Scramble Play

[GloriousBogey]

Does anyone got any advice on best ball scramble play? I'm entering my first best ball tourney Saturday and just looking for some last minute strategic advice.

[trackster]

It's not to complicated really, I am not sure how you could have a strategy about it.  Just pick the best shot and go from there.  Some tournaments have a rule that you must take X number of tee shots from each player.  So if someone who isn't as consistent with their driver gets a good one out there, play it even if it isn't the best drive of the four.

[mirv]

there are two basic ideas that my scramble groups tend to stick to:  the best putter in the group goes last.  this way, if the other players in the group miss, he's had x number of looks at the line and should have a pretty good idea of the break and speed.

the other is that half of the group will play safe off the tee, the other half will bomb away.  this gives you pretty good odds of having something halfway decent out there.  if your bomber goes in the trees, then you've still got mister "i'll just hit an iron off the tee" sitting in the fairway.

other than that, yeah... not much to it.

[xmanhockey7]

  GloriousBogey said:

Originally Posted by GloriousBogey

Does anyone got any advice on best ball scramble play? I'm entering my first best ball tourney Saturday and just looking for some last minute strategic advice.

Is it scramble or best ball? I've found it's best to have a good female player who can play from the lady tees to be in your group for a scramble. Group shot a 47 with 7 eagles and 11 birdies. Boy was it nice to be hitting chip shots onto par 4s!

[dak4n6]

Always have the best player go last for every shot. That way, on any risk/reward type shots (which if you think about it is almost every shot in a round), if one of the first three hits safely, the best guy can go for it.

[walk18]

  xmanhockey7 said:

Is it scramble or best ball?

Aren't they basically the same? Like others have said, just have one guy find the fairway and then it's bombs away.

[David in FL]

  walk18 said:

Aren't they basically the same? Like others have said, just have one guy find the fairway and then it's bombs away.

2 entirely different games. In best ball, each player plays their own ball and the best score on the hole out of the group is counted as the team score on that hole. In a scramble, everyone hits off the tee and then the team decides which ball to play. They then all hit again from that spot and continue with the same process until the ball is holed. I hate scrambles......

[jetsknicks1]

  David in FL said:

Originally Posted by David in FL

2 entirely different games.

In best ball, each player plays their own ball and the best score on the hole out of the group is counted as the team score on that hole.

In a scramble, everyone hits off the tee and then the team decides which ball to play. They then all hit again from that spot and continue with the same process until the ball is holed.

I hate scrambles......

Really? I love em. I've always looked at scrambles as just an opportunity to have fun. Do I want my team to play well? Yes, but more than anything, I want a foresome of guys that we can all get along and have a good, fun day.

[Mattplusness]

Personally, I think that scrambles ruin your game. It makes you feel like every shot doesn't matter so you "go for it" more often than not. Causing overswinging, which you carry over to your singles rounds.

[dak4n6]

  Mattplusness said:

Originally Posted by Mattplusness

Personally, I think that scrambles ruin your game. It makes you feel like every shot doesn't matter so you "go for it" more often than not. Causing overswinging, which you carry over to your singles rounds.

Then you either don't have much control over your game, or your game is very touchy..

I like scrambles because you can just relax without much pressure. Although in my last scramble, we were -11 with one hole to go, and we heard that the next closest group was -10. Our last hole was the #2 hcp (of course), and our best drive was from the treeline hitting about 170 yds to a very small severly sloped green guarded by two bunkers. We did feel the pressure there.

[Lost-Ball]

i like scrambles cuz everyone brings something to the table. i think scrambles are great too for players that arent to great to still be involved in a tournament and feel a part of something.

[David in FL]

  jetsknicks1 said:

Really? I love em. I've always looked at scrambles as just an opportunity to have fun. Do I want my team to play well? Yes, but more than anything, I want a foresome of guys that we can all get along and have a good, fun day.

I'd just rather play golf. :-P

[GloriousBogey]

Thank you to everyone that responded to my question. The guy I'm partnered with can't drive to save his life but he can chip and putt better than myself. Can't wait to hit the tee box Saturday!

[Mattplusness]

  dak4n6 said:

Originally Posted by dak4n6

Then you either don't have much control over your game, or your game is very touchy..

I like scrambles because you can just relax without much pressure. Although in my last scramble, we were -11 with one hole to go, and we heard that the next closest group was -10. Our last hole was the #2 hcp (of course), and our best drive was from the treeline hitting about 170 yds to a very small severly sloped green guarded by two bunkers. We did feel the pressure there.

if you say so, tiger

[dak4n6]

Tiger I am not, but if you bring your whack'em smack'em mindset from a scramble to a singles stroke play a week later, you gotta get a little more control. Not only should you be able to play according to the situation of the day, but according to every hole, and even every shot.

That's just golf 101.

[el shanko]

  Lost-Ball said:

Originally Posted by Lost-Ball

i like scrambles cuz everyone brings something to the table. i think scrambles are great too for players that arent to great to still be involved in a tournament and feel a part of something.

myself about the scrambles you can have a couple of guys that dont play much but they every so often crack one long and straight or have one great chip to the green. the only thing i dislike is the scrambles tend to drag on for 5-6 hrs . we have one at the end of the month. we are taking a bunch of employees there. just going to have some fun times with the guys.

[dv7834]

Let me put it this way:  I never consume alcohol when I play golf.  However, during scrambles I drink with abandon.

[Timothy Voyles]

Don't give up on a round and get smashed because you think you're out of it. Last scramble I played a buddy said since we made bogey on #1 we were out of it and would have to shoot 15 under or better to have a shot at winning. He proceeded to pound 2 tall boys per hole over the next 4 holes and was worthless the rest of the day. We used one drive and 1 putt of his through 18 holes. We shot 9 under and an 11 under won it all. Really makes me think about how we could have been had we not played a 3 man scramble while babysitting....

I'd say you need to discuss with your playing partners if you're in it to win or there for fun. They can be one and the same, but not everyone finds a solid round and playing well fun. Some guys just wanna get smashed. If you have one guy there for the beer only, write him off and know you're there as a 3 man and try your best, or ask him to hold of until the end or even replace him.

BTW, I do not drink at all. So having to deal with another who is smashed all day was NOT my idea of fun...