Shotgun Scramble vs Tee Times — Which Format is Right for Your Outing?

One of the first decisions every outing planner faces is format. How your players start the round and how the game is played affects the entire day — the energy, the pace, how long it takes, and how much fun people have. Here's a clear breakdown of your main options.

Shotgun Scramble — The Most Popular Format

In a shotgun start, all groups begin simultaneously from different holes across the course. Everyone finishes at roughly the same time, creating a communal end-of-round experience that's perfect for post-round dinners and awards ceremonies.

In a scramble, all four players hit from the tee, the best shot is selected, and all players hit from that spot. This continues until the ball is holed. Scramble format is ideal for mixed-ability groups because weaker golfers can still contribute and nobody feels embarrassed by their score.

Best for: Corporate outings, charity tournaments, any group with mixed skill levels, events with 40+ players, events with a post-round dinner or ceremony.

Shotgun Best Ball — More Competitive

Same shotgun start, but each player plays their own ball throughout the round. The team's score on each hole is the best individual score among the group. This format rewards good golfers more directly and is more competitive than scramble.

Best for: Groups with stronger golfers who want real competition, association events, league outings.

Tee Times — More Flexible, Less Social

Groups go off the first tee (or split between 1 and 10) at intervals — typically every 8–10 minutes. There's no set end time, groups finish at different times, and the communal experience is harder to create. However tee times are more flexible for smaller groups and courses that can't accommodate a full shotgun.

Best for: Smaller groups under 40 players, events without a formal post-round program, flexible timing requirements.

Which Should You Choose?

For the vast majority of corporate and charity outings, a shotgun scramble is the right answer. It accommodates all skill levels, creates a shared experience, finishes at a predictable time, and makes your post-round program easy to run. Unless your group is made up of serious competitive golfers, start here.