Texas Scramble in Golf – A Simple Guide for the Beginners

Last Updated on October 20, 2022 by Deb

The Texas scramble is a fun and exciting game that can be played by anyone of any skill level. It is a very straightforward game, but it has a lot of fun. In the game of golf, there are a lot of different things that you need to know and understand to be successful. But, one of the most important things to learn is texas scramble in golf, one of the popular scrambling formats,s and how to play it. In this post, we will teach you how to play the Texas scramble and explain why you should learn it.

What Is A Texas Scramble In Golf?

A Texas Scramble is a golf game that is played by a group of people who are interested in golf and competition. It is played on a golf course that is not a regular 18-hole course that has been laid out in a way to make the course more challenging. A big reason why the format has been so successful is that it takes the pressure off the individual golfer.

The format of the tournament is simple and easy to understand. The tournament is a single round of golf with no cut. The first to finish wins the tournament. It is most likely to be a standard stroke play tournament. The players tee off at one hole and then move to the next until they reach the final hole. After the players have teed off, the starter will call out the names of the players to be paired together for the next hole. The players then alternate putting their balls on the tee box.

The tournament winner gets to choose the order in which the players tee off. It means that the player can choose which player he wants to go first or second. The order is decided by the first player to finish. The player who finishes last must wait until the winner has put in. The format of the tournament is similar to a regular stroke play tournament.

It is also an excellent game for a relaxing game of golf. The scoring system works well to give players a relaxing time while also encouraging them to keep the ball in play and to not shoot as many low scores because the players play the best ball with the lowest score winning.

Advantages

• Any form of Texas Scramble is a great fun day out or a great relaxed way to play the second round on the same day.
• It allows golfers of all skill levels to play golf on the same course together, without feeling intimidated by the other players in their group who are better than them.
• No matter who you are playing against, you should be able to contribute to your own team’s score.
• This is a perfect opportunity to bond with your group, have fun, and play a bit of golf.

Disadvantages

• It is a little bit slow comparing the regular golf format
• Unlike a Pairs Texas Scramble, there is no official scorer.
• The ultimate team score depends only on the players’ honesty.

Related: What Is A Mulligan In Golf?

How does The Texas Scrambling add to the golf game?

Texas Scrambles have been known as Captain’s Choice because the chosen captain of a team once decided which of the balls struck by another player would be chosen to decide the golf hole where the next shot would be played. As it is a fast-paced, high-energy team sports game, and its name, Texas Scramble, is believed to have originated because of the rising popularity of the game in Texas throughout the 1950s.

The Texas State Golf Association (TSGA) was formed in 1925 by a group of golfers who wanted to play golf in a more relaxed atmosphere than the traditional game. At the time, golf was played on courses where the players had to pay for their equipment, including clubs, balls, and tees. The members of the TSGA wanted to play golf on public courses, so they formed a nonprofit organization and adopted the rules of the United States Golf Association. They also created a set of guidelines for tournaments that they could use to host.

Today, the TSGA hosts over 40 tournaments each year, and there are nearly 100,000 members. The tournaments range from one-day events to three-day events, and the longest is the World Championship held in June.

Fundamental Formats of the Texas scrambling

The Texas Scramble’s basic format is straightforward. Each player hits a tee shot from a different tee spot. The best ball, as finalized by the captain, is selected for the second shot. Everyone on the team hits their shot from that same spot. The process continues until it’s time to play for keeps.

Generally, this golf-playing format uses no golf handicaps and gives all players the same number of shots. You must take this shot off the tee at least 17 times before you can use it on the next drive. The Oldsmobile Scramble uses it except that the total score of handicap strokes in any one foursome must be at least 43.

There are also two types of playing setups like singles and foursomes. In singles, each player plays against all the others in their group. Foursomes are similar to a regular tournament, except that each group of four players is paired up and each pair plays against the other. The winner of the foursomes tournament receives a prize.

One key attraction to the format is that players who can’t play golf very well can join in and not feel like a burden to other players. If a golfer’s drive whines off and into an overgrown area, it’s best to do nothing – they are all pretty good.

The variation is a great way to add a more competitive element to texas scrambling.

An example is each team member contributing four drives (sometimes three), emphasizing a strategy on each hole. A rule is that the player whose ball is selected is prohibited from hitting the next shot. If player A’s drive was chosen on the first hole, he would be the only player allowed to take a second shot.

You may have different variations, such as the person whose shot you decide to take cannot play the next shot, or the person who takes the shot decides who will shoot next In this case, Al, Bill, and Dave are playing together, and Al’s drive is selected only Bill, Clive and Dave can play the second shots. If it’s Dave’s second shot the team decides to take, only Al, Bill, and Clive can play the third shot.

Related: What Is A Bogey In Golf?

What are the Rules for a Texas Scramble?

Golf-playing Rules

• Handicap Allowance

The handicap system is based on the number of players on the team. If your team has 4 players, the allowance will be 5 points. You may have noticed that the highest handicapped player always has the lowest percentage. In England, Wales, and Ireland, this Handicap Allowance will be rounded to the nearest whole number.

• Tee Off

Every player on the team needs to tee off. If you use any ball that’s not in the position it lands, you should have a designated starter.

• Choosing the right drive

You’ll want to make sure that you pick someone as the team captain who will give 100%, and then you need to have a group discussion to come up with the best candidates. The person to choose team captain is the last decision made by the group. They should be someone who has proven leadership ability.

A general rule is that each golfer must use a definite number of their drives during the round. You and your team captain will decide on the final move. Golfers are required to use a specific number of their drives during the round. So, you all must choose the right drive carefully.

