Multiple Group Games

Multiple Group Games¹

Foursomes (Including Variations) -- (USGA Rule 22)²

Foursomes (also known as Alternate Shot) is a form of play in which partners (in either match play or stroke play) compete as a side, playing one ball in alternating order on each hole. There are several variations of this format. In all variations, once a ball is chosen, it may not be substituted except where allowed in the Rules of Golf, e.g., lost or damaged ball.

Foursomes: (The Men’s Club generally does not use this format.) It is an alternate shot format, where players alternate tee shots. The partners decide which partner will tee off on the even-numbered holes and which partner will tee off on the odd-numbered holes. After the tee shot, each shot is alternated between partners until the ball is holed. This is the format used in tournaments such as the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup competitions.

Scotch Foursomes: The Scotch Foursomes golf format (also known as Modified Scottish Foursomes or Scotch Ball) is a two-person team competition where each player hits a tee shot. Then the team selects which ball to play for the remainder of the hole, alternating shots until the ball is holed.

Tee Shots: Both players on the team hit tee shots.
Choosing the Ball: The team decides which of the two tee shots to play for the rest of the hole.
Alternate Shot: The player whose tee shot was not chosen hits the next shot. The players then alternate hitting shots until the ball is holed.

Chapman: The Chapman golf format (also known as Pinehurst or American Foursomes) is a two-person team competition where each player hits a tee shot, and then the players switch balls and hit the second shot. The team then selects which ball to play for the remainder of the hole, alternating shots until the ball is holed.

Tee off: Both players tee off on each hole.
Switch balls: Players switch balls and hit their partner's drive for their second shot.
Select the best ball: The team chooses the better-positioned ball after both second shots.
Alternate shots: Players take alternating shots until the ball is holed.

Four-Ball -- (USGA Rule 23)²

Four-Ball is a form of play (in either match play or stroke play) involving partners where:

Two partners compete together as a side, with each player playing their own ball, and
A side's score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole.
This is the Match Play format used in the Men's Club Memorial Partners' Cup and "The 45" and others.

Stableford — (USGA Rule 21)²

Stableford (also known as Point Par) is a form of stroke play where:

A player's or side's score for a hole is based on points awarded by comparing the player's or side's number of strokes (including strokes made and penalty strokes) on the hole to a fixed target score for the hole set by the Committee, and
The competition is won by the player or side who completes all rounds with the most points.
Many people confuse the PGA Tournament Stableford with a normal Stableford. The USGA Stableford does not award negative points for Double Bogey or worse. That is only in PGA tournaments. (The chart below is from the Rules of Golf², Rule 21).

Scoring in Stableford:
How Points Are Awarded. Points are given to a player for each hole by comparing the player's score to the fixed target score for the hole, which is par unless the Committee sets a different fixed score.

A player who does not hole out under the Rules for any reason gets zero points for the hole.
To help pace of play, players are encouraged to stop playing a hole when their score will result in zero points.
The hole is completed when the player holes out, chooses not to do so or when their score will result in zero points.

Quota

To play quota golf, you and other players aim to beat a personal points quota by scoring points for your play on each hole, using a system that starts with a handicap-determined quota and awards points for gross scores like 0 for a bogey, 2 for a par, 3 for a birdie, and 4 for an eagle. The player who exceeds their quota by the highest margin wins.
How to Determine Your Quota:

Calculate your starting quota: For 18 holes, subtract your course handicap from 36. This is your target number of points to beat.
Example: If your course handicap is 10, your quota is 26 (36 - 10 = 26).
For first-time players: Your initial quota is determined by subtracting your handicap from 36, or using a formula based on your handicap index.

How to Score Points:

Use gross scores: Your score for the hole is your actual score, not your net score.

