Scramble · Stableford¶

What it is¶

A scramble is the classic team-fun format. Both partners tee off, the side picks the better of the two shots, and then both play their next shot from that spot — always playing on from the best ball — until it's holed. The side records a single score for the hole. This is the Stableford version: that one team score is turned into points on every hole, and the highest total wins, so a blow-up hole simply scores zero rather than wrecking the card.

How scoring works¶

1. Both partners tee off; the side chooses the better shot and both play on from there, repeating until the ball is holed.
2. Record one gross score for the side on each hole.
3. The side plays off a single team handicap — the standard allowance for a pair is 35% of the lower handicap plus 15% of the higher — which earns strokes on the hardest holes by stroke index to give the team's net.
4. Award Stableford points from that net: 2 points for a net par, one more for each shot better, one fewer for each shot worse, never below zero.
5. Add the side's points across the round; the highest total wins. Level sides are separated on countback — the better back nine, then the last six, three, and final hole.

Worked example¶

One side over three holes — the team's single net score and the points it earns:

The side scores 8 points across the three holes. There's one team score per hole, so there's one points figure — no choosing between two partners' cards.

When to use it¶

A friendly team format that's even kinder than stroke scramble, since the worst a hole can cost is a zero. Ideal for large mixed-ability fields and society days. A group holds up to four, so a pair fits easily and two pairs can share a group.

Variations¶

• Gross or net. Score the points off the team gross, or apply the team handicap and score off net.
• For the stroke version see Scramble · Stroke; for head-to-head see Scramble · Match play.

Last updated: 2026-05-07