Exactly 2 hours until my tee time in the company golf outing, time to defend my fourth of last year's title. Last year was great, a bright sunny day, and even despite giving in to the brewmaster's urges early and often, I played really well, including sticking a tee shot within 15 feet on the par 3 16th, and then stepping up and sinking the birdie.
I was looking for more of the same today, but its rained for most of the last 8 or 9 hours.
Anyway, to make this more of a discussion than just me bragging about a scramble win ;), I never know how to play a scramble the best. I'm pretty much the "A" player for the group, and if I were ever to figure out a handicap, I'd be very pleased if it was in the teens. I don't think the others in the group are that far behind my skill level, but if the team is going to rely on a shot, they'll rely on me.
How do the rest of you go about scrambling? Do you save the best player for last EVERY time, or do you make exceptions? And what about getting away from your game for the sake of the team? If the first three tee off and wind up everywhere but the fairway, do you club down and play safe? Or do you keep the big dog out and hope your skill comes through? I feel great about my mid to short iron play, and my putting can be there if needed (at least for a good lag if we don't get too close), but the part that has me nervous is getting off the tee!
Somebody has to put the tee shot in the fairway, or close to it, to give the team a chance to hit the green in regulation. If you're the most dependable player, then you go last and use whatever club you must to put the ball in play. If one of the other players manages to put the ball in the fairway a reasonable distance, then you can air it out; otherwise, conservative is the smartest play.
I'm never the go-to guy because I'm as likely to hook my 3 wood--or nearly any other club--as my driver, so I just swing away and hope that the other guys don't even bother to hit after watching my monster drive hit the fairway.
[quote=tonyg]How do the rest of you go about scrambling? Do you save the best player for last EVERY time, or do you make exceptions? And what about getting away from your game for the sake of the team? If the first three tee off and wind up everywhere but the fairway, do you club down and play safe? Or do you keep the big dog out and hope your skill comes through? QUOTE]
Some guys egos make them feel they need to be last. I say let'em. I'll hit from any position and just try to hit my best shot. If I'm last and there's no playable ball, I will take a club that will get me in the fairway....if we have a shot at winning. If we don't, it's the Big Stick as hard as I can hit it.
Scrambles, to me, is all about putting. If you do everything you can to get an approach shot on the green, you've given your team a chance at birdie.
I've been on teams that consisted of four "A" players and teams that had no chance to win, but did. It was all about putting. "A" players can kill it off the tee, then put approaches to 10 feet, but if they don't sink the putt it means nothing. Give me the guys who really have to scramble to get a 30 foot birdie putt (and then the guy who hasn't hit a shot all day sinks it) everytime. It doesn't matter how you got there....it's about putting the ball in the hole! IMO The teams that makes the most putts win Scrambles!
Sorry to be late getting onto this thread. In the few scrambles, I've played, we've started out with a worst-to-best order for everything (tee shots, approach shots, putting). I'm usually the second-worst guy in the group, which means 2 better guys tee off after me. This is fine, because I usually hit the fairway (but no distance), which allows the other guys to bomb it. Sometimes I tee off first, just so we've got a ball in the fairway right away. If we get into a rut, we'll shake up the batting order completely.
On the green, again, the best putter goes last, so he can get 3 looks at the break. However, I always feel the pressure to make one, in order to give the best putter a break. I remember one scramble when 3 of us kept missing, always leaving it up to the last guy. Didn't feel too good!
well, it took me 6 or 7 holes to get my swing down off the tee, it was HORRIBLE for the first part of the round, but once I got it going, I was hitting 3 wood 265 yds straight off the tee the rest of the day. So that was nice. A few soaked spots caused us all trouble with the irons out of the fairway, and we probably could have putted better here and there, but I think we took 3rd at even par for the day. I almost reached a couple par 5's in two, and left a 40-50yd pitch shot literally on the lip of the cup. (Where is that wind when I need it?!?!?)
As for the drives, I think my big problem was that I was slowing myself down TOO much. I'd take it back slow, but the rest of my body was way ahead of the club coming through, and I was pounding everything into the ground. Once I smoothed that out and sped it up a little, I was killing it!
well, it took me 6 or 7 holes to get my swing down off the tee, it was HORRIBLE for the first part of the round, but once I got it going, I was hitting 3 wood 265 yds straight off the tee the rest of the day. So that was nice. A few soaked spots caused us all trouble with the irons out of the fairway, and we probably could have putted better here and there, but I think we took 3rd at even par for the day. I almost reached a couple par 5's in two, and left a 40-50yd pitch shot literally on the lip of the cup. (Where is that wind when I need it?!?!?)
As for the drives, I think my big problem was that I was slowing myself down TOO much. I'd take it back slow, but the rest of my body was way ahead of the club coming through, and I was pounding everything into the ground. Once I smoothed that out and sped it up a little, I was killing it!
3rd place at even par? Sounds like you have much more honest players in your area then we have here in So. Louisiana. 21 under is usually a winning score here. Go figure.
yeah, I've heard that about you louisiana folk!! *laugh*
21 under, really? In my experience, its always been in the -8 range wins it, if someone turned in a -21, I'd make them provide video proof!!
It was just a company thing, as I said before, I usually shoot in the mid-90's, and I was probably the 4th or 5th best golfer out there out of 24 or so playing. And either the wet ground or the rapidly depleting cooler stock probably had alot to do with the scores too! :)
yeah, I've heard that about you louisiana folk!! *laugh*
21 under, really? In my experience, its always been in the -8 range wins it, if someone turned in a -21, I'd make them provide video proof!!
It was just a company thing, as I said before, I usually shoot in the mid-90's, and I was probably the 4th or 5th best golfer out there out of 24 or so playing. And either the wet ground or the rapidly depleting cooler stock probably had alot to do with the scores too! :)
Well, I wouldn't say it is a Louisiana thing, it's more like an Oil Field Trash thing. Not much integrity in my line of work. Probably has to do with the vendors and the bottomless beer carts. I will say this though, the worst case of cheating I ever saw was a scramble to raise money for a judge's re-election campaign. 23 under won it! Lawyers, now we know where the real integrity lies.
*laugh* actually, I don't know much about oil field workers OR Louisianians... (???) I'll have to take your word for it.
Now 23 under??? How do you get four guys get their story straight about a 23 under?? *laugh* The best we had yesterday was this group a couple holes ahead of us let out a loud cheer and a bunch of "yeah baby! way to go!" cheers out, but they went at it too long, and when one of them said something about "nice eagle guys!" I knew something was up...it was a par 3.
July 17th, 2004, 07:30 AM
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