Which brings me to a painting, a new and playful one, that our daughter, Alina, recently stumbled upon while hiking a green corner of the worldwide web, looking to ease the pain of Tax Day for her golf-nut father. It’s a watercolor called Chipping Season by a young artist named Liesel Anne Callahan. It depicts golfing chipmunks somewhere in Amen Corner. One of the things that makes the Masters tournament work is that it has a lot of rules, for players and fans and everyone else, and people are willing to follow them, in the name of decorum and orderliness. One of the things that makes this painting such a delight is that the artist doesn’t need any rules at all. The golfing chipmunks have their carry bags right on the green. Another group of golfing chipmunks are in a cart, with yellow-and-white surrey top, parked dangerously close to the green. The painting itself is a study in green in all its many shades.

I called Ms. Callahan. “I don’t golf, but I am surrounded by people who do,” starting with her husband, she said. She joins him in watching the Masters each year in their home in Lawrence, Kans. Liesel is a fourth-generation Jayhawk.

In real life, do golfing chipmunks wear green knickers or a pink-and-white striped skirt? No, but in Chipping Season they do. Do you see golf carts going the wrong way over the Hogan Bridge on 12? You do not, at least not during the CBS telecast of the Masters. It is a background moment in Chipping Season.

“I know Augusta has a lot of rules but as an artist I like to take what I see and make my own rules,” Callahan said.

During the telecast, she saw Amen Corner — the 11th green, the par-3 12th, the tee shot on 13 — and made it her own.

The artist’s father is a physician. Her mother is a musician, on organist. Her husband is a runner. They are newish parents. They live in a house with a view of a city park. When the Masters is on, Lawrence, some years, is still coming out of winter. Her brother-in-law came up with the name, Chipping Season.

“When I think of an animal that golfs, I think of chipmunks,” the artist said. “I don’t know why.” 

Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments at Michael.Bamberger@Golf.com

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The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the answers.

My second shot on a par-5 embedded into the front lip of a bunker. At least half of the ball was embedded into the grass lip, but part of it was definitely touching the sand. Is this ball considered embedded, or in the bunker and played as it lies? – Nick Monti, via email

Both. The ball is in its own pitch-mark made by the previous stroke and below the surface of the ground, so it is indeed embedded. But it’s also touching sand, so it lies in the bunker — here, we point you to Rule 12.1 — and relief for an embedded ball is not allowed when the ball is in a bunker (or even when in the general area but embedded in sand in an area not cut to fairway height or less).

Ergo, per Rule 16.3 and definition of embedded, you need to play it as it lies or take an unplayable.

For more bunker-related guidance from our guru, read on …

The deer around my home course often run through the bunkers. Charming… but can I smooth the tracks if my ball comes to rest in a hoofprint? – Shay Ballard, Prescott, Ariz.

While deer tracks may, er, tick us off, you can’t smooth them, because smoothing isn’t allowed if it improves the conditions affecting the stroke — aka CATS.

Even if Model Local Rule F-13, which treats damage by animal hoofs (or paws) as ground under repair, is in effect, you still wouldn’t be allowed to smooth but would get a free drop instead. We will discuss deer droppings another time.

Want to find the right gear for your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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Losing your golf ball is one of the most frustrating things that can happen during a round, but unfortunately, it’s just a reality of the sport. At whatever level you play, you’re going to lose a ball at some point. Therefore, it’s essential to understand how this will impact you, your playing partners, and those on the course with you.

Depending on where and how you lose your ball, the protocol may vary. You may have sliced your ball into a tree or bush and been unable to find it. Or it may have ended up in a water hazard. To remove any confusion, this guide will cover the golf rules for a lost ball.

What do I do if I lose my golf ball?

When you lose your ball, you have up to three minutes to find it. In the past, you had five minutes, but to increase the pace of play, this time was reduced. This is at the forefront of most rules regarding a lost ball – your priority is to keep the game moving and not hinder yourself or any groups behind you who may grow in frustration while you hunt for your ball.

