Golf, explained plainly
The answers golfers look up the week before the golf day.
Formats, kit, etiquette and tradition, written for the player who has been invited and for whoever has been handed the job of running it.
Formats & Rules
How scrambles, shotgun starts and society formats actually work, written for the person organising one.
5 guides
Kit & Gear
What the small things in a golfer's bag are for, and which ones are worth giving.
1 guides
Etiquette & Money
Tipping, thank-yous and the unwritten rules nobody explains to you on the first tee.
0 guides
Tradition & Superstition
Why golfers do the odd things they do, and what you are expected to do back.
0 guides
The Physical Toll
Why an easy-looking walk leaves you sore, starving and short-tempered, explained properly for once.
1 guides
Start here
What Is a Golf Scramble? Format, Scoring and Rules
A scramble is a team format where everyone tees off, the group picks the best shot, and all players hit again from that spot. Here is how it is scored, how handicaps work, and the local rules that decide most events.
What Is a Shotgun Start in Golf?
A shotgun start puts every group on a different hole and starts them all at the same moment, so the whole field finishes together. Here is how the hole assignments work and when the format falls apart.