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How Low Can You Go? Here's a Way to Find Out.


lville lefty
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  1. 1. After reading the first post do you think playing a one-man scramble will help you learn how low you can go?

    • Yes, I think there is some sound logic to this idea.
      2
    • Nope, we only get to hit it once. Two tries at every shot does not prove anything.
      5
    • Don’t have any clue but sure does sound like a fun event and my Bubba can play!
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Our MGA recently put on a one-man scramble tournament and I believe it is great way to learn your real potential on the golf course.

The name of the event is called The Bubba – A One-Man Scramble . You know the deal, you hit a drive out-of-bounds and reload.  The next shot is long and straight down the middle.  That’s Bubba .  He always hits a great shot, always makes that short putt you just missed. You ( and Bubba ) get to hit every shot twice including putts.

The event was a 9-hole format.  I rarely break 40 for 9 holes.  My gross score was 34 in this format.  This format demonstrates to me I have the ability. Now I need that elusive thing called consistency. Bubba made two monster putts that I would probably never make.  So how low can I go? I now believe shooting 36 for 9-holes 72 for 18 on my course is a very reachable score.

40 guys played in the event with handicaps ranging from 2 to 26.  The winning gross score was 31.  But get this, of the 40 golfers 60% had a gross score of 36 or better.  And only three players had a net score above 36. These results prove we all have the ability to score much lower.

I would recommend this event for anyone planning tournaments.  As an FYI the 9 holes (shotgun start) took a little over three hours to play. Sounds like a long time but the pace of play was great.  In fact, it is much faster than a standard 18-hole scramble and much more fun.  Who doesn’t want to shoot par golf on their own ball(s) and learn how low they can go?

Go to this link if you would like to see the tournament announcement, rules, and complete format description.

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although there is logic...it's a bit skewed. especially on the greens. lets say you get your second putt after you saw your first putt go left an inch more than anticipated and lipped out. OBVIOUSLY you're going to sink the putt after observing what you saw. aright, now say you're in a regular tournament match. you've not seen an exact putt so you've only got to read it roll it and hole it. are you going to have the same confidence you had on the second shot during your bubba tournament? heck no. 'bubba' on the green just means you can correct what you did wrong on your first roll. from the fairway/rough/bunker is different, agreed.

In my Titleist 2014 9.5" Staff bag:

Cobra Bio+ 9* Matrix White Tie X  - Taylormade SLDR 15* ATTAS 80X - Titleist 910H 19* ATTAS 100X - Taylormade '13 TP MC 4-PW PX 6.5 - Vokey TVD M 50* DG TI X100 - Vokey SM4 55 / Vokey SM5 60* DG TI S400 - Piretti Potenza II 365g

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I agree with GioGuy... putting is such much more a part of scoring (at least in my game) than drives and iron play.. If I played 18 holes getting second shots just at putts alone, I'm confident I'd shave 4-6 strokes right off the top...I guess it depends on the player.. but none the less

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Originally Posted by LongerThanYOU

I agree with GioGuy... putting is such much more a part of scoring (at least in my game) than drives and iron play.. If I played 18 holes getting second shots just at putts alone, I'm confident I'd shave 4-6 strokes right off the top...I guess it depends on the player.. but none the less


I hear ya, and very valid point.  I did adjust my score by 2 shots to account for putting.  Maybe could have been three.  Still believe I'm capable of much better golf based on this event.

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Originally Posted by lville lefty

Still believe I'm capable of much better golf based on this event.



Oh Iville, in no way was it meant to say you couldn't or shouldn't feel as though you could shoot lower. we all can. it just goes to show to a certain extent that swinging easier and/or focusing a bit more if the situation warrants it...we can succeed to a greater degree. practicing to the routine in which we play on the course is in a sense our 'first try' at a swing. once you get on the course (i don't mean to preach it's just how i think of it), it's time for that '2nd' swing to come out...