You (and/or your caddy) can spend up to three minutes looking for the ball if it is lost. If you’ve hit the ball into a bush or tree, you may have a vague idea where it is. Only once you’ve spent the full three minutes searching for the ball is the ball considered lost.

If your playing partner loses their ball

If your playing partner were to lose their ball, you technically don’t have to help them find it. However, it is recommended that you do so to speed up play. Likewise, it would be advised for them to help you find your ball, too, if the roles were reversed. As mentioned, the ultimate goal and underlying principle behind the rules for lost balls is to get the round back on track as quickly as possible.

Rule 18.2

According to rule 18.2, when a ball is lost or out of bounds, stroke-and-distance relief must be taken. What this means is you’ll have to return to the position from which you took your previous shot and add a one-stroke penalty.

For example, if you tee off and lose your ball, you’ll have to tee off again, and this will count as your third stroke. This is also known as a two-stroke penalty.

Using a provisional ball

If your ball is suspected to be lost but may be either out of bounds or within the course, or you can’t find your ball, but the full three minutes of search time hasn’t yet lapsed, you can use a provisional ball. This will also be subject to a stroke and distance penalty, as outlined in Rule 18.2.

Think of a provisional ball as a backup ball – it is commonly referred to as a ‘reload’ ball used to keep the game flowing quickly. It must be clearly announced that you are using a provisional ball, and the word ‘provisional’ must be used in this. You cannot use a provisional ball if your ball is lost in a penalty area, or a water hazard, as it’s more commonly known.

If your ball is lost in a water hazard

If your ball is lost in a water hazard, you can either:  

• Redo your shot from its previous position
• Use back-on-the-line relief, whereby you take your shot from behind the penalty area directly in line with where your ball entered
• Take lateral relief, where you drop your ball back in play two club lengths across from where it entered the water

These incur a one-stroke penalty as opposed to the two-stroke penalty, which you’d face if your ball were lost or out of bounds.

New local golf rule for lost balls

If you aren’t competing at a high level, such as a competitive amateur competition, a new rule has been introduced to speed up proceedings and allow players to avoid returning to the previous position where they lost the ball.

If you lose the ball out of bounds – say it is lost in a bush or tree, and you’re unable to locate it – pick the position where it has most likely been lost. Then, find the closest edge of the fairway to this spot. This new spot on the fairway mustn’t be closer to the hole than where the ball was lost.

Once you’re back on the fairway, you have two club lengths in which you can drop your ball back in play, so long as it is still no closer to the hole than where the ball was lost. Note that this will still incur two penalty strokes, but it will speed up play more than announcing a provisional ball or returning to your previous position.

A word of advice

It’s generally advisable to use your provisional ball if you suspect your ball is lost and are confident it’s not in a penalty area.

Increasing the pace of play is the name of the game when you’ve lost a ball. You should aim to get the round back on track as quickly as possible to keep you, your playing partner, and any groups behind you happy.

Let’s face it. Losing the ball, or indeed hitting it out of bounds, is the reality for every golfer. Even those at the very top will have experience of it, so it’s important not to let this get in the way of your game. It’s an unpleasant experience, but try to ensure it doesn’t affect your mental state throughout the game.

Completing a par five, for example, in six strokes because you’ve incurred a penalty thanks to a lost ball is far from ideal. But brush it off, recompose yourself and go again.

There’s no reason you can’t still put in a good performance or win a round just because of one lost ball. Losing a ball is part of the game we love. It’s a learning experience, and one that will make you a better golfer in the long run.

Specialist golf insurance through Golf Care

Whether you’re new to golfing or an experienced player, accidents can happen while you’re out on the course. That’s why you may want to consider protecting yourself and your equipment with specialist golf insurance.

Through Golf Care, policies include Equipment Cover up to £7,500, Public Liability of up to £10m, and Personal Accident Cover up to £50,000. Get a quote online today.

