How GBN plays a Scramble...
In addition to the standard USGA Rules of Golf, GBN has adopted the following guidelines for its Scramble tournaments:
- All four team members tee off on each hole and then decide which tee shot they like the best. That spot is marked with a tee or ball marker.
- The other team members pick up their balls and place them within one club length—no closer to the hole—of the marked spot. All four team members then hit their next shots. This procedure is followed for the remainder of the hole, including putts. The first ball to go in the hole is counted for the team score.
- Putts need to be placed within 3 inches of the marked spot (no closer to the hole). Putts "within the leather" may be considered holed on the next stroke without actually being putt (a "gimme").
- If the ball you choose to play is in a hazard (sand or water) or the rough, you cannot spot the ball outside of the hazard or rough even if relief is within one club length away.
- If the ball you choose to play is in standing water, you may place your ball within one club length of the nearest point of relief outside of the standing water boundary, no closer to the hole.
- Men younger than 60 hit from the "third set from the front" tees. Men 60 and over hit from the "second set from the front" tees. All women hit from the front tees.
- If your team has fewer than four members, then a shot for the "missing" member must be rotated through each of the players on the team. The rotation must be established on the first tee and continued as established for every shot until the tournament is complete. The rotation must be maintained even for short "tap in" putts. As an example, players A, B, and C are rotating shots in that order. Player A takes two shots off the first tee, player B takes two shots on the second shot, and player C takes two shots on the third shot. Now suppose the team is still several inches short of finishing the hole. Regardless of who makes the tap in putt, that stroke is player A's two shot rotation. Consequently, player B would then hit two shots off the next tee.
- If a player is scheduled to take two tee shots on a Closest to the Pin hole, that player's first shot is eligible for the Closest to the Pin award, but his or her second shot is NOT eligible. However, the team may play from any player's location, including the rotating player's first or second shot location, to complete the hole.
- Each player on the team must contribute at least one tee shot per tournament. Please note the hole on which each player’s tee shot was used.
- If there is a tie for Lowest Team Score, the team that recorded the lowest score on the hardest hole (according to the course's Hole Handicap rating) wins.
- If a tournament features 7 or fewer players, a single Lowest Team Score prize will be awarded, but no Closest to the Pin prize will be awarded.
- If a tournament features 19 or fewer players, a single Lowest Team Score prize will be awarded, and a single Closest to the Pin prize will be awarded.
- If a tournament features 20 or more players, Lowest Team Score prizes will be awarded to the First and Second Place teams. The First Place team will receive 60% of the kitty, and Second Place team will receive 40%. In addition, two Closest to the Pin prizes will be awarded (one prize for each Par 3 hole).
- For all tournaments played on the Front 9, Hole #3 will be the Closest to the Pin hole.
- A tournament will be deemed "Officially Completed" if all participating teams are able to complete at least three holes.
- Players may use Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs), such as rangefinders, GPS, etc. without restriction.