Award points per hole: The specific point values can vary by league, but a common system is:
- 0 points: for a bogey or worse
- 2 points: for a par
- 3 points: for a birdie
- 4 points: for an eagle

Nassau

To play a Multi-Group Nassau, a score is kept for the entire round and can be recorded as Gross, Net, Quota, or Stableford points. Payouts are for First, Second, and Third-place winners on the front nine, back nine, and overall 18-hole round. Typically, no player can win more than once and is awarded the highest payout if they win more than one category.

Scramble

In the scramble golf format, a team selects their best shot on each stroke, and all team members play their subsequent shots from that location. This continues until the ball is holed, with the team using one aggregate score for the hole, making it a popular option for players of varying skill levels and for fundraising events. This format can be used with 2, 3 or 4 person teams. Note: Normally, there will be a minimum number of tee shots required per player and optionally a maximum number per player. Although there are other formula, Team handicaps are normally calculated (USGA Recommended³) as:

4 Players (25%/20%/15%/10% from the lowest to highest handicap)
3 Players (30%/20%/10% from the lowest to highest handicap)
2 Players (35% low/15% high)

How it works:

Team members tee off: Each player on the team hits a tee shot from the tee box.
Select the best shot: The team chooses the best-performing shot from the tee.
Play from that spot: All team members move their balls to the spot of the selected shot.
Repeat until holed: They play their second shots from this new location, again selecting the best shot, and repeat the process for the third, fourth, and subsequent shots until the ball is in the hole.
One score per hole: The team records a single score for the hole, which is typically the lowest score achieved.

Step-Aside Scramble

A Step Aside Scramble (also known as a Florida Scramble) is a golf format where teams of four players compete. After each shot, the player whose ball was selected as the best shot for the previous stroke "steps aside" and does not play the next shot. This means the remaining team members play from that selected spot. Normally, there will be a minimum number of tee shots required per player and optionally a maximum number per player. Although there are other formula, Team handicaps are normally calculated (USGA Recommended³) as 25%/20%/15%/10% from the lowest to highest handicap.
How it works:

Tee Shots: All players on a team hit their tee shots.
Select the Best Shot: The team selects the best shot from the tee box.
Step Aside: The player who hit that selected tee shot does not play the next shot.
Play the Next Shot: The remaining team members play their second shots from the spot of the chosen tee shot.
Repeat: This process continues for each subsequent shot (approach shots, chips, putts) until the ball is holed. The player whose shot is selected sits out the next shot.

Shamble

In a shamble golf format, team members first tee off, then select the best drive from the group, and from that chosen spot, each player plays their own ball independently to the hole. The team's score for the hole is determined by the best individual score among the players on the hole (Gross or Net as defined by the tournament committee). Normally this format is one Best Ball; however, it can also be played as two Best balls. Note: Optionally, there will be a minimum number of tee shots required per player and optionally a maximum number per player.
How to Play a Shamble:

Tee Off: All players on a team (usually 2-4) hit their drives from the tee box.
Select the Best Drive: The team selects the best drive from the group, considering factors like position or line into the green.
Play from a Common Spot: Each player then places their own ball within a club-length of the chosen best drive.
Individual Play to the Hole: From that common spot, each player plays out the remainder of the hole with their own ball, as in a standard game of golf.
Best Score Wins: The team's score for that hole is the lowest individual score achieved by any member of the team.
Repeat: This process is repeated for every hole.

Best Ball

There is no single "best" best ball format; the best one depends on the golfers and the event. The most common variation is four-ball (or best ball) where each player plays their own ball, and the team records the lowest score for each hole. Other versions include two-person best ball, where the team score is the better of two players' scores, and 2- or 3-best ball, where the team records the two or three lowest scores on the hole. Best Ball can be a Net or Gross Score format.
How Best Ball is Played:

A team can consist of 2 or more players.
Individual Effort: Each player on a team plays their own ball for the entire hole.
Team Score: For each hole, the team's score is the best score among the players.
- Teams of 2: Single best ball of the two
- Teams of 3: One or two best balls on each hole
- Teams of 4: One, Two or Three best balls on each hole

6-6-6 - Multi-Format Round

The "6-6-6 golf format," also known as the Sixes game, is a round of 18 holes where the format of play changes every six holes. While the specific game formats for each six-hole segment are determined by the tournament organizer or players, a common example involves playing the first six holes in a "Scramble" format, the middle six holes in "Best Ball," and the final six holes in "Alternate Shot". This format can be played with two or four-person teams.

