By
now you’re either committed to or are thinking of playing in a
charity golf event this season. The invite you received tells you what
type of “format” they have chosen to use for the day. The
scary word “format” has triggered a lot of e-mail requests
for me to describe the most common ones used in our area.
Let’s start with a “scramble,” which is a team competition
where each player plays the best ball of a team member after every stroke or
drive until the ball is holed out. A variation is a Texas scramble where at least
four drives of each team member must be used during the round. This takes away
the edge from teams with long hitters. Then we have a “shamble” which
is also known as a “modified scramble” where each team member tees
off, the best drive is selected and from the best drive spot each person in the
foursome hits his or her own ball (same as stroke play) until the hole is completed.
A “bramble” is a variation of a “scramble” where the
foursome score for the hole is either the one or two lowest scores for that hole.
Another format variation is “best ball” where each member of the
foursome plays their own ball for the whole round and the team score for each
hole is determined by the lowest score that a team member gets. For example,
if the lowest score or”best ball” of the foursome is five, than the
team gets a five for that hole. “Money ball” is played in a “scramble” format
with one ball designated by color or mark as the “money ball.” This
ball is used by one player on each hole and rotates through the round. The hole
is scored by combining the “money ball” score and the lowest player
score for the hole. If the “money ball” is lost your foursome is
no longer eligible. “Money ball” can also serve as an on course game
by having each foursome purchase it and the group with lowest “money ball” score
for 18 holes gets a gift at the end of the round; this would be separate from
the normal day’s scoring. Now, hopefully, you will be “format” ready.
The reason for a “format” is that it speeds up play and helps somewhat
equalize the golfers’ abilities. This year as a bit of trivia there is
only one new rule change from the USGA the governing body of golf and that pertains
to the groves on your wedges, needless to say this will not affect most of us.
Now, all that’s left is going out and hitting a few practice balls.
