A golf scramble is a format for a golf tournament. Two or more players form a team, with the rules emphasizing fun without the pressure of players keeping individual scores. Each player hits a tee shot on each hole, but everyone plays from the spot of the best shot, subject to certain criteria

Rules for playing in a scramble are informal, with tournament organizers modifying basic rules as they wish.

For example, organizers may require a group to select each player's tee shot at least twice. The scramble format is not covered under the official Rules of Golf.

When playing as a foursome in a best-ball event, all four players in a group are working together as part of a team.

Each player tees off and plays the hole in the order of the team's choosing, with each player completing the hole with their own ball.

At the end of the hole, only the best score handed in by any player on the hole is counted as the team's score. If, for example, Team A plays a hole and the players shoot 3, 5, 5 and 6, respectively, and Team B has all four players with a score of 4, Team A would have the better score for the hole, 3 to Team B's 4, even though A had 19 total strokes to B's 16.

When playing shots in a normal round of golf, the order off the tee is determined by the scores of the players on the previous holes, and all future shots are determined by the player farthest from the hole.

In best ball, however, as all four players are working together, the team may select the order of the shot for all four players as they see fit. Often, teams will elect to have at least one each of a consistent player, who can be relied on to score decently on each hole, and an aggressive player, capable of both low and high holes. When the aggressive players shoot well, their low scores can be used, and holes where they struggle allow the consistent players to prevent the team from having to hand in a high score.

Shamble teams consist of 2-4 players and the format is great for golf outings of any size, from four golfers up to 100 or more golfers.

One great thing about the game of golf is each format can be adapted to players of all skills and abilities. Here are some basic variations that can be made to the shamble format:

• Require each team to count a certain number of drives for each player. This rule forces each team to strategically select drives throughout the round and is better for large scale outings with golfers of similar ability.
• Alter the requirements depending on the par of the hole. CFor example: On par 3’s, each player plays their ball from the tee shot until it is holed. On par 4’s, the team selects the best drive/best shot and then each person plays their second shot, using their ball until it is holed. And lastly, on par 5’s the team selects the best tee shot and second shot on each hole and then each person plays their ball into the hole. (If you use this variation, be sure to expressly communicate the rules as the fluctuation of par throughout the round can cause confusion.)
• Alter the number of scores to count depending on the par of the hole. An example here is to count one team score on par 3’s, two scores on par 4’s, and three scores on par 5’s.