4 - ball scrambles.

[MadAdey]

Looking for a bit of advice as I have not played in one for years and never been the best player in the group before.

Should I be hitting first or last. Now I will definitely be putting last as I am good with the flat stick and having seen the same putt attempted 3 times I should be bang on and have a very good chance of holing a lot of them.

This is the situation, I am partnering up with a solid low 80's shooter and the other 2 are mid to high 80's shooters. So a decent group of competent golfers. The 2 higher shooters say that I should go first to get a good drive out there and take the pressure off their shots.

The other player and myself believe that I should hit last so if we have a good one on the fairway already I can then just open my shoulders and let rip. Or if it has gone wrong I can take a sensible safer shot and make sure we are in play.

I can see their point, but I think I should always go last. Or am I just wanting them to allow me to play without any pressure of having to make a shot,even though I should be the player that is capable of puling a shot off when the pressure is on.

 

[chrisd]

We always take the best drive (not necessarily the longest) until we have to take a specific persons. As the person who's shot you take is first to go it's not going to always be possible to putt last.

 

[duncan mackie]

No right answer. You have made the argument in your mind, and should follow that in the absence of other information.

Problem is that if you hit first there will be many who's idea of pressure off will be to over swing and this can quickly get them out of their groove. They may swing smoothly with more freedom, but on balance this isn't my experience of me pretty average!

My recomendations would be to start off with a loose agreement to revolve, with a touch of ready golf overlaid. You can then perceive the true reality of you partners and influence as appropriate.

 

[Crow]

I'd let them go first but tell them it doesn't matter if they miss the fairway. If they think there's pressure playing before you've teed off then they'll be trembling if you go first and put it in the cabbage.
(Do they have cabbage in America?)

 

[MadAdey]

I'd let them go first but tell them it doesn't matter if they miss the fairway. If they think there's pressure playing before you've teed off then they'll be trembling if you go first and put it in the cabbage.
(Do they have cabbage in America?)

No we have this horrible stuff called Bermuda grass, I'll take the cabbage any day

 

[Lord Tyrion]

When I've played Texas scrambles in the past we always kept the best golfer to last off the tee, as you suggest. That enables them to go for it or play safe. It also means the weaker golfer can play their shots without the pressure of a must make tee shot. Different people different preferences but that is the system I preferred.

 

[Imurg]

When I've played Texas scrambles in the past we always kept the best golfer to last off the tee, as you suggest. That enables them to go for it or play safe. It also means the weaker golfer can play their shots without the pressure of a must make tee shot. Different people different preferences but that is the system I preferred.

I'd go with this.
I've been in the position of being the better player and I found it did take the pressure off the others, knowing that if they did mess up I'd be able to at least get a ball in play.
On a par 5, there was a 160 yard carry to the fairway with OB all the way on the right.
The 3 others all went OB, I knocked a 6 iron down on to the fairway from where we still made a birdie.....

 

[Region3]

I always go last in our group.

If we've got a good one away I am the longest so can go after one, if everyone's all over the place I'm the one most likely to hit the fairway with a shorter club if need be.

Also with approaches and par 3 tee shots. If there's a cast iron par on the green already you can go pin hunting, or if they've struggled just aim for the middle.

Most important thing imo is avoid bogeys. The birdies will come if 2 or 3 of you are playing well.

 

[fundy]

Last my preference, that said you end up trying to hit long drives everywhere and you rhythm gets completely ruined the more it goes on

 

[JohnnyDee]

I like a scramble but won't play one anymore because of the preposterous 1/10th combined handicap allowance fiddle.

Without a draw that requires teams to comprise of an A , B, C & D category player it's just an invitation to give your comp fee and the subsequent prizes to the scratch and low single-figures 'teams' who, in my experience always win by a country mile.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Johnny you are quite right but I used to play them as they were fun. It does totally lean towards better players though so I understand why people say no thanks.

 

[JohnnyDee]

Johnny you are quite right but I used to play them as they were fun. .

That's the annoying thing as they really are great fun - but at £10 entry fee PP per team at ours (only special occasions) they are a stupid waste of money.

What's the rationale behind such a daft handicapping formula?

Anyone?

 

[chrisd]

That's the annoying thing as they really are great fun - but at £10 entry fee PP per team at ours (only special occasions) they are a stupid waste of money.

What's the rationale behind such a daft handicapping formula?

Anyone?

Not me Johnny, I don't get it either!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I like a scramble but won't play one anymore because of the preposterous 1/10th combined handicap allowance fiddle.

Without a draw that requires teams to comprise of an A , B, C & D category player it's just an invitation to give your comp fee and the subsequent prizes to the scratch and low single-figures 'teams' who, in my experience always win by a country mile.

Your expirence doesn't seem to match the teams we see winning using the 1/10th formula

Ours are always won by mid to high HC - those HC seem to get a lot more shots to take off the gross at the end.

What other formula should they use ?

 

[williamalex1]

That's the annoying thing as they really are great fun - but at £10 entry fee PP per team at ours they are a stupid waste of money.

What's the rationale behind such a daft handicapping formula?

Anyone?

Simple, it allows the low guys to win by abolishing the handicap system.

 

[fundy]

I like a scramble but won't play one anymore because of the preposterous 1/10th combined handicap allowance fiddle.

Without a draw that requires teams to comprise of an A , B, C & D category player it's just an invitation to give your comp fee and the subsequent prizes to the scratch and low single-figures 'teams' who, in my experience always win by a country mile.

low guys not won it ours for several years, usually teams who have a few shots that win it

 

[JohnnyDee]

Can't get my head around the mid and higher handicappers winning. Not the case at ours.

Example - a team of 2 14s and 2 12s get 5 shots. A team of 2 2s and 2 1s get a shot. Add to that their vastly superior golfing ability and it's a no-brainer. They've lost hardly anything whereas the mid guys have lost 9 & 7 shots respectively.

Hardly a level playing field.

Teams should be of mixed abilities in my view but when scrambles remain a charter for the lows then I will not play.

Sad for me but there it is.

 

[fundy]

Can't get my head around the mid and higher handicappers winning. Not the case at ours.

Example - a team of 2 14s and 2 12s get 5 shots. A team of 2 2s and 2 1s get a shot. Add to that their vastly superior golfing ability and it's a no-brainer. They've lost hardly anything whereas the mid guys have lost 9 & 7 shots respectively.

Hardly a level playing field.

Teams should be of mixed abilities in my view but when scrambles remain a charter for the lows then I will not play.

Sad for me but there it is.

played a 9 hole scramble last year, our team was 6, 10, 19 and 22. We shot -8 for 9 holes. Low guys didnt have a prayer!

 

[chrisd]

If a player was to pull out of a team would you go for the 20 handicap who would bring 2 shots or 5 handicap who would bring .5 - I'd certainly go for the guy who will certainly get his 4 drives away, chip well, putt well and hit good iron shots, after all he only has to make 2 to be better than the 20 H/C to the team

At our the 'dream team' of low boys usually come in 15 under (including their handicap)

 

[JohnnyDee]

If a player was to pull out of a team would you go for the 20 handicap who would bring 2 shots or 5 handicap who would bring .5 - I'd certainly go for the guy who will certainly get his 4 drives away, chip well, putt well and hit good iron shots, after all he only has to make 2 to be better than the 20 H/C to the team

At our the 'dream team' of low boys usually come in 15 under (including their handicap)

Exactly this Chris.

1/10th combined is a joke and needs reviewing urgently.