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Golf can be played in a variety of formats, and one of the most popular of those is a Texas Scramble – a rewarding approach to team-based golf that’s favoured by players of all skill levels. 

A Texas Scramble is a fast-paced, team-oriented way to play golf, ideal for various occasions, from charity golf days and corporate tournaments to casual weekend outings with friends.

But what is a Texas Scramble? In this guide to Texas Scramble golf, we’ll explain what it is, the rules, how to play it, and look at the origins of its intriguing name. 

What is a Texas Scramble?

Texas Scramble is a team-based golf format usually played by groups of two, three, or four players. 

Rather than playing with individual scores, each team works together in a Texas Scramble to achieve the best possible score on each hole. All the players in a team tee off, and then the team chooses the single best shot. From there, everyone plays their next shot from that chosen location, and again, the best shot amongst them is chosen. This continues until the ball is holed, with the team recording only the single best shots as the team score for that hole.

A Texas Scramble is a format that allows for a strategic and collaborative experience. It takes the pressure off individual players, which is why it’s popular for occasions like friendly competitions, amateur events, and charity days.

How to play a Texas Scramble

One of the best aspects of a Texas Scramble is that it’s easy to play. All you need to do is:

• Form teams: Texas Scramble teams are usually made up of four players, but there’s no reason you can’t play with two or three, or even more than four, as long as everyone involved agrees.
• Tee off: On each hole, every team member will hit their drives.
• Choose the best shot: The team then selects the best-positioned ball after everyone has taken their initial drive.
• Play from the chosen position: All the team members place their ball within one club’s length (but no nearer to the hole) of the selected shot and then take turns to play their next stroke.
• Repeat until the ball is holed: You continue selecting the best shot and playing from a club’s length of that location, until the first team member sinks their ball.
• Record the score: If the team collectively took four strokes to complete the hole, you record your score as four, rather than counting each individual stroke (so not a score of 16 if you had a team of four players each taking four strokes).
• Move on to the next hole: Repeat the above process until you’ve finished your round.
• Total and compare your scores: Once your team has a total score for your round, you can compare against other teams to see who got the lowest total and is the winner.

What are the rules of a Texas Scramble?

The rules of Texas Scramble are pretty simple to master and are usually reasonably flexible, too. The most important ones to be aware of are:

• Drive contribution: Often, every member of a team is required to contribute a set number of tee shots during a round, commonly at least three or four per player.
• Best shot choice: When it comes to choosing the best shot each time, you can either take a quick vote as a team or pick one team member to be the captain and have them make the decision.
• Ball placement: When placing your ball after the team selects the best shot, you must stay within one club’s length of the chosen ball, but you can’t move closer to the hole. Your ball must remain in the same condition as the chosen one, such as in the rough, on the fairway, or in a bunker.
• Order of play: Once a ball is selected as the best shot, the order in which players play the next shot is up to the team. It can be a strategic choice, especially as you get closer to the green.
• Putting: On the green, all players usually putt from the same spot until the ball is holed.

As you can see, there’s scope for flexibility in the rules of a Texas Scramble. What’s most important, though, is that the precise version of each rule is agreed upon beforehand and clearly communicated to everyone involved, so that each team plays by the same set of Texas Scramble rules.

Why is it called a Texas Scramble?

The format was actually called “Captain’s Choice” originally, as the captain of the team was the one who most often chose the best shot.

Whilst there’s no agreed-upon explanation as to how and why this format got a name change to Texas Scramble, it’s generally thought that it became popular in Texas from the 1930s to the 1950s thanks to its casual, player-friendly nature. The word “scramble” reflects the non-traditional, more relaxed style of play. 

Though often shortened simply to just Scramble, the “Texas” in Texas Scramble helps differentiate it from other team formats, like Florida Scramble or Las Vegas Scramble, which each have their own variations and rules.

If you’re looking to brush up on your overall golf vocabulary, check out our essential guide to golf slang.

What are the origins of Texas Scramble?

