Okay, so I’ve been getting into golf lately, and a buddy of mine suggested we try a “Shamble” format. I’d heard of it, but never actually played it, so I figured, why not? Let’s give it a shot.
What is a Shamble, Anyway?
Basically, it’s a team thing, usually four players. Everyone tees off, just like normal.
- The whole team gets together on where shot landed
- Everyone chooses the Best Drive out of your group
And Here is the Fun Part, from there, everyone plays their OWN ball until it’s in the hole. So, you get the advantage of picking the best tee shot, but you still gotta play your own game after that. It’s kinda like a best-ball for the tee shot, then regular stroke play for the rest of the hole.
My First Shamble Experience
We went out last Saturday – me, Mike, Dave, and Sarah. I was a little nervous, not gonna lie. My drives can be… unpredictable. Sometimes they’re majestic; sometimes they’re in the next county. Luckily, Dave’s pretty consistent off the tee, so we figured we’d be leaning on his drives a lot.
First hole, par 4. I sliced mine right, into some trees. Classic. Mike hooked his left. Sarah’s was okay, but a bit short. Dave? Right down the middle, perfect. Naturally, we all played from Dave’s spot.
From there, it was interesting. I actually managed to par the hole, even though my second shot was a bit shaky. Dave birdied it, of course. Mike and Sarah both bogeyed. We counted Dave’s birdie and my par for the team score.
We kept going like that for all 18 holes. It was a lot more relaxed than I expected. Even when I had a bad shot (which, let’s be honest, happened a few times), it didn’t feel as devastating because the team wasn’t totally relying on me. And when I did hit a good shot, it felt even better, knowing it was helping the team.
The Final Verdict
We ended up doing pretty well! I think we shot something like 8-under as a team. Not bad for a bunch of weekend hackers. More importantly, it was a lot of fun. I’m definitely a fan of the Shamble format now.
It’s great for a group with different skill levels. The better players can kinda carry the team, but the not-so-great players (like me, sometimes) still get to contribute and don’t feel like they’re dragging everyone down.
If you’re looking for a fun, less stressful way to play golf with your buddies, I highly recommend giving the Shamble a try. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it!
