Scramble Rule Question

[vmsea]

4 man Scramble. Basically everyone shoots, and everyone takes the best shot out of the 4, and all shoot from there.
Question: how close do you have to put the 2/3/4th balls to the first one?

b/c.. 1) how do you mark where that 1st ball is even? the guy hits it, you can only 'guess' where it is around

2) what if he makes a divot.. 2/3/4th guys have to hit out of that divot spot?

3) on the putting green, it's even more guessing? b/c u can't really 'mark' the spot? or if you can, how?

Thanks!

[rebby]

In most scrambles that I've played in this is addressed via a "tournament rule". Generally it's been within 1 club length of the original spot, no closer to the hole. Although, I've also seen it defined as within 24" of the original spot, no closer to the hole. In every tournament that I've played in the rule has also included the stipulation that you can not improve the conditions of the original lie by moving a ball that is just in the rough into the fairway or from a bunker into the rough and stuff like that. In my experience scrambles usually have pretty lax rules and common sense generally prevails.

[OldSchoolHacker]

  vmsea said:

4 man Scramble. Basically everyone shoots, and everyone takes the best shot out of the 4, and all shoot from there.

Scramble rules differ by organizer but it's been my experience that:

Once the "captain's choice" shot is chosen, a tee is used to mark the position of that ball. When NOT on the green: The other players can play from a spot no further than one club length away from the marked position, no closer to the hole and without improving the lie from rough, bunker or hazard. (if the best ball chosen is in the rough, the one club length cannot be used to create a lie that is not in the rough.) Player's obviously do not have to play from a divot using this rule. When ON the green: The chosen ball is marked with a ball marker which is left in place behind the ball to be played or marked off line using a putter head width until all players have putted.

[James_Black]

  vmsea said:

4 man Scramble. Basically everyone shoots, and everyone takes the best shot out of the 4, and all shoot from there.

1. Use a tee and mark near the ball.

2. No, I think your allowed a foot or two either side of the tee. 3. Use a ball marker next to the ball.

[vmsea]

ah ok.

thanks!!