Tips for scramble format

[slash5969]

I'm playing in a two-man scramble this coming weekend at my club. It's 18 holes per day over the three day weekend. My playing partner is about the same as I am, handicap-wise. He hits the ball further than I do, but my chipping and putting is a bit sharper for the most part.

Any ideas out there as far as strategy? I'm thinking I should tee-off first, aiming to put one safely in play down the middle, letting my partner go for the long one if he can. I'm thinking I should probably putt last, getting reads off of his first putts.

Beyond that I'm pretty much in the dark since this'll be my first real scramble in a tournament. Thanks in advance for any help!

[fr0sty]

1. Make a plan and stick to it. If you have a driving order, stay with it, same with putting, etc.

2. Choose your preferred approach distance and hit to it. When I play a scramble we try to shoot for 90-100 yards out and hit full wedges rather than trying to manufacture a custom pitch shot from 40-80yds out. If we can bomb it greenside and chip from there, fine but we would only try that if we had a good approach on the fairway.

[goblue107501]

I have played in many and I think you have a good start. With only two, it can get a little tricky. Bogey comes into play more than in a three or four person. Above all else, you have to agree in some manner that someone will hit a ball in play. The worst thing you can do is to both go O.B., or behind a tree, or in the sand, on the same shot. You never want to have to hit again or have to punch out in a scramble. It will probably happen anyway, but do as much as you can do to avoid it.

Also, if their is a skins game, get in it. Even if you think you won't win. You never know what might happen. I played in one years ago with my Dad. The first day we got in and didn't even come close to anything that might be a skin. The second day we decided to save our money and I holed out a shot for an eagle on a par 4 that would have won about $125 if we would have paid the $10.

[meenman]

Whoever putts first really needs to go for it.

Last scramble I played in (it was a 4 man), we 1 putted the last 9 holes - i got 4 of those leading off.

It is so much easier to take a risk with someone behind you.

[slash5969]

Thanks for the pointers. I figure we'll need to stay around par to have a shot in our flight, and now we'll at least have some sort of plan in place.

[Woters]

Whoever putts first really needs to go for it.

That is the best Scramble advice posted yet. Never be short with putt 1, be really aggressive & try to hole it. At least the second person can lag up close if it misses.

[WUTiger]

If you are playing in a two-man scramble, chances are you can buy two mulligans per man or something like that.

If both of you drive OB on the same hole, or both blow 30-foot chip shots that will cost you a birdie, a mulligan could come in handy.

What tees are you playing from? I played on a winning scramble team eight days ago (4-man), and one thing that helped was the White tees (only 5,850 yds.). On most of the holes we were hitting short iron or wedges for approaches. Fr0sty 's idea about setting up full-shot approaches when possible is golden! Stay out of the 40-100 yd. zone.

Also, beware of short par 4s and short par 5s. Greens crews sometimes set up death traps on these for overaggressive teams.

[saevel25]

The longest hitter hits last, period. try to get two golf balls in play somewere in the fairway, if not then the long hitter can hit a 3-wood or long iron. If you get them in play, let the big dog eat.

Study the putts, get all information as possible.

[slash5969]

Everyone under age 60 is playing the blue tees, regardless of handicap.

My partner and I scrambled the front 9 last night after work. We were 1 over, with one birdie and two bogeys. My partner hit last off the tee, and I putted last. It worked fairly well.

This should be fun - I'm really looking forward to the weekend. Thanks for the advice!

[Saig55]

Easy for me to say but hard for me to do......if you're in trouble don't try to make it happen. Take the out.

Good luck, you do know everybody cheats in a scramble. ;)

[glbrum]

it sounds like you've got it down, but what i've heard is the best person at a given shot should go last. The first person should put one in play [as in the drive] and then get one on the green. I would reiterate that the first putter should give it a good shot at going in so that the second person can get a good read on the putt. If the first one goes in your set, if not then the second person has a good line on it.