What is a Texas Scramble? Rules & how to play

Golf can be played in a variety of formats, and one of the most popular of those is a Texas Scramble – a rewarding approach to team-based golf that’s favoured by players of all skill levels. 

A Texas Scramble is a fast-paced, team-oriented way to play golf, ideal for various occasions, from charity golf days and corporate tournaments to casual weekend outings with friends.

But what is a Texas Scramble? In this guide to Texas Scramble golf, we’ll explain what it is, the rules, how to play it, and look at the origins of its intriguing name. 

What is a Texas Scramble?

Texas Scramble is a team-based golf format usually played by groups of two, three, or four players. 

Rather than playing with individual scores, each team works together in a Texas Scramble to achieve the best possible score on each hole. All the players in a team tee off, and then the team chooses the single best shot. From there, everyone plays their next shot from that chosen location, and again, the best shot amongst them is chosen. This continues until the ball is holed, with the team recording only the single best shots as the team score for that hole.

A Texas Scramble is a format that allows for a strategic and collaborative experience. It takes the pressure off individual players, which is why it’s popular for occasions like friendly competitions, amateur events, and charity days.

How to play a Texas Scramble

One of the best aspects of a Texas Scramble is that it’s easy to play. All you need to do is:

• Form teams: Texas Scramble teams are usually made up of four players, but there’s no reason you can’t play with two or three, or even more than four, as long as everyone involved agrees.
• Tee off: On each hole, every team member will hit their drives.
• Choose the best shot: The team then selects the best-positioned ball after everyone has taken their initial drive.
• Play from the chosen position: All the team members place their ball within one club’s length (but no nearer to the hole) of the selected shot and then take turns to play their next stroke.
• Repeat until the ball is holed: You continue selecting the best shot and playing from a club’s length of that location, until the first team member sinks their ball.
• Record the score: If the team collectively took four strokes to complete the hole, you record your score as four, rather than counting each individual stroke (so not a score of 16 if you had a team of four players each taking four strokes).
• Move on to the next hole: Repeat the above process until you’ve finished your round.
• Total and compare your scores: Once your team has a total score for your round, you can compare against other teams to see who got the lowest total and is the winner.

What are the rules of a Texas Scramble?

The rules of Texas Scramble are pretty simple to master and are usually reasonably flexible, too. The most important ones to be aware of are:

• Drive contribution: Often, every member of a team is required to contribute a set number of tee shots during a round, commonly at least three or four per player.
• Best shot choice: When it comes to choosing the best shot each time, you can either take a quick vote as a team or pick one team member to be the captain and have them make the decision.
• Ball placement: When placing your ball after the team selects the best shot, you must stay within one club’s length of the chosen ball, but you can’t move closer to the hole. Your ball must remain in the same condition as the chosen one, such as in the rough, on the fairway, or in a bunker.
• Order of play: Once a ball is selected as the best shot, the order in which players play the next shot is up to the team. It can be a strategic choice, especially as you get closer to the green.
• Putting: On the green, all players usually putt from the same spot until the ball is holed.

As you can see, there’s scope for flexibility in the rules of a Texas Scramble. What’s most important, though, is that the precise version of each rule is agreed upon beforehand and clearly communicated to everyone involved, so that each team plays by the same set of Texas Scramble rules.

Why is it called a Texas Scramble?

The format was actually called "Captain's Choice" originally, as the captain of the team was the one who most often chose the best shot.

Whilst there’s no agreed-upon explanation as to how and why this format got a name change to Texas Scramble, it’s generally thought that it became popular in Texas from the 1930s to the 1950s thanks to its casual, player-friendly nature. The word "scramble" reflects the non-traditional, more relaxed style of play. 

Though often shortened simply to just Scramble, the “Texas” in Texas Scramble helps differentiate it from other team formats, like Florida Scramble or Las Vegas Scramble, which each have their own variations and rules.

If you’re looking to brush up on your overall golf vocabulary, check out our essential guide to golf slang.

What are the origins of Texas Scramble?

Just as with its name, the exact origins of the Texas Scramble aren’t clear. We know it existed as "Captain's Choice" from at least the early 1900s, but it became popular in Texas in the first half of the 20th century. It’s thought that it first became widely played thanks to the rise of amateur and corporate golf events, where organisers wanted a format that was inclusive, fast-paced, and suitable for players with varying skill levels.

Texas Scramble spread quickly across the US and internationally from the 1950s onwards, and today, it is a staple format for more relaxed golf competitions. Of course, there are a variety of other golf team formats that can be played, too, including the popular Foursomes and Greensomes.

What are the benefits of playing Texas Scramble?

Texas Scramble golf has various benefits, especially for team play and less competitive settings. 

• A focus on teamwork and camaraderie: Texas Scramble golf introduces a strong team element to play, with the final team score based on the group’s combined effort. 
• A fast pace of play: Because only the best shot is played each time, rounds are often quicker than individual stroke play, especially useful in large field events.
• It’s inclusive for all skill levels: New golfers can enjoy the game without the pressure of having individual scores and can rely on stronger players, especially during tougher shots.
• It rewards strategy and decision-making: Texas Scramble involves more than just good shots; it requires strategic thinking. Choosing which ball to play, who tees off when, and how to approach each hole becomes a team effort.
• It’s less punitive: Because the worst shots are usually ignored, the Texas Scramble golf format is more forgiving. This keeps frustration low and enjoyment high, particularly for more casual players.

Specialist golf insurance with Golf Care

Whatever format of golf you’re playing, accidents can happen out on the course. That’s why you may want to consider protecting yourself and your gear with specialist golf insurance before your next round.

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