Scrambled strategy

[revkev]

All or most of us play in these. I go into them never expecting to win although I’ve been on some winning teams, when I was younger, could hit it much farther or in my league where teams were picked based on the flights that guys played in so teams were evenly matched. 
 

With a stacked team we’ve been in the 50’s very legitimately- I’m sure guys were muttering that we cheated. We just had 3 guys under a 5 all of whom could move the ball out there pretty well. And our 4th guy had a short game to die for. 
 

I played in a scramble today where this was not the case. We played a wet course at 6,600 yards where our 2 best players were myself and my buddy I’m a 6, he’s a 9. We are both 66 and at sea level in wet conditions 230 is an absolute bomb although I did hit one 241 (must have hit a cart path.). Our other 2 guys can hit it much farther but they are very wrong so it’s not as if you could let the 2 shorter guys hit it in play and they bomb away. 
 

So the strategy was to let one of the better players lead off and the other one close for all tee shots and approach shots. Short game we went in descending handicap order. On the front 9 I had issues leaving putts short. We were a yucky 2 under.  On 10 I said, I’m putting first. The guys ahead of me made so many bad strokes that I was confused by the time that it was my turn. Putting first I holed 2 15 footers and just as importantly got it 6 inches to 2 feet past the hole every time. We finished a very respectful 7 under - 61 won it. 
 

interestingly we had our names on all 4 closest to the pin holes. 2 held including mine on a 210 yard hole into the wind. I hit driver 30 feet short. The workers on the tee told me no one had come close to that shot. Otto lied all of 2 feet. My son hit one to 2 feet on another hole and got cut. 
 

Our same team placed third in a tournament the day before. Best 2 balls of the foursome - the 2 younger guys were at 6,400, the geezers at a far more manageable 6,000. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

On 10/15/2022 at 10:05 PM, revkev said:

All or most of us play in these. I go into them never expecting to win although I’ve been on some winning teams, when I was younger, could hit it much farther or in my league where teams were picked based on the flights that guys played in so teams were evenly matched. 

So the strategy was to let one of the better players lead off and the other one close for all tee shots and approach shots. Short game we went in descending handicap order. On the front 9 I had issues leaving putts short. We were a yucky 2 under.  On 10 I said, I’m putting first. The guys ahead of me made so many bad strokes that I was confused by the time that it was my turn. Putting first I holed 2 15 footers and just as importantly got it 6 inches to 2 feet past the hole every time. We finished a very respectful 7 under - 61 won it. 

I play in a lot of customer outings as most of you know. I don't usually know what team I'm on or what type of golfers will be on the team. There is always that awkward time trying to figure out who is a golfer and who isn't. Most don't have handicaps and asking sometimes leads to more awkward moments. I never want to tell my handicap either because some people can take it as bragging or an excuse for them to take the day off and drink to excess. My first clue is checking out their clubs on the cart. Then I observe the practice putting on the green. The first tee is where it finally all comes together. I'll usually say that I haven't played here before so why you guys don't show me the way.  Now I have a feeling who can get off the tee safely, who is long, or oh brother we are in trouble. Then suggest on the second shot who should play first. But i do it in a way to encourage. "Why don't you hit and put it up on the green for us to take the pressure off. They usually laugh but they do usually take up the offer. Then I'll do the same on the green. " Hey, X just put it in the hole for us. Then you get the reply well at least I can show you guys the line. But every once in a while, I get the guy with the Walmart clubs who plays once a year who will refuse to go first no matter what, all day long. You just have to deal with it! 

Once we complete the hole and the strategy worked, I'll usually say " Let's keep the same line up as this is working for us. Or make a change on the green if needed when someone's putter goes cold. One event I was in this year the 1st putter was so bad I always turned and looked the other way so it wouldn't mess me up. Even when you helped line him up and say right edge. He would hit it 2 feet left of the cup and 10 feet past. 

Scrambles can be a lot of fun, but they usually wear me out more than playing my normal round of golf. Someone is safe in the fairway and now you have the green light, so the governor comes off and the nitrous bottle gets turned on. Then no one hits the green or no one makes the putt, and you are the anchor. All the pressure is on you to step up. You don't want to let your team down. 

The only time I dread scrambles are when there are events like the Boys and Girls Club or something along those lines. There are always stacked teams, cheaters, or the guy who buys the win buy spending $200.00 on mulligans. Pays for a drop 100 yards off the green on a par 5 lying zero. Your team plays their butt off and comes in at 14 under and the winner is at 22 under.  The best part about the day was not being at work and playing golf.  

[revkev]

I have learned that all things being equal, I like to putt first.  The one exception is when playing with my sons because I know their games so well.