How it works

Team Play:
The 6-6-6 format is a team event, usually with two-person or four-person teams.
Changing Formats:
Over the course of 18 holes, the rules for how teams score change after every six holes.

Formats - 6 holes each (see above for descriptions):
- One, Two or Three Best Balls - Two or Four-person Teams -
- Gross/Net (Best Gross and Best Net ball, same ball cannot be used for both) - Two or Four-person Teams
- Scramble or Shamble - Two or Four-person Teams
- Alternate Shot, Scotch or Chapman - Two-person Teams
Example Formats:
- First 6 Holes: Scramble format
- Middle 6 Holes: Best Ball (also known as "Better Ball")
- Last 6 Holes: Gross/Net

Cha-Cha-Cha

The Cha-Cha-Cha golf format is a four-person team event where players play their own balls, and scores are determined by a 3-hole rotation: one best score on the first hole (Cha), two best combined scores on the second (Cha-Cha), and three best combined scores on the third (Cha-Cha-Cha). This 1-2-3 rotation then repeats for the remaining holes. The cycle can be reversed, three best scores on the first hole (Cha), two best combined scores on the second (Cha-Cha), and one best score on the third.

Team Setup: Four players form a team and play their own balls throughout the round.
The Rotation: A 3-hole cycle is used to determine how many scores count for the team.
1. Hole 1 (Cha): The best single score from any team member is recorded as the team's score for that hole.
2. Hole 2 (Cha-Cha): The sum of the two best scores from any team members is recorded.
3. Hole 3 (Cha-Cha-Cha): The sum of the three best scores from any team members is recorded.
Repeating the Cycle: The 1-2-3 rotation begins again on the fourth hole. For hole 4, the best single score counts; for hole 5, the sum of the two best scores counts; and for hole 6, the sum of the three best scores counts, and so on.

Eclectic (Ringers)

In golf, a "ringer" score (also known as an eclectic score) is your best score on each hole over a set period, resulting in an ideal scorecard for the season. Handicaps determine how a player's actual scores are adjusted to reflect their playing ability, and in a ringer competition, your score on each hole is tracked, and the best score on that hole, whether gross or net, is kept for the final ringer score. Although the terms eclectic and ringer are used interchangeably, they mean different things when handicaps are involved. Then, 'ringer' refers to gross scores while 'eclectic' refers to net scores.
How a Ringer Score is Calculated:

Establish a Baseline: Your first eligible round(s) create a baseline score for each hole.
Update with Improvement: As you play more rounds, your score for each hole is updated with your improved score.
Final Ringer Score: Your ringer score at the end of the season is a compilation of your best score on every hole from all your eligible rounds.

Crazy Sheldon⁴ 🤪

Crazy Sheldon is a modified version of Cha Cha Cha. It is played with four-person teams where players play their own balls. But instead of having a 1, 2 and 3 best balls rotation, the holes for each are random. In addition, during the play of a hole, the players do not know how many net best balls they will need for that hole. NOTE: This format cannot be played in a shotgun - it must use tee times starting off the same tee.
How Crazy Sheldon is Played:

Before play begins, put together a bag of tees as follows: 6 White Tees, 6 Red Tees and 6 Natural tees (any 3 colors will work). Give this bag to one of the players in the first group to go out
The first group plays the first hole - each player plays their own ball
On the second hole, one of the players in the first group draws a tee from the bag and places it in the ground next to the tee marker
1. If the chosen tee is Red - then use one net best ball from the previous hole
2. If the chosen tee is White - then use two net best balls from the previous hole
3. If the chosen tee is Natural - then use three net best balls from the previous hole
By leaving the tee in the ground on the 2nd through 18th tee boxes, each team will know how many best balls to use from the previous hole
And when the round is over, the final tee will be in the club house, for the 18th hole