In my Titleist 2014 9.5" Staff bag:

Cobra Bio+ 9* Matrix White Tie X  - Taylormade SLDR 15* ATTAS 80X - Titleist 910H 19* ATTAS 100X - Taylormade '13 TP MC 4-PW PX 6.5 - Vokey TVD M 50* DG TI X100 - Vokey SM4 55 / Vokey SM5 60* DG TI S400 - Piretti Potenza II 365g

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I just missed out on a 1-man scramble night in my weekly league.  I really wanted to do it just to see how good I could do.  The biggest pitfall in my game is the occasional errant shot that ends up giving me a double or even triple bogey.  I very rarely ever have two errant shots in a row, so the 1-man scramble format would be really nice for that.

However, the format lends to improved scores in a couple other ways too.  If I had a good drive that's in the fairway, my second attempt is gonna be a real grip it & rip it.  If that one ends up good, that's a shot I wouldn't have normally had.  Anytime I have to do a partial swing, the first attempt will give me good information about how much swing I really need to get the ball the right distance.  That's information I normally have to guess at.  If it's windy and I think I may need to club up or club down, that first shot will also tell me if I should switch clubs.  The other guys also mentioned putting as an area where the first try gives you valuable information you don't normally have.

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Shooting lower scores is really about consistency. It's a lot easier to hit that one desirable shot given two tries rather than one try. Someone who is consistent probably will only see a stroke or two of difference off of the putting green, but for someone like me it would make a huge difference -- I'd guess 4 or more strokes off the green. And having a chance to see all your putts read? I'd never three-putt, ever, ever again. :-D I like the idea for tournament play. It would probably be a confidence boost to some.

"Golf is an entire game built around making something that is naturally easy - putting a ball into a hole - as difficult as possible." - Scott Adams

Mid-priced ball reviews: Top Flight Gamer v2 | Bridgestone e5 ('10) | Titleist NXT Tour ('10) | Taylormade Burner TP LDP | Taylormade TP Black | Taylormade Burner Tour | Srixon Q-Star ('12)

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The unfortunate reality is this has nothing to do with potential. I've played a 2 ball scramble as a single a few times messing round during the off season and the result has absolutely no relevance to potential.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts...It's a fun concept

PS...my lowest 2 ball scramble score out of maybe 5 tries is -11.  I do know that because I did it this past winter...LOL   My worst attempt is in the neighborhood of -6....not sure though.

What's in Paul's Bag:
- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Driver
- Big Bertha Alpha 815 3-wood
- Callaway Razr Fit 5-wood
- Callaway Big Bertha 4-5 Rescue Clubs
-- Mizuno Mx-25 six iron-gap wedge
- Mizuno Mp-T4 56degree SW
- Mizuno Mp-T11 60degree SW
- Putter- Ping Cadence Ketsch

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Originally Posted by BuckeyeNut

The unfortunate reality is this has nothing to do with potential. I've played a 2 ball scramble as a single a few times messing round during the off season and the result has absolutely no relevance to potential.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts...It's a fun concept

PS...my lowest 2 ball scramble score out of maybe 5 tries is -11.  I do know that because I did it this past winter...LOL   My worst attempt is in the neighborhood of -6....not sure though.

Interesting.  The low gross winner of our tournament also has 2 cap.  He shot 31 for nine holes.  Based on the comments I think it is fair to throw out the putting results.  I also think mid to high handicappers can learn more about their game playing this format than players with low single digit caps. The most obvious thing we learn is the need for greater consistency.  We don't necessarily have to figure out a new swing we just have to learn to concsistently repeat the swing that produces our current good shots.  Easy to say hard to do and there-in lies the beauty of golf.

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I agree that taking a mulligan for every stroke can be a fun diversion on the rare occasion.  I just don't think anything can be learned from scrambling.....except that 2 shots from every spot is enough to shoot really low...LOL

What's in Paul's Bag:
- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Driver
- Big Bertha Alpha 815 3-wood
- Callaway Razr Fit 5-wood
- Callaway Big Bertha 4-5 Rescue Clubs
-- Mizuno Mx-25 six iron-gap wedge
- Mizuno Mp-T4 56degree SW
- Mizuno Mp-T11 60degree SW
- Putter- Ping Cadence Ketsch

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Share on other sites


Note: This thread is 4654 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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