I hate scramble tournaments!

[cruzthepug]

Seems like a good idea, get a bunch of golfers together for some fun and competition, but I hate them. Seems like I never play well, that goes for everyone on the team, really. And then there's the team that you see a couple of times during the round hitting from the trees or chipping from around the green on a par 4, and cards a 57. My home course has a Iron Bowl tournament every year the day of the game and my regular weekend group played in it yesterday. We have a standing 7am tee time on Saturday and Sunday and the tournament started at 9:15 so we got to the course at our regular time to play 9 before hand. We were all playing pretty good, Clark was even, Kent and I were 2 over and Johnny was +4.

Tournament starts and It's like we forgot how to play. We drove the ball pretty good, but our second shots were horrible. Seems like we were scrambling for par way too much. Ended up shooting a 6 under 66. Finished middle of the pack of 25 teams. We had fun but it's frustrating to know if we just played like we normally do, our scores should have been much better.

[dharlow]

I like them just for the fun of it. Never take them seriously. Oh, ROLL TIDE!!!

[The_Pharaoh]

Sorry to hear that. I'm not a great fan of them myself as I prefer to play my own ball. We've tried a few better ball Pro Ams at my club but they take over 6 hours so we are pretty much stuck with the scramble format.

[inthehole]

I hate scramble tourneys too ... I play a short & controlled game (set up for 100 yd wedge in).     Every scramble tourney I've played, it's always DRIVER ->HYBRID->SHORT WEDGE->CHIP.      Thats fine if you're a long player - I just hate to try to kill every shot to hit it the farthest of the group ...

[The_Pharaoh]

Scrambles all come down to hitting your approaches very close. You need a couple of big hitters and a couple of good players from 100-120 yards.

[poser]

Never been a big fan myself.  I play in a few every year and our team is usually scratch to 4 handicap guys and we seem to lose every year to a bunch of 18 handicaps that make 18 birdie putts a round.  Played in one this year for the oakley pro am and it was a texas scramble with handicap and there was 2 48s and a 49.  Amazing....

[sean_miller]

Every scramble I've ever been in came down to putting. Out of a bunch of tighly packed groups, someone always sinks more putts. 18 GIRs is not uncommon, and even being on in 2 for all four par 5s. You gotta make those putts though.

[The_Pharaoh]

Hitting all the greens in regulation is not enough. You have to hit the ball close as there are no guarantees 1 of the 4 or 5 players is going to hole the putt if you are consistently putting from 30 ft or more. You've got to be in the 10-15 ft range on every hole to be certain of making birdie. Easy on par 4s, but not so easy on par 3s. You also need to make a few eagles on the par 5s if you want to win. -22 is normally your winner.

[acs9331868]

Scrambles are fun, but there is a big problem with them.  4 man scrambles are based on the honor system.  That is why I like 2 man scrambles.  There is always someone there to make sure you are not cheating or shaving strokes off your score.

[mirv]

scramble is definitely my least favorite format, but unfortunately, about 90% of the tournaments around here are scrambles.  give me a good fourball tournament any day of the week.

[The_Pharaoh]

Originally Posted by acs9331868

Scrambles are fun, but there is a big problem with them.  4 man scrambles are based on the honor system.  That is why I like 2 man scrambles.  There is always someone there to make sure you are not cheating or shaving strokes off your score.

I agree. The same people always seem to win them.

[camper6]

The only ones that seem to enjoy scrambles are horrible players.

The good players seem to be forced into them.

[The_Pharaoh]

What do you all think of Pro Ams? Be honest!

[Kobey]

Originally Posted by camper6

The only ones that seem to enjoy scrambles are horrible players.

I resemble that remark.  I love scrambles, they are the only type of tournament that a guy like me can play in.  Usually the good players just sign up so they can win all the skins.  Just remember, they are all about fun.  You get to go out for a day with a bunch of people that you normally don't play with and whack a ball around strictly for the fun of it.  And the best thing is, even if you come in dead last, you still get the same T-shirt as the winners.  If you go to one expecting serious golf and strict abidance by the rules, you are definitely going to have a lousy time.

[camper6]

Originally Posted by Kobey

I resemble that remark.  I love scrambles, they are the only type of tournament that a guy like me can play in.  Usually the good players just sign up so they can win all the skins.  Just remember, they are all about fun.  You get to go out for a day with a bunch of people that you normally don't play with and whack a ball around strictly for the fun of it.  And the best thing is, even if you come in dead last, you still get the same T-shirt as the winners.  If you go to one expecting serious golf and strict abidance by the rules, you are definitely going to have a lousy time.

Great observation.  The game is for everyone.  Not just good players.  And if the scrambles are a random selection you get to meet a few new members or friends.

[montru]

I must admit I don't like Scrambles, my daughter's high school golf team had a fund raising scramble tournament a couple of weeks ago. I they wanted $70 per person ($280 per team), in this economic climate it was hard to find people in this small town that could play that had not already signed up.

We came in -4, and came in the middle of the pack. The winning team came in -18, but we found out after that we could of bought "Mulligans" at $5 each, up to four per player, that made it 16 per fourball, the group that won had used all of their 16 mulligans, so, put the 16 shots back on the winning team and they were -2.

The winning team won $600 ($150 each).

Now, I know it's a fund raiser, and it's another way of getting money out of the players but I personally don't believe in mulligans in a tournament. the other three in my group were visiting from the UK and are not familiar with the format.

I won't be playing another one!

[cruzthepug]

Originally Posted by montru

The winning team came in -18, but we found out after that we could of bought "Mulligans" at $5 each, up to four per player, that made it 16 per fourball, the group that won had used all of their 16 mulligans, so, put the 16 shots back on the winning team and they were -2.

Our tournament did not sell Mulligans or any of the other bogus add on some tournaments offer. However afterwards while eating lunch I over heard several people talking about using Mulligans. I don't understand why 4 grown men would cheat to win a new golf shirt.

[ghalfaire]

When you play a scramble you should play for fun, charity, and just have a good day with your buddies.  Winning is good but not necessary for a good time.