How to play a shamble in golf: rules, scoring and variations

A shamble is a team golf format where everyone tees off, the team picks one drive, and then each player plays their own ball from there into the hole. The best score on the team counts, or the best two in a team of four. It starts like a scramble and finishes like best ball.

It is one of the fun golf games for teams, and a popular outing format because it is quicker than best ball and asks more of each player than a scramble.

How a shamble works

1. Split into teams of two, three or four.
2. Everyone tees off. The team picks the best drive.
3. Every player places a ball within a club length of that drive, no closer to the hole, and plays their own ball from there until it is holed.
4. The best score on the team counts. In teams of four, many groups count the best two.
5. Add the team scores up over the round. The lowest total wins.

Scoring example

Jim and Mike play Dana and Priya in a two-person shamble over nine holes, with no strokes. On each hole the team picks the best drive, both players play in from there, and the lower score is the team score.

The two teams are level for six holes. On the par 5 7th, Priya makes a 4 from the team’s drive while Dana makes 5, and Jim and Mike can only make 5 and 6. That one-shot hole decides it: Dana and Priya shoot 35 to Jim and Mike’s 36.

Notice what the drive does. Everyone is playing from the same good spot, so scores are closer than in best ball, and holes are won by the approach and the putt.

Shamble vs scramble

The first tee looks the same. Everyone hits, and the team picks one drive. After that the two games split.

In a scramble, the team picks the best shot every time and plays one ball all the way in. You write down one score for the team, and nobody’s bad shot counts.

In a shamble, the team picks the drive and nothing else. Every player then plays their own ball into the hole, putts included, and the team takes the best score. That is best ball with one shared drive.

If your group argues about which to play, ask one question: do you want to play your own ball after the drive? Yes means a shamble. No means a scramble.

Strokes: playing a shamble net

Groups play a shamble net in two common ways. Each player gets their own strokes on the hardest holes, as in best ball, usually from a reduced allowance because everyone plays from the best drive. Or the team gets one allowance from the players’ strokes, as in a scramble. Agree on which before you tee off, and use a smaller allowance than you would for best ball.

Variations

• Best one, two or three balls. Teams of four can count one, two or three scores, or change the number by hole.
• Minimum drives. Each player’s drive must be used a set number of times.
• Stableford shamble. Each player’s score from the chosen drive earns Stableford points, and the best points count.
• Scramble. If you want to pick the best shot every time, not just off the tee, see how to play a scramble.
• Best ball. If you want everyone to play their own ball from the tee, see how to play best ball.

The money

A shamble is usually played for a team stake: each player on the losing team pays their opposite number, often $5 to $20. At an outing it is more often an entry fee and a prize table. Low scores come thick and fast, so keep the stake modest.

Tips

• The best drive isn’t always the longest. Pick the one that leaves the whole team a shot they like.
• In a team of four counting two scores, the safe par from your fourth player is worth as much as a birdie try.