Just as with its name, the exact origins of the Texas Scramble aren’t clear. We know it existed as “Captain’s Choice” from at least the early 1900s, but it became popular in Texas in the first half of the 20th century. It’s thought that it first became widely played thanks to the rise of amateur and corporate golf events, where organisers wanted a format that was inclusive, fast-paced, and suitable for players with varying skill levels.

Texas Scramble spread quickly across the US and internationally from the 1950s onwards, and today, it is a staple format for more relaxed golf competitions. Of course, there are a variety of other golf team formats that can be played, too, including the popular Foursomes and Greensomes.

What are the benefits of playing Texas Scramble?

Texas Scramble golf has various benefits, especially for team play and less competitive settings. 

• A focus on teamwork and camaraderie: Texas Scramble golf introduces a strong team element to play, with the final team score based on the group’s combined effort. 
• A fast pace of play: Because only the best shot is played each time, rounds are often quicker than individual stroke play, especially useful in large field events.
• It’s inclusive for all skill levels: New golfers can enjoy the game without the pressure of having individual scores and can rely on stronger players, especially during tougher shots.
• It rewards strategy and decision-making: Texas Scramble involves more than just good shots; it requires strategic thinking. Choosing which ball to play, who tees off when, and how to approach each hole becomes a team effort.
• It’s less punitive: Because the worst shots are usually ignored, the Texas Scramble golf format is more forgiving. This keeps frustration low and enjoyment high, particularly for more casual players.

Whatever format of golf you’re playing, accidents can happen out on the course. That’s why you may want to consider protecting yourself and your gear with specialist golf insurance before your next round.

With Golf Care, policies include Equipment Cover up to £7,500, Public Liability of up to £10m, and Personal Accident Cover up to £50,000. Get a quote online today.

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When it comes to spicing up a standard round of golf, there are all kinds of games you can play, from Stableford and skins to wolf. One of the most interesting and unique variations is Bingo Bango Bongo, and it might just change how you approach the sport.

What is Bingo Bango Bongo?

Bingo Bango Bongo is a golf format in which you’re aiming to score more points than your opponents, as opposed to completing each hole with the fewest strokes.

Each hole is worth three points, and the winner of the round is simply the player who accumulates the most points. But there’s a catch. Bingo Bango Bongo is all about adhering to etiquette and following the rules to a tee. That means no gimme puts and no ready golf.

In this way, the game isn’t quite as whimsical as the name suggests. But if you’re a player who enjoys abiding by the rules and is prepared for a twist or two, you might find it to be your new favourite way to play golf.

How to play Bingo Bango Bongo

In Bingo Bango Bongo, there are three points up for grabs for each hole.

• The first – known as the Bingo point – is given to the player whose ball lands on the green first.
• The Bango point is then awarded to the player closest to the hole once all players have reached the green.
• The Bongo point is then awarded to whoever holes out first.

Sounds simple, right? But here’s the catch: the Bingo point is given to the first on the green regardless of how many strokes that player took.

Bingo Bango Bongo is all about taking your shots in the correct order. That’s to say, the player furthest away from the hole takes their shot first. As a result, players with shorter drives actually have an advantage over their more skilled opponents.

A player who reaches the green after 10 strokes will still win the Bingo point so long as they reach the green before their game partner, even if they were to get to the green in two or three strokes.

This is why it’s so important to play in the correct order. Ready golf (where each player takes their shot once they’re ready) would defeat the purpose and remove a great deal of the charm of Bingo Bango Bongo golf.

Levelling the playing field

With the number of strokes not entirely relevant to who collects the most points, the playing field is levelled massively. Hitting a tremendous drive from the off could end up being a massive disadvantage if your opponent is constantly creeping up on you and getting closer and closer to the green, even if they’re taking lots of shots.

Similarly to how a slightly less accomplished golfer can win the Bingo point, the Bongo point can favour the player whose ball in the green is furthest from the hole. There are no gimmes in this game. That final point is all about who holes out, meaning there’s an added element of drama and pressure at the end of each hole.

