The Scramble Cup
The Scramble Cup Rules and Regulations (the "Rules") herein represent the understanding of all players participating in the Scramble Cup.
the Scramble Cup is a two-versus-two Scramble Match Play tournament between two Teams, each led by a Team Captain;
Team rosters and Team Captains are determined prior to each year's tournament;
players on each Team wish to have their respective Captains agree to a set of rules and regulations and to resolve disputes on their behalf;
the Teams wish to have a set of rules and regulations to avoid dispute and conflict while hanging with the boys on the course; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Teams and all players thereon, each intending to be (not) legally bound, agree to the Rules as follows:
Match Play. A golf format where, instead of tracking strokes across an entire round, the winner of the Match Play round (a "Match") is determined by which Pairing has won more holes. If Pairings have the same score on a given hole, the hole is "halved," and, for simplicity's sake, has no impact on the score for the Match. A Match is over upon the completion of 18 holes or if and when a Pairing leads their opponent by more Points than there are holes left to play. If the Pairings have the same number of Points at the end of 18 holes, the Match is declared a tie.
Pairing. A two-man group comprised of two members of one of the Teams.
Point. The winning Pairing of a Match earns a "Point" for their Team toward winning the Scramble Cup.
Reverse Mulligan. A Reverse Mulligan is a tool in which one Pairing may make one player in the opposing pairing re-take a stroke. The Reverse Mulligan may be used on any shot. Pairings can earn up to two (2) Reverse Mulligans per Match in the manner stated in Section 11 below.
Scramble. A golf format in which each player in a Pairing hits his own ball and, after each stroke, the Pairing decides which of the Pairing members' ball positions from which the team members would like to hit their next shot. Despite two players taking a stroke from each ball position, the advancement of the ball from each ball position counts as one stroke. Each player hits a shot at each ball position, unless and until the first player in a Pairing gets the ball in the hole, in which case the Pairing's hole ends.
The Scramble Cup will be comprised of a series of two-versus-two Scramble Match Play rounds played over four (4) days. The number of Matches played during the Scramble Cup is determined by the number of players on each Team, with each day featuring an equal number of Matches across designated courses.
The Team of the winning Pairing of each Match during the first three days earns one (1) Point. If the Pairings tie a Match, each Team earns one-half (½ or 0.5) Point.
The Team of the winning Pairing of each final day Match earns two (2) Points. If the Pairings tie a final day Match, each Team earns one (1) Point.
The number of Points required to win the Scramble Cup is determined prior to each tournament based on the total number of Matches. The first Team to reach the required Point total wins the Scramble Cup.
In the event of a tie at the conclusion of all Matches, the Scramble Cup will be decided by a sudden-death, hole-by-hole Scramble playoff. Team Captains will select two players to participate as a Scramble Pairing. The Team of the first Pairing to win a hole wins the Scramble Cup.
Team Captains will trade Pairing lineups for each Course approximately one hour before the first tee time. The Captains will trade lineups one Pairing at a time in alternating fashion. The Captains will alternate who goes first at sharing lineups.
To decide who goes first and third and who goes second and fourth, the Captains will each choose four Chugging Champions. The Chugging Champions will each chug a 12-ounce beer or hard seltzer of their choosing, one-by-one, with the next Chugging Champion starting his chug after his prior Teammate finishes. The Captain of the Team that finishes first will get to decide at which courses he goes first.
For pace of play purposes, Pairings are left with discretion to concede a putt, a hole, or even an entire Match. A player's concession deliberately stated to a player in the other Pairing binds the Pairing and Team to that concession. Concessions may not be withdrawn, nor may they be declined.
After a player hits a shot, a Pairing may concede that any remaining putt for that Pairing is "in" so that the other Pairing need not hit any further strokes to complete the hole. The Pairing may concede a first player in a Pairing's shot as "in," allowing the second player to hit his shot.
A Pairing may concede a hole at any point on the hole, typically if and when it becomes clear to the Pairing that even halving the hole would be impossible or improbable. A conceded hole need not, but may, be finished. If the Pairings finish the hole, please do so at a brisk pace.
A Pairing may concede a Match if and when it becomes clear that the Pairing will not be able to recover to obtain even one-half a Point for their team. Team Captains disfavor conceding a Match so long as the Pairing remains mathematically alive, but Pairings may choose to concede the Match so that they can have more fun with the round.
The maximum score for a given hole is triple bogey. For pace of play purposes, pairings who have not gotten the ball in the hole after their double bogey stroke are instructed to pick up their ball and prepare for the next hole. If both teams score triple bogey (regardless of whether they picked up their ball), the hole is halved.
For shot locations that are not on the green or the fringe of the green, the player who shot the ball may pick up his ball, and each player in the Pairing should drop his ball approximately one club length from the location of the original ball, either laterally or backward, and, in any case, no closer to the hole.
For balls on the green or fringe, players should mark the location with a marker approximately one club head to the left or right of the ball location, and each player should play his ball within the club head distance from the marker but no closer to the hole.
In no event should a player's drop improve his Pairing's lie type. For instance, if a ball is in the rough, drops must remain in the rough. If a ball is in a bunker, it must remain in the bunker. New ball locations may, however, improve shot angle, lie height, and location from obstructions.
In the event that a Pairing is down by four Points in a Match at any given time, the Pairing may tee off from the forward tees (often referred to as the ladies' tees). The losing Pairing may do so until they are down by only two Points, at which time they must revert to the original tees.
In the event a Pairing needs to choose a ball that is in a hazard or out of bounds location, the Pairing may either play the ball as it lies with no stroke penalty or may take a two-stroke penalty to drop the ball within approximately two club lengths lateral to or behind the nearest point on the fairway directly lateral from the ball's location (or best estimate).
As the late, great Jimmy V said, "Don't give up; don't ever give up!"
During each Match, each Pairing has the opportunity to unlock and use two (2) Mulligans for one of the Pairing's team members to re-do a stroke or two (2) Reverse Mulligans for use on the other Pairing.
The Pairing earns one (1) Mulligan or Reverse Mulligan by one player shotgunning a beer immediately before the use of the Mulligan or Reverse Mulligan. Once a decision has been made to use a Mulligan or Reverse Mulligan, the team must stick with that type for the remainder of the match. Teams cannot switch between the two options or use one of each.
The same player in a Pairing may earn both Reverse Mulligans or Mulligans for his Pairing to use (good on that bro for putting the Pairing on his back).
The Teams will play as long as the course upon which they are playing allows play to continue. Team Captains may also agree to end play for a given Match or set of Matches. In the event that a Match is ended early, the following procedures are in play:
If fewer than 9 holes have been played, each Team earns one-half a point regardless of the Match score.
If 9 full holes or more have been played and the course mandates that play end, the Match is considered final and the Team(s) will be awarded Point(s) based on the score of the Match as of the last fully completed hole.
If 9 full holes or more have been played and the Team Captains agree to suspend a Match for any reason, the Captains shall confer and agree upon scoring within their discretion.
These Rules serve to supplement any rules, regulations, and procedures established by the USGA and the course upon which the Teams are playing.
These Rules are to be construed in the manner that creates the most fun and least dissent possible. The Commissioner is the final arbiter of any disputes. If words cannot resolve a dispute, bare knuckle boxing is the only answer. Any deviations from these Rules may be decided by the Commissioner at any time.