• A second chance for all

Every player on your team is using the same drive, and they’re all playing a second shot from this position. Other drivers are ignored, and players can play from the selected position if they like.

• Third shot for all

Follow the same procedure as above for all remaining shots, until the hole is complete. In golf, one is enough for a hole-out.

• Gross scores must be marked down

Throughout the round, each hole’s stroke total must be recorded on the scorecard.

• Score in Total

To determine the net score after the round, add up all the strokes you played and subtract the handicap of your team.

Putting Rules

• Drives numbers per golfer

All of the players on the golf team have to take at least a specific number of drives. In general, most golfers, especially less experienced find that they perform better if they do not put so much pressure on themselves.

In a three-ball Texas Scramble, this figure may rise to four drives. It’s a restriction that requires a degree of tactical awareness from the designated Team Captain. If you have a highly handicapped golfer, this is a must-read. It will help you improve your game. Don’t want them to get stressed and have the pressure of needing to hit the ball for a distance standing on every tee.

It certainly wouldn’t be fair to allow just one player’s drive on the green because they haven’t completed their golfing quota. If you wait too long to get all the drives out of the way, that dream finish might become a nightmare.

• Order of play

If it will be the best drive of the tournament, whoever hits that putt will win with this one-stroke rule continuing to the end of the match. You need to maintain the same order of play within your team through each round of play.

• Standing aside from the golfer who aims to striking

Some organizers choose to have only one player on the sideline for every shot. It is usually used for a 4 person’s texas scramble. The rule in a team of four Texas Scramble is that you start playing on opposite corners. if you select player 3’s drive, he can no longer hit the second shot. All four golfers can still putt from a short-side green.

• Playing from the bunker

When you play golf, a team usually plays all 18 holes without having a single bunker shot. This rule may be imposed to decide whether the golf ball may be placed rather than the dropping.

How Handicapping utilize for texas scrambling?

When you’re playing a Texas Scramble game, it’s important to first determine the handicap allowance. The new World Handicap System (WHS) has been re-evaluated. The new formula has been revised to make it fairer for all participants. Below is the revised process of the handicapping system for calculating the total game score.

For the team of 4 person

Allowance is the sum of these calculations:

• A handicap of 25% of the lowest in the group, multiplied by four, equals a handicap of 1.
• A handicap of 20% of the next lowest in the group, multiplied by eight, equals a handicap of 1.6.
• A handicap of 15% of the next lowest in the group, multiplied by sixteen, equals a handicap of 2.4.
• A handicap of 10% of the next lowest in the group, multiplied by twenty-four, equals a handicap of 2.4.
• So the ultimate team allowance is: 1.0+1.6+2.4+2.4 = 7.4 shots

For the team of 3 person

• A handicap of 30% of the lowest in the group, multiplied by four, equals a handicap of 1.2.
• A handicap of 20% of the next lowest in the group, multiplied by sixteen, equals a handicap of 3.2.
• A handicap of 10% of the highest handicap in the group, multiplied by twenty-four, equals a handicap of 2.4.
• So the ultimate team allowance is: 1.2+3.2+2.4 = 6.8 shots

For the team of 2 person

• A handicap of 35% of the lowest in the group, multiplied by eight, equals a handicap of 2.8.
• A handicap of 15% of the highest handicap in the group, multiplied by sixteen, equals a handicap of 2.4.
• So the ultimate team allowance is 2.8+2.4 = 5.2 shots
• If the Pairs team shot a gross of 72 for their round, their net score is 66.8 because of the decimal points.

Similarities between the texas and standard scramble

A Texas Scramble is a similar game to a Scramble. For a foursome, a scramble starts by assigning numbers to each of the players, from 1 to 4. Let’s start by reminding you how a basic scramble works.

Each member of a scramble team should play their golf ball. Each golf ball may travel differently due to varying conditions and players should never attempt to “play along. The golf team was competitive today. After a full practice round, the four teammates are comparing results. You need to make sure that everyone’s ball is moved to the location you want them to play their next stroke.

for example, if all four golfers hit tee balls, they are all in the same position. Your ball may not be in the center of the fairway. But that doesn’t mean your ball can’t hit it far enough to make the putt. Then the team picks that as its drive. Players A, B, and D move their balls to where Player C will shoot, and each player then plays their second stroke from that position.

The striking order continues until the golf ball is holed on the targetted spot like a regular scramble.

Texas Scramble vs Scramble

There’s a big difference between these two golf-playing formats, which is the driving requirement. A Texas Scramble is played like a regular Scramble, but each team member must contribute at least 4 drives.

During the 18-hole round, the team must select at least 4 of Player A’s drives as the team drive, as well as at least 4 of Player B’s drives as the team drive, and as on with the Player of C group.

A good driver in a scramble can use every tee ball during the round. And a weak driver usually doesn’t use any of their balls at all. But a Texas Scramble eliminates the possibility of a second-place finish and allows even the weakest driver on the team to get into the action.

That’s why it’s so important to come up with at least four decent drives for the team to use. The team is going to have to decide what it will use as its driver on each hole before it plays the shot. And, these unique decisions make a difference in the Texas Scramble calculation with the regular golf scramble.

GOLF PRO Vs 2 MID HANDICAP GOLFERS (TEXAS SCRAMBLE)

Conclusion

Texas is a great game to play because it removes the pressure from each player in a team. People will say anything about the game. In the Texas Scramble, it’s important that all of the players are in the match and they must play all shots that count.

For others, the thrill of Texas Scrambling comes from the fact that the game is played by just one or two players. Some teams love to play “Texas Scramble” because it gives them an advantage: one or two players can carry the team.

It is often used for charity events when several of the golfers are rookies or very out of practice.