Types of Golf Scramble Formats: How to Pick the Right One

Types of golf scramble formats all start the same way: everyone hits, the team picks a ball, and you keep one team score. The twists are what change. This page compares the main formats so you can pick one for your event, or work out what the invite actually means.

Before you dig in, three names get muddled a lot. Ambrose is the Australian name for a scramble. Captain's choice is a common US name for the same thing. Best ball and shamble are not scrambles at all. For how a scramble works hole by hole, see how does a golf scramble work and what is a golf scramble.

How to pick a scramble format (step by step)

Decide what the day is for. Social, charity, corporate or a club mixer.
Look at your field. Lots of beginners? Mixed handicaps? Regular golfers who want more of their own ball?
Pick one format and name it clearly on the invite and the rules sheet.
Add any house twists you need, like minimum drives or string.
Set the handicap method (USGA percentages or Ambrose Daily Handicaps) before registration opens.
Link players to the full rules page for that format so this hub stays a quick compare.

Types of golf scramble formats at a glance

Format	How a hole is played	Who it suits
Classic scramble	Everyone hits, pick the best ball, repeat until holed	Mixers, charity days, beginners
Captain's choice	Same as a classic scramble under another name	US club, corporate and charity flyers
Ambrose	Same game as a scramble, with a team handicap from Daily Handicaps	Australian clubs and social days
Texas scramble	Classic scramble plus a minimum drives rule	Fairness when one big hitter would dominate
Florida scramble	Chosen player's shot sits that player out of the next stroke	Groups that want every player involved
Las Vegas scramble	Die picks or frees the drive; normal scramble after that	Four-player social days that like a luck twist
String scramble	Classic scramble plus a length of string to move the ball	Charity and fun days with extras on the sheet
Who drove the bus	Any scramble, tracking whose shot got used	Teams that want bragging rights after the round
Shamble (not a scramble)	Best drive, then each player plays their own ball in	Golfers who still want to hole out themselves
Best ball (not a scramble)	Everyone plays their own ball all hole, best score counts	Regular golfers who want their own ball every shot

For beginners, a classic scramble, Ambrose or captain's choice is usually the easiest start. They hide bad shots and keep the group moving. Texas and Florida add fairness rules that still work for mixed fields. A shamble is better once people want more of their own ball.

Classic scramble

Everyone hits, the team picks the best ball, and everyone plays the next shot from there until it's holed. Teams are usually two, three or four: see 2-man, 3-man and 4-man scramble rules, or how to run a golf scramble if you're organising.

Captain's choice

In the US, captain's choice usually just means a scramble with a different name on the flyer. It isn't a Ryder Cup captain's pick. Full map: captain's choice golf.

Ambrose

Ambrose is the Australian name for a scramble, and it plays the same on the course. The difference is the team handicap, built from Daily Handicaps: see what is Ambrose golf, Ambrose vs scramble and the Ambrose handicap calculator.

Texas scramble

A Texas scramble adds a minimum drives rule, so each player's tee shot has to be used a set number of times. Full rules: Texas scramble rules and scramble minimum drives.

Florida scramble

Also called step-aside. The player whose shot was chosen sits out the next stroke. Full walkthrough: Florida scramble rules.

Las Vegas scramble

Also called a dice scramble. A die roll after the drives decides whose tee shot you play, then it's a normal scramble. Full rules: Las Vegas scramble rules.

String scramble

Teams get a length of string to move the ball, cutting off what they use. It's not a mulligan, because you move the ball instead of re-hitting. Details: string scramble rules.

Who drove the bus

Not a separate format. It's tracking whose shots the team used across any scramble. See who drove the bus scramble.

Shamble and best ball (not scrambles)

A shamble shares the best drive, then everyone plays their own ball in. In best ball, everyone plays their own ball the whole hole and the best score counts. Side by side: scramble vs shamble and best ball vs scramble.

Handicaps by format

The format twist doesn't change the USGA team allowances. Apply them to Course Handicaps, lowest first:

Team size	USGA team allowance
4 players	25%, 20%, 15%, 10%
3 players	30%, 20%, 10%
2 players	35%, 15%

For Ambrose in Australia, add the Daily Handicaps and divide by 2n, where n is the number of players. A Daily Handicap isn't a US Course Handicap, so don't convert it. For USGA days, the course handicap calculator works out Course Handicaps. For a team of four, the four-man scramble handicap calculator handles either method.

What are the different types of golf scramble?

The main types are classic scramble (also called captain's choice or Ambrose, depending on where you are), Texas, Florida, Las Vegas and string. Who drove the bus is a tracking layer on top. Shamble and best ball sit next to the list, but they are not true scrambles.

What is the difference between a Texas and Florida scramble?

Texas adds a minimum number of drives per player across the round. Florida makes the player whose shot was chosen sit out the next stroke. Some events run both. The rules sheet should say which.

Is Ambrose the same as a scramble?

On the course, yes. Ambrose is the Australian name for the same pick-the-best-shot team game. The usual difference is the team handicap: Daily Handicaps divided by 2n, not USGA Course Handicap percentages.

Is a shamble a scramble?

No. A shamble shares only the drive. After that, everyone plays their own ball in. A scramble keeps picking the best ball until the hole is finished.

Keep reading

One phone, whatever format you pick

Whatever format you put on the sheet, one phone per group in Scrambled Eggs keeps the team score for 1 to 4 players and records whose shot got used. For Ambrose days, the Team Ambrose handicap is worked out for you. The round saves to history. It scores the group card. It doesn't have a separate mode for every format name.

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