
Stroke play
Stroke play, also known as medal play, is a scoring system in the sport of golf in which the total number of strokes is counted over one, or more rounds, of 18 holes; as opposed to match play, in which the player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents. In stroke play the winner is the player who has taken the fewest strokes over the course of the round, or rounds.
What is the difference between a scramble and a shamble?
Mar 30, 2021 · A shamble is a team game within golf that draws upon elements from the ever-popular scramble format and strokeplay. The game type is less well known in the golf community compared to other formats like best ball or texas scramble, but shamble is by far one of the best formats if you can find a golf tournament playing shamble rules.
What does it mean to scramble in golf?
Aug 29, 2021 · A golf shamble is a team game format that has two to four golfers hitting a tee. Once all members had hit the tee, they select the best shot. Every golfer member places a ball on the picked best tee shot each finishes the hole. As one of the rules, the best score from a member shall be the chosen score in every hole.
What is four person scramble in golf?
In golf, a shamble is a tournament format in which all golfers will tee off, then the best drive is selected, and all golfers will play their own ball into the hole from here. If you have spent any time playing golf, you know that many people have issues with the tee shot.
What is the best ball format in golf?
A "shamble" is a type of golf tournament format in which a team of golfers selects the one best drive among them after teeing off, then all four play their own golf balls from that position into the hole. You can think of a shamble as a scramble off the tee and then regular stroke play into the hole. Shamble tournaments are sometimes called "brambles."

What is the difference between a scramble and shamble in golf?
From that point, normal stroke play ensues as each player plays his or her individual own ball, and each golfer is responsible for holing out in the fewest number of shots. Thus, whereas a scramble continuously uses the best shot from the group, in a shamble, only the best drive is used for the foursome.Apr 2, 2007
What is a 2 person shamble in golf?
Shamble Format: 2-Man Team selects the one BEST tee shot, then BOTH players play their own ball from that position into the hole. Record the better score.
What is a 4 man shamble in golf?
A shamble is a type of golf tournament that combines elements of a scramble with elements of stroke play. Like in a scramble, all members of a team (usually four) tee off and the best ball of the four tee shots is selected. All players move their balls to the spot of the best ball.
Can you handicap a shamble?
Handicapping for Tournament Play Best Ball should be hole by hole with popped cards and partial handicap. 3. Shamble should be hole by hole with popped cards and partial handicap.
What is Pinehurst golf format?
Pinehurst involves two players both teeing off on a hole and then playing their second shots with their partner's ball. They then chose which ball they prefer and play proceeds as per a normal Foursomes competition (alternate stroke). If Player B hit the second shot of the chosen ball, Player A will hit the next shot.Sep 25, 2014
What is Chapman alternate shot?
0:001:58How to Play Chapman System (or Pinehurst) Golf Format - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipEach player hits his or her second shot. They then select the best of the second shots. And fromMoreEach player hits his or her second shot. They then select the best of the second shots. And from that point on until the balls hold they play only one ball in an alternate-shot. Format.
What is a Florida shamble?
The Florida Scramble is a variation on the typical scramble in which one player on each team sits out each shot. A scramble works this way: Each player on the team (usually groups of four, but groups of three or two work also) tees off.
What is a 3 man shamble in golf?
In a shamble, each player will tee off. The group will select the ball in the best position and all three players on the team will play their own ball in from the selected position. The team score will be the aggregate total of the 3 scores. Each team must use 3 drives per player.
What is a Chapman format in golf?
"Chapman System" is the name of a 2-person team competition format for golfers that works like this: Both golfers on the side hit drives; Each plays the other's ball for the second shots; The best of the second shots is selected, and from there the two partners play alternate shot into the hole.Jun 29, 2019
What are the rules of a golf shamble?
They each hit their shot from that location and the same routine ensues - the best shot is selected and all golfers play that shot until the ball is holed out. In a "Shamble," each golfer tees off and the best shot is selected, but from that point, each golfer plays his or her own ball until it is holed out.Apr 12, 2021
How do you score a golf shamble?
What is a Shamble in Golf?A “Shamble” is a golf format where every member on a team of 2-4 golfers hits a tee shot. ... Usually, the best score from one individual member of a team is used for the team's score on each hole, though sometimes the lowest 2-3 scores are factored into the team's score.More items...•Sep 30, 2020
What's a two man scramble?
Two-Person Scramble Scramble format involves 2-person teams where each player on the team hits a tee shot, and then the players decide which shot they like better. The two players then play from that spot.
What Is A Shamble In Golf?
The so-called shamble in golf is not as popular as the Texas scramble (or scramble), best ball, or stroke play. But shamble is one of the best game formats more golfers love to play. A golf shamble is a team game format that has two to four golfers hitting a tee.
How To Play A Shamble In Golf
The shamble format (sometimes called brambles) in golf typically has two to four golfers that will play the 18-hole. Every player will drive off the tee for each hole. In each hole, the group will go for the best drive shot in playing their next swing.
Shambles Golf Rules
The rules in shamble are easy to understand. There are typically eight rules that each player must abide by in the game. Here they are:
How To Keep Score In A Shamble
Keeping a score in a shamble tournament will not take much time for the team to settle in. The scores in shamble are lower than stroke play as the group plays from the spot with the best tee shot. But depending on the agreed rules, there are still variations in scoring similar to stroke play.
