Part of being a golfer is the willingness – perhaps it is more of a compulsion – to give up on things.
We’ve all had swing thoughts we’ve abandoned. Most of us have at least a few putters we’ve quit on after they quit on us. And who among us hasn’t quit the game, at least for a day or two?
Given that quitting is part of the game, allow me to hereby state that I have played in my last scramble event.
Stick a 4-iron in it for me.
If you like to play the slowest form of golf known to man (aside from playing a resort course with too many bunkers, too much out of bounds and too many tourists), enjoy yourself, but I’ll find someplace else to play.
Maybe my frustration stems from having played in enough of these things and found our team still even par after five holes and knowing that even having Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm couldn’t get us back into contention from there.
Whether you call it a scramble or a captain’s choice, it’s a game that seemingly was created to coerce non-golfers to pony up money to play in a fundraising tournament, knowing they won’t have to play their own foul balls but can feel good about donating to a good cause. They can feel even better if they buy mulligans for an extra $20.
Or maybe it’s having a so-called D player who hasn’t swung a club since he played in the same event last year and who still insists on hitting a drive on every hole even though there’s a perfectly good tee shot in play 270 yards away and he can’t get there in three swings.
Maybe it’s because playing a scramble means you don’t have to only accept your own poor shots, but you have to accept everyone else’s lousy shots, too. It’s irritating enough to miss a green from 100 yards. Seeing everyone else in your foursome do the same thing doesn’t make it feel better.
Maybe it’s because these events tend to give a new driver to the winner of the long-drive contest. How much sense does that make?
Whatever it is, I’ve played my share of scrambles, and even won a few thanks to my partners.
A lot of golfers love to play scramble events. Good for them. They can have my spot, mulligans and all.
Ron Green Jr.
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Top: Rory McIlroy
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