H.P.G.C.

 Texas Scramble Rules  

Following some rules disputes which occurred during Texas Scrambles the Committee have decided that some club rules need to be put in place to clear up any problems.

Texas Scramble is not recognized as a form of golf by the R&A. As such, any questions, which arise regarding rulings, will not be answered by the R&A. The Competition committee have discussed a set of rules & taken advice from Neil Burke on the best way forward. The following rules are to be effective in Club Texas Scrambles from 19th November 2005.  

Finding a workable set of rules has not been straightforward and these rules are based on giving every team the most options possible whilst remaining true to the spirit in which golf should be played.  

1. The team’s handicap shall be the total of the players’ handicaps divided by 10.

E.g.  20+10+22+9 = 61 divided by 10   = 6.1       

Any lady in a team receives 1 courtesy shot added after the above calculation

Any team which is a player short will receive 1.8 courtesy shots added after the

Above calculation  

2. The Committee in charge of the competition may stipulate conditions of entry such as the number of tee shots to be used, team selection, tees to be used etc as it seems appropriate.  

3.  Once selected the position must be marked. The ball may be lifted, cleaned & must be placed not dropped within 12” of the original spot no nearer the hole everywhere on course except on the putting green where it must be placed on the exact spot and in a bunker where it must be placed within a 12” radius of the spot & can be nearer the hole.  

4. Once a ball has been selected and marked the team may play from that position in any order they wish. No player may play a second shot from this or another position until all the team has played or a new position has been selected. If a player does play a second shot the stroke is cancelled and a 1-stroke penalty should be added to the score for the hole.  

5.  Should a player break a rule of golf where the penalty would normally be 1or2 strokes that stroke may be cancelled under no penalty providing the ball is not selected for the next shot. If the team wishes to use that ball for the next shot they must add the normal penalty strokes.  

6.  Should a ball be selected which lies in a bunker the ball must be marked and the first player may place the ball within a 12” radius of that spot and in the bunker (the ball may be positioned nearer to the hole than the marker if desired when in a bunker) The following players must proceed in the same way. A player may rake the bunker prior to their shot.  

7. Should a ball be selected which is in a water hazard the usual options are available to the team. They may play the ball as it lies under no penalty or may drop a ball under the water hazard rules and must apply a 1-stroke penalty to the score for the hole.  

The R&A Rules of Golf do not cover Texas Scramble as it does not recognize it as a form of golf as such in order to promote fair play hpgc competition committee have produced these club rules please ensure that your team play within the spirit of and to the normal rules of golf and apply the above rules as necessary. Should a situation occur which is not covered by these club rules the committee will make a ruling on the decision and their decision shall be final.  

Please remember these rules only apply during a Texas scramble. Other golf clubs and societies will have their own Texas Scramble rules, which may be different to HPGC.