Golf Shamble Strategy
The first to do in determining your strategy in playing shamble is to read and learn the rules. Determine how many scores will count and if the tournament requires each player's handicap to be included. Also, know what the percentage reduction would be.
Golf "Shamble" vs. "Scramble"
The scramble is one of the most popular team formats in golf tournaments. The shamble is a variation of the scramble format. But scramble usually involves players with different skill levels.
Shamble Golf Format Handicap Allowance
The most common handicap in shamble tournaments is reduced by 20% to 25%, depending on the disposition of the event organizer.
What Is A Shamble In Golf?
In golf, a shamble is a tournament format in which all golfers will tee off, then the best drive is selected, and all golfers will play their own ball into the hole from here.
Variations Of A Shamble
When playing a golf shamble, there can be a variety of different rules and regulations.
Shamble Vs. Scramble
Many times, golfers get confused by the difference between a shamble and a scramble.
Strategy For Playing A Shamble
Now that you have a basic idea of what a shamble is, it is a good idea to consider some strategy for playing a shamble.
Handicap In A Shamble
The handicap for a shamble will work a bit differently than that of a regular round of golf.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you are now ready to play in a shamble tournament with full confidence in what this format will look like.
What is a "shamble" in golf?
A "shamble" is a type of golf tournament format in which a team of golfers selects the one best drive among them after teeing off, then all four play their own golf balls from that position into the hole.
What does it mean when a shamble tournament feels like a regular game of golf?
When it's said that a shamble tournament "feels more like a regular game of golf," it means that on every shot (except the second one) the golfers are, in fact, just playing regular golf. That is, they are hitting their own golf ball from its own position.
What happens after a shamble?
Once each golfer in a shamble plays his second stroke, he continues playing his own golf ball into the hole, in each case from wherever it lies. No more choosing the best of the second shots, best of the third shots, etc., as you'd do in a scramble tournament. That scramble element is only used after the tee balls. After that, each golfer on a team plays his or her own ball into the hole. They play "real golf," in other words.
What is a shamble tournament?
Shamble tournaments are sometimes called " brambles .". In his book, "Chi Chi's Golf Games You Gotta Play," Chi Chi Rodriguez and co-authors John Anderson and Peter Jacobsen describe the attraction of the shamble format: Two nice benefits of a shamble: First, with occasional exceptions, golfers get to play approach shots from a decent position on ...
How many scores does a shamble team have?
A shamble team consisting of four golfers is going to finish each hole with four scores — one for each golfer on the team. So what is the team score?
What are the benefits of a shamble?
Two nice benefits of a shamble: First, with occasional exceptions , golfers get to play approach shots from a decent position on the fairway. Second , it feels more like a regular game of golf; and if a player has plunked down a generous fee for a spot in the tournament, it's nice to be able to play your own ball and see the whole course. ...
What happens when you hit the best drive in golf?
All players move their balls to the location of that best drive. That is the location from which each golfer plays his or her second stroke. Therefore, if Golfer B hits the best drive, Golfers A, C, and D pick up their drives, walk over to the location of B's ball, and all play their next strokes from that location.
How many people are in a shamble?
Shambles usually consists of a 4 person team, where total scores for the hole (and round) are tracked to determine the winning team. # of players. Single or Team play.
Who are the four players on the Shamble team?
Adam, Phil, Rory, and Luke are on a 4 person shamble team and playing the 1st hole shown in the scorecard above. Rory’s tee shot is dead straight in the fairway, whereas the rest of the group are in worse positions. The team decides to use Rory’s tee shot. Shown in purple below.
What is a shamble in golf?
A shamble in golf is a format that is quite similar to a golf scramble. In the shamble golf format, you will be put into teams and each golfer will tee off as you normally would. At this point, the team is then able to choose which of their teams drives they would like to use. Whichever ball is chosen is where the rest of ...
What is a 2 man golf shamble?
What Is 2 Man Golf Shamble. A two-man golf shamble is quite a simple golf format and only adds one variation to the game. The two golfers on the shamble team are able to choose between their two drives on each hole. The golfers then shoot from the chosen drive location. They then play out the hole on their own as they would regularly.
What is the difference between a scramble and a shamble?
The difference between a shamble and a scramble is that a shamble allows a team of golfers to choose which of their drives to use on the hole. While a scramble allows you to continually choose the best shot of your team throughout the entire hole. Shamble golfers simply get to pick there best drive then they must finish the hole on their own.
Is it hard to hit a golf ball in the fairway?
Even if it’s in the fairway a shot in which the ball sits well below your feet or caught up in some less than ideal grass can be tough to hit. Take time to analyze the lie and all factors involving the shot before simply choosing the furthest ball in the fairway.
Is Shamble golf the same as regular golf?
The rules of shamble golf are virtually the same across the board to a regular game of golf. The only difference being the difference in choosing the best drive of your team as the location in which all your team members will choose from.
The rules of a golf shamble
A shamble is a format you can play with two, three or four players. (Conceptually, it could be even more than four players, but there needs to be at least two.)
Par is your partner
In some shambles, there is a stipulated rule that "par is your partner." What does this mean? It means a team can make no worse than par on a hole. If a team does not make birdie or better on their own accord, then they automatically score a par. This is designed to create a floor for scoring and to speed up play.
How to win a shamble
The winning team in a shamble is the team with the lowest combined score. Winning a shamble, though, does take some strategy in forming a team. Typically, great shamble teams have a good combination of long drivers, straight drivers, good iron players and good putters.
