Written by George Keklik, Certified Golf Tournament Planner Golf Tournament Association of America (GTAA). George helps event organizers across the country plan and outfit their outings. Have a question about your event? Reach out and ask him directly.

Quick answer: which format should you pick?

Format comparison at a glance

Here is every format an organizer is likely to run, side by side. Use it to narrow your choice in about a minute, then read the section below for the one you land on.

The team formats (best for outings and fundraisers)

If your outing is a fundraiser or a corporate day, a team format is almost always the right call. It keeps everyone involved and forgiving enough that a first-timer still has a great day.

Scramble

The scramble is the workhorse of charity golf. Every player on the team tees off. The team picks the best of those shots, and everyone plays their next shot from that spot. You repeat that all the way to the hole, and the team writes down one score.

It is the most beginner-friendly format there is, because a weak shot never hurts the team. A new golfer can pick up their ball, move to the chosen shot, and still feel part of every hole. That is why turnout and sponsor goodwill both stay high.

• Team size: usually four, sometimes two for smaller fields.
• Variations: a Texas scramble requires a set number of drives from each player, and a Florida or step-aside scramble takes the golfer whose shot was used out of the next shot. Both add fairness when skill levels are wide.
• Handicap option: apply a team allowance (see the data section) if you want net scoring to stay close.

Best ball (four-ball)

In best ball, everyone plays their own ball for the entire hole, and the team records the single lowest score. It rewards good golf more than a scramble does, because every player has to finish the hole. Stronger players love it, and weaker players still contribute on the holes where they shine.

It plays slower than a scramble because four balls are in play instead of one. Build a little more time into your day if you run it.

Shamble

A shamble is the middle ground. The team plays the best drive, then each golfer plays their own ball from that spot into the hole. You get the confidence of a good opening shot with the individual challenge of finishing on your own. Shambles suit fields where you want skill to matter without leaving beginners behind.

Alternate shot (foursomes)

Two players share one ball and take turns on every shot, including the tee. It is fast and fun for partners who know each other, though it punishes mistakes more than the other team formats. Save it for smaller, more experienced fields.

The scoring formats (for competitive fields)

If your players are mostly steady golfers and the day is about real competition, an individual format fits better.

Stroke play

Every golfer counts every stroke across 18 holes, and the lowest total wins. It is the purest test and the standard for serious tournaments. It is also the least forgiving and the slowest, so it works best with lower-handicap players who keep pace.

Stableford and modified Stableford

Stableford scores by points instead of total strokes. You earn points on each hole based on your score relative to par, and the highest total wins. A blow-up hole only costs you that one hole, which keeps slower players moving and the mood light.

Standard Stableford points are bogey 1, par 2, birdie 3, eagle 4, and a double bogey or worse is 0. Modified Stableford rewards aggressive play even more, and the exact point values vary by event. The version the PGA Tour uses at the Barracuda Championship runs albatross 8, eagle 5, birdie 2, par 0, bogey minus 1, and a double bogey or worse minus 3.

Match play

In match play you win, lose, or halve each hole, and the player or team that wins the most holes takes the match. It creates great head-to-head drama and works well as a bracket over a longer event. It is less common for a one-day outing, but a fun twist if your group has rivalries.

Fun add-on games and side formats

These are not full-round formats. They are extras you layer on top of a scramble to add fun and, at a fundraiser, raise more money.

• Skins: each hole is worth a prize, and a hole is only won if one team beats every other team on it. Ties carry the skin to the next hole.
• Bingo Bango Bongo: points for the first ball on the green, the closest once all are on, and the first to hole out. It rewards every skill level.
• 3-3-3: three holes of scramble, three of best ball, and three of alternate shot, repeated. A fun way to sample several formats in one round.
• Wolf and Chapman: rotating-partner and combined-ball formats that suit smaller, regular groups.

For a full menu of money-raising and crowd-pleasing extras, see our guide to golf tournament games and contests and our list of fun golf tournament hole ideas.

Shotgun start vs. tee times

Your start type is a separate decision from your format, and it shapes the whole day. A shotgun start sends every team out at the same time from a different hole, so the field finishes together. Tee times send groups off one after another from the first tee.

• Shotgun start. Best for outings with a shared meal, awards, or program afterward. It needs about 72 players, four per hole across 18 holes, to fill the course. Smaller events can use a modified shotgun with roughly 48 players, and large events can run a double shotgun in morning and afternoon waves.
• Tee times. Better for small fields, casual play, or courses that cannot give you the whole property. Players arrive and finish at different times, so they do not suit a single awards ceremony.

How to choose your format

Run your event through these four questions and the answer becomes clear.

• By skill mix. Wide range or lots of first-timers, run a scramble. Mostly steady golfers, best ball or Stableford works.
• By field size. Around 72 players or more, a shotgun start with a scramble fills the course and finishes together. A small field can use tee times.
• By goal. Raising money and building goodwill, keep it a fun, forgiving scramble so people come back next year. Crowning a real champion, use an individual scoring format.
• By time. Need to finish on schedule for a banquet, a scramble holds pace better than any format that makes everyone hole out.

Handicap allowances and pace of play

Two details separate a smooth outing from a long one. Get these right and your day runs on time and feels fair.

Scramble handicap allowances (USGA). If you want net scoring to keep mixed teams close, apply a percentage of each player's course handicap from low to high:

• Two-player team: 35 percent of the lower, 15 percent of the higher.
• Three-player team: 30, 20, and 10 percent.
• Four-player team: 25, 20, 15, and 10 percent.

For best ball, a common allowance is 85 percent of each player's course handicap. Decide your method before the round and print it on the rules sheet so there are no disputes.

Pace of play. A scramble foursome finishes about 30 to 45 minutes faster than stroke play. Aim to keep an 18-hole round under 4.5 hours. A shotgun start helps, because every group starts and finishes inside the same window.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best golf tournament format for a charity outing?

A four-person scramble. It is beginner-friendly, keeps every player engaged on every shot, plays about 30 to 45 minutes faster than stroke play, and lets mixed-skill teams stay competitive, which keeps sponsors and first-time golfers happy.

What is the difference between a scramble and a shamble?

In a scramble, the team picks the best shot after every stroke and everyone plays from there until the ball is holed. In a shamble, the team picks only the best drive, then each golfer plays their own ball into the hole. Shambles reward better players more, and scrambles are more forgiving.

What is the difference between best ball and a scramble?

In best ball, every golfer plays their own ball the entire hole and the team records the single lowest score. In a scramble, the team plays one ball from the best shot each time. Best ball is more competitive, and a scramble is faster and friendlier to beginners.

How does a shotgun start work?

Every team begins at the same time from a different hole, so the whole field finishes together. It needs about 72 players, four per hole across 18 holes, to fill the course. Smaller fields can use a modified shotgun with around 48 players.

What is Stableford scoring?

Stableford awards points per hole based on your score relative to par, such as 1 for a bogey, 2 for par, and 3 for a birdie, instead of counting total strokes. The highest points total wins, and a bad hole only costs you that hole.

What golf format is best for mixed skill levels?

A scramble. Weaker players' shots can be set aside in favor of the team's best, so everyone contributes and no one feels exposed. A shamble or best ball with handicap allowances works when you want stronger players' skill to count while still including everyone.

Related reading: how to plan a golf outing, the golf outing planning checklist, golf tournament games and contests, and our full range of golf tournament gifts.