40 Ball⁵

40 Ball format is a team game for foursomes, where the team must count 40 net balls over 18 holes. The team may choose 0 - 4 balls on each hole. At the end of 18 holes, the team must have chosen 40 balls, total. The rules are simple:

On each hole, the team chooses 0 to 4 net balls
After anyone from the team tees off on the next hole, you can not go back and change your number of net balls on a previous hole.
There are several possible optional modifications to the rules for this game:
- The committee can specify that each hole must have at least one (1) net ball
- The committee can specify that the team must use 10 net balls from each player

Lone Ranger

The "Lone Ranger" golf game is a four-person team game where each player rotates being the "Lone Ranger" for a hole, and their score is combined with the best ball of the other three teammates. The rotation is typically cyclic, with each player acting as the Lone Ranger for a set sequence of holes, such as Player 1 on holes 1, 5, 9, 13, etc., and Player 2 on holes 2, 6, 10, 14, and so on.

Determine a rotation: for the "Lone Ranger". A common method is to assign Player 1 as the Lone Ranger for hole 1, Player 2 for hole 2, Player 3 for hole 3, Player 4 for hole 4, and then repeat the cycle for the rest of the round.
On each hole, the designated Lone Ranger plays their ball as usual. The other three teammates also play their balls.
Calculate the team score: for the hole by combining the Lone Ranger's score with the best ball score from the other three players.

Hot Ball Scramble

A Hot Ball Scramble is a golf game (similar to the Lone Ranger - but a scramble) where teams play a scramble on all but one hole, which rotates each hole, and on that "hot ball" hole, the designated player plays their ball alone while the rest of the team plays a scramble off a second ball, with both scores contributing to the team's score for that hole. This format combines the teamwork of a scramble with individual pressure, as the "hot ball" player must perform well to help the team score, while the others contribute through the scramble format.
How to Play:

Rotate the Hot Ball: On each hole, one player is designated as the "hot ball" player, and this role rotates from one player to another on each subsequent hole.
Two Plays Per Hole:
1. The Hot Ball: The designated player plays their own ball from tee to green.
2. The Scramble: The remaining teammates hit a second ball off the tee and then continue to play a scramble from the location of the best shot until the hole is finished.
Combine Scores: The score from the "hot ball" and the score from the scramble ball are added together to get the team's total score for that hole.
Repeat: This process repeats for every hole, with the "hot ball" designation rotating among team members.

3 Club Challenge

The "3 Club Challenge" format in golf (also known as 3-Club Monte or 3 Clubs and a Putter) means players choose three clubs from their bag, in addition to a putter, for a round. This format is a popular challenge that tests creativity and adaptability in shot-making. The putter is usually allowed in addition to the three chosen clubs.
Key aspects of the 3-club challenge:

Examples of Club Choices: Common combinations include a driver, a mid-iron (like a 7-iron), and a wedge (like a pitching wedge or 52-degree wedge). Some players might opt for a hybrid or a 3-wood instead of a driver.

Putter: The putter is almost always allowed in addition to the three chosen clubs.
Club Selection: Players carefully choose their three clubs based on their strengths and the course layout.
Adaptability: Players must adapt their game to the limited club selection, potentially using creative shot-making techniques.
Scoring: 3-Club Challenge can be used with almost any format, e.g., Scramble, Shamble, Stableford, Quota and others.

Footnotes:
[1] Unless otherwise noted, the information contained herein, was extracted from extensive Google searches
[2] "USGA Rules of Golf, Effective January 2023", 2022, R&A Rules Limited and The United States Golf Association
[3] "Rules of Handicapping, Effective January 2024", 2023, R&A Rules Limited and The United States Golf Association
[4] Thanks to Sheldon Smith, Esq. of Palm Valley Country Club for this one. It is named after him 😂
[5] "GolfCompendium.com"