How to play a Scramble
Everyone tees off, the team chooses the best shot, and everyone plays the next shot from that spot. Repeat until the ball is in the hole. It's the forgiving, fast format most outings use.
The rules
- Form teams, usually of 2 to 4 golfers.
- Everyone tees off and the team chooses the best shot.
- Everyone plays the next shot from that spot, until the ball is in the hole.
- The team posts one score a hole.
- The lowest total against par wins.
One hole, start to finish
Player C holes the putt: team score 3, 1 under
On the board
Who it's for
Tournaments, charity events, corporate outings and any group with a wide spread of handicaps. Each team scores through its own link, and shotgun starts work.
Variations ForeBoard supports
Choose this when you set up the tournament.
Gross or net
A net scramble ranks on team net score. ForeBoard works out the team handicap for you.
Team handicaps
Handicaps are sorted low to high and weighted by team size, then rounded to the nearest whole number. Only the four lowest handicaps count.
| Team size | Team handicap |
|---|---|
| 4 or more | 25% low + 20% + 15% + 10% |
| 3 | 30% low + 20% + 10% |
| 2 | 35% low + 15% |
Scramble vs Best Ball vs Shamble
All three take the team's best, but they play differently. If you're running an event, default to Scramble. For a small group of similar golfers, default to Best Ball. Shamble fits when skill is mixed and individual scores still matter.
| Format | Own ball? | Individual scores? | Pace | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scramble | No | No | Fastest | Mixed skills, tournaments |
| Shamble | After the tee shot | Yes, after the tee | Middle | Member-guests, mixed skills |
| Best Ball | Yes, every shot | Yes | Slowest | Similar skills, foursomes |
Questions golfers ask
How many golfers can be on a team?
Usually 2 to 4. ForeBoard has no hard limit, but the team handicap only counts the four lowest handicaps.
Who enters the score?
One scorekeeper per team, through the team's own link. No app or account.
How are ties broken?
ForeBoard has no countback. Tied teams show as tied, so decide your tiebreak before the event.
Score it free on ForeBoard
Choose Scramble, share the link, and everyone sees the score as you play. No app, no account.
Set up a tournament