How to Set Up a Golf Scramble Using Handicaps

A golf scramble format is a stroke play golf tournament format in which a team of players -- typically a three or foursome -- all tee off, then one player’s tee shot, usually the best ball or best shot, is selected as the team’s official stroke.

According to golf scramble rules, all team members then play their second shots from the selected golf ball’s location on the fairway. Play continues in this manner for each of the next shots until one team member finishes the putt at each hole. The team with the lowest score after nine or 18 holes of match play wins the golf scramble tournament.

Golf scrambles are usually employed by tournament organizers for things like charity events or fundraiser tournaments, where the skill level is more spread out but not particularly high across the board.

There are several ways in which scramble events can incorporate golf’s handicap system in tournament play using this unique golf format.

50 Percent Method

Write down each team member’s course handicap on the scorecard, then add the numbers together.

Divide the team’s total handicap number by twice the number of players on the team. For example, if a three-player team includes golfers with handicaps of 8, 10 and 12, respectively, divide the total of 30 by 6. The team’s handicap in the scramble event is 5.

Subtract the handicap number from the team’s gross score at the end of the event to determine the team’s net score.

Variable Percentage Method

Write down each team member’s course handicap.

Add 35 percent of the best player’s handicap to 15 percent of the second-best player’s handicap for a two-person team. The best player is the golfer with the lowest handicap. For example, if a team’s golfers have handicaps of 10 and 20, add 35 percent of 10 (3.5) to 15 percent of 20 (3) for a total of 6.5.

Add 25 percent of the best player’s handicap, 15 percent of the second-best player’s handicap and 10 percent of the third-best player’s handicap together for a three-person team.

For a four-person team, add together 20 percent of the best player’s handicap, 15 percent of the second-best player’s handicap, 10 percent of the third-best player’s handicap and 5 percent of the fourth-best player’s handicap.

Subtract the handicap number from the team’s gross score at the end of the event to determine the team’s net score.

Tips

Alternatively, divide all golfers in the scramble tournament into groups before they arrive at the golf course for their event. For example, if you're using four-player teams, divide the players into four groups based on their handicaps, with the top 25 percent of players in group one, the next-best 25 percent in group two, etc. Divide the players into teams, making sure every scramble team has one player from each handicap group.