole gross score.
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Playing in a team event is less about individual brilliance and more about smart collaboration. Here’s how to be a fantastic teammate and enjoy the day.
Understand the Rules Before Teeing Off: The first thing to do is read the scorecard or the rules sheet provided. Make sure you know the exact format, the handicap allowance, and if there are competitions like "Nearest the Pin" or "Longest Drive." A quick five-minute read can save a lot of confusion.
Play to Your Strengths: Does your team have a powerful driver? Let them tee off last on a hole where you have a safe drive in the fairway, freeing them up to be aggressive. Is someone deadly accurate from 100 yards? Their job is to hit that wedge shot when the team is in position. Don't feel you have to be the hero on every hole. Play the shot that you feel comfortable with.
Be a Good Partner: This is the most important tip. Celebrate your teammates' good shots and shrug off their bad ones (and your own). A positive and encouraging attitude lifts the entire team. A round of golf is a long time to spend with someone who is constantly negative.
Recognize Every Score Can Contribute: In a team Stableford, you might feel like your game is off. But your handicap might mean that your bogey on a tough hole is a net par, giving the team 2 vital points. Never give up on a hole, because you never know when your score will be the one your team needs.
Accept That You Are Teaming Up To Have Fun: Winning is great, but Am-Ams are primarily social events. Enjoy the walk, the conversation, and the shared experience of tackling the course together. The lunch and prize-giving afterward are often just as fun as the golf itself.
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Am-Ams are the lifeblood of club golf for a wonderful reason. They transform an individual sport into a collaborative adventure, reducing pressure and dialing up the fun. By understanding the format and embracing a team-first mindset, you’ll not only enjoy the day but will also likely score better than you thought possible.
When you're out there and find yourself facing that tough course management decision or a weird lie in the rough, it helps enormously to have a second opinion. That's precisely why we built our app, Caddie AI. As your own digital golf expert, you can ask for a smart strategy on any hole or get a recommendation on how to play a difficult shot by just taking a photo of your ball's lie. We want to take the guesswork out of the game, so you can play with more confidence and turn your contribution to the team into a winning one.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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