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Golf tournament formats explained
The main golf tournament formats are the scramble (team plays the best shot each time), best ball (each player plays their own ball and the team takes the lowest score per hole), the shamble (scramble off the tee, then your own ball in), and individual stroke or Stableford play. For a corporate or mixed-ability field, the four-person scramble is the standard pick — and "shotgun" is a start type, not a scoring format.
Scramble: the corporate standard
A scramble is a team format where every player tees off, the team picks the single best shot, and all players then hit their next shot from that spot — repeating until the ball is holed and recording one team score per hole. Most corporate events use four-person teams.
It's the consensus standard for corporate and charity outings because it's fast, forgiving, and fun across mixed abilities: a beginner contributes a putt or a long drive without slowing the group, and nobody spends the day hunting for their own ball. The team score is also flattering, which keeps a non-competitive field engaged.
Best ball: more competitive, slower
In best ball, every player plays their own ball for the entire hole, and the team's score for that hole is the lowest individual score among them. Unlike a scramble, each golfer holes out their own ball.
It rewards genuine individual skill, so it's a better fit for a field of established golfers than for beginners. The trade-off is pace and difficulty: weaker players still have to finish every hole, which slows the round and can frustrate a mixed-ability corporate field. Best ball is sometimes called "four-ball" in a two-player-per-side context.
Shamble: the middle ground
A shamble starts like a scramble — everyone tees off and the team picks the best drive — but from there each player plays their own ball into the hole, the way they would in best ball. The team then takes one or more of those individual scores depending on the rules you set.
The shamble splits the difference: the shared best drive takes the pressure off the tee (and speeds things up), while playing your own ball in keeps it more competitive than a straight scramble. It's a good option when your field is stronger than average but still mixed.
Stableford and individual stroke play
Stableford is a scoring system, not a team format: instead of counting total strokes, players earn points based on their score relative to par on each hole (for example, par = 2 points, birdie = 3, bogey = 1). Because a disaster hole costs you a single bad point instead of a runaway stroke count, it keeps slower players moving and the scoring friendly — which is why it appears at some corporate and charity events.
Individual stroke play is the traditional tournament format: each golfer plays their own ball and counts every stroke, lowest total wins. It's the right call for a serious, skilled field, but it's the slowest and least forgiving option for a casual corporate crowd.
"Shotgun" is a start type, not a format
A common point of confusion: a shotgun start is not a scoring format — it's how the field begins. In a shotgun start, every group is sent to a different hole and all groups tee off at the same time, so the whole field starts and finishes together. You can run a shotgun-start scramble, a shotgun-start best ball, and so on; the start type and the format are two separate choices.
Contrast that with a tee-time start, where groups go off the first tee one at a time at set intervals. A tee-time start needs less course capacity but spreads finishes across hours, which is awkward if you want everyone at one awards reception. A shotgun start makes the schedule predictable and the post-round program start on time — which is why most corporate outings use it.
| Format | How it works | Pace | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scramble | All tee off; team plays the best shot each time, one team score per hole | Fast | Corporate / charity outings, mixed abilities |
| Best ball | Each plays their own ball; team takes the lowest score per hole | Slower | Competitive fields of established golfers |
| Shamble | Scramble off the tee, then each plays their own ball in | Moderate | Stronger-but-mixed fields wanting more challenge |
| Individual stroke play | Each plays their own ball, every stroke counts, lowest total wins | Slowest | Serious, skilled tournament fields |
Which format should you pick?
For a corporate outing or charity event with a mixed-ability field, choose the four-person scramble with a shotgun start. It keeps beginners involved, holds the pace so the schedule is predictable, and produces a fun, flattering leaderboard — the combination that makes the day feel like a success for golfers and non-golfers alike. Step up to a shamble or best ball only when you know the field skews experienced.
FairwayOS runs the four-person scramble — the corporate standard — end to end, with the scoring and start types organizers actually use on the day: net and gross scoring, flights, on-course side games and contests, live mobile scoring with a clubhouse leaderboard, and both shotgun and tee-time starts.
- Corporate golf outing software
Run the whole outing — registration, payments, pairings, live scoring, and a clubhouse leaderboard — from one branded platform.
- Live golf scoring software
Live mobile scoring with net and gross, flights, and a clubhouse TV leaderboard for scramble, best ball, and stroke-play formats.
Frequently asked questions
What is a scramble in golf?
A scramble is a team format where every player tees off, the team picks the single best shot, and everyone plays their next shot from that spot until the ball is holed. The team records one score per hole.
What's the difference between a scramble and best ball?
In a scramble the team plays one shared best shot each time and posts one team score. In best ball, every player plays their own ball all the way to the hole and the team takes the lowest individual score — more competitive but slower.
Is a shotgun start a golf format?
No. A shotgun start is a start type — every group begins at the same time from a different hole so the field finishes together. The format (scramble, best ball, etc.) is a separate choice you make on top of it.
What format is best for a corporate outing?
A four-person scramble with a shotgun start. It's fast, forgiving for mixed abilities, and keeps the schedule predictable so the awards reception starts on time.
How long does a scramble take?
Plan roughly 4.5 to 5 hours for a full scramble field, plus check-in beforehand and an awards reception afterward. A scramble generally plays faster than best ball or individual stroke play.