Scramble Handicap Calculator
The USGA recommends 25%, 20%, 15% and 10% of the four players' Course Handicaps, lowest first, for a 4-person scramble; 30/20/10% for 3 players and 35/15% for 2. Add them up and round to get the team handicap.
Scramble handicap calculator
How a scramble team handicap is worked out
- Convert every player's Handicap Index into a Course Handicap for the tees being played.
- Rank the players from the lowest Course Handicap to the highest.
- Multiply each by its allowance: the lowest gets the biggest percentage.
- Add the results and round to the nearest whole number. That team handicap comes off the team's gross score.
Scramble allowances by team size
| Team | Lowest | 2nd | 3rd | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 players | 25% | 20% | 15% | 10% |
| 3 players | 30% | 20% | 10% | – |
| 2 players | 35% | – | – | 15% |
Why the percentages are so small
In a scramble the team plays the best shot every time, so a team scores far better than any of its players would alone. Giving each player their full handicap would hand the high-handicap teams a big advantage. The low percentages, and the extra weight on the best player, keep teams of different abilities competitive. Even so, the allowances are a recommendation: an event's committee may set its own in the terms of the competition.
Worked example
A team of four with Course Handicaps of 8, 14, 21 and 28: 25% of 8 = 2.0, 20% of 14 = 2.8, 15% of 21 = 3.15, 10% of 28 = 2.8. Total 10.75, so the team handicap is 11. If the team shoots 61, its net score is 50.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate a 4-person scramble handicap?
Rank the four Course Handicaps from lowest to highest and take 25%, 20%, 15% and 10% of them, then add and round. For 8, 14, 21 and 28: 2 + 2.8 + 3.15 + 2.8 = 10.75, a team handicap of 11.
What is the handicap allowance for a 2-person scramble?
35% of the lower Course Handicap plus 15% of the higher one. A team with 10 and 24 gets 3.5 + 3.6 = 7.1, so 7 strokes.
Do I use Handicap Index or Course Handicap?
Course Handicap. Convert each player's Handicap Index for the tees being played first, then apply the scramble percentages.
Can the organizer use different percentages?
Yes. The USGA percentages are recommendations; the committee can set other allowances in the terms of the competition, for example for very mixed fields.
Related guides
This tool is part of our handicap guide, which also covers:
- What Is a Good Golf Handicap? Averages and What They Mean: What a 5, 15 or 25 handicap means, and where average golfers sit.
- How to Calculate a Golf Handicap (World Handicap System): Score differentials, the lowest-8-of-20 rule and a worked example.
Sources
- Rules of Handicapping, Appendix C: Handicap Allowances, USGA. Used for: scramble allowances for 2, 3 and 4-player teams.
- Rules of Handicapping, Rule 6.1: Course Handicap Calculation, USGA. Used for: Course Handicap, the starting number for each player.
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