In fact, it’s only the Bango point, given to the player closest to the hole once everyone has reached the green, which is perhaps more likely to be won by the player with the lowest handicap.

Handicaps with Bingo Bango Bongo

Speaking of handicaps, one of the great things about Bingo Bango Bongo is that games are even regardless of varying abilities within a group, without the need to worry about factoring in a handicap.

So, if you and your friends are all of differing abilities but want to play together, Bingo Bango Bongo could be the ideal game for you to try.

Scoring in Bingo Bango Bongo

The scoring in Bingo Bango Bongo is simple, with three points awarded for every hole. 
While a key element of Bingo Bango Bongo is adhering to the correct order of play, there are variations to be had when it comes to scoring. Iterations can include:

• Three points are always available for each hole, but one common alteration is to award double points if one player gets all three points on one hole.
• Other changes are beneficial if all players are exceptionally skilled. For example, the Bingo point might go to the player with the longest drive as opposed to the player who reaches the green first.
• While the standard form of the game ignores the number of strokes, you may also decide that the bingo point goes to whoever reaches the green in the fewest number of strokes.

It really is up to you just how you alter the game of Bingo Bango Bongo to suit the number of players you’re playing with and the ability you all find yourselves having. You may prefer the standard version of the game in which high-handicap players aren’t punished, or you might enjoy a version more like standard match play, where you consider the number of strokes for each hole.

As long as the player with the most points by the 18th hole wins (and you’ve completed each hole in the correct playing order!), you can’t really go wrong.

Some people also compete for money in a game of Bingo Bango Bongo; however, if you choose to do so, it’s essential to do so responsibly.

Why play Bingo Bango Bongo?

While each format of golf is fantastic in its own way, you may eventually find yourself finding standard Stableford or stroke play a little stale. If that’s the case, a version of golf such as Bingo Bango Bongo is ideal to add new, different dynamics and jeopardies to your round.

Unlike other games, Bingo Bango Bongo is a form of golf which requires patience and a willingness to stick to the rules. But if that sounds up your street, it can yield some exciting and enjoyable results. And, even with that said, you can essentially mould the game to suit you and your group in whichever ways you’d like if you follow the basic principles.

If you’ve got one friend you just haven’t been able to beat, offer them a game of Bingo Bango Bongo. Just maybe, their streak could come to an end.

Specialist golf insurance through Golf Care

Now you have a whole new way to play your favourite sport, you may want to consider getting specialist golf insurance before you’re next out on the course.

Through Golf Care, policies include Equipment Cover up to £7,500, Public Liability of up to £10m, and Personal Accident Cover up to £50,000. Get a quote online today.

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There are many popular formats of golf, played in both the professional and amateur game to keep things interesting for players and spectators. Four ball is one of those formats. It’s super popular for amateur players, but is also used in both the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup.

But how does it work and what are the rules of four ball in golf? Here, we’ll look at four ball golf rules, so you can get to grips with it for your next round.

What is four ball in golf?

Four ball is a type of golf format where four players play. They are split into two pre-determined pairs, with each player playing their own ball. It works like this:

• Two partners compete together as a side/team
• Each player plays their own ball
• A side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole

How does four ball differ to foursomes?

Foursomes is another format of golf featuring four players, split into two teams. The difference with foursomes is that the pair of players play with just one ball, taking alternate shots with the same ball.

Is four ball scored using stroke or match play?

You can score four ball using either stroke or match play. It’s up to you and the people you’re playing with. If you want to replicate the format played by the pros, though, match play is the format most famously used in the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup.

With match play, your team’s best score on each hole goes against the opposition team’s best score to determine which team wins the hole. With stroke play, your final score consists of the total of each individual hole’s best score.

Four ball in amateur golf

If you fancy playing a four ball with three of your friends the next time you hit the golf course, you’ll want to know how to score it.

Each player records their gross score on a hole, on a single scorecard. You then need to identify which player got which score. If you have two different handicaps in your team, the score will be valued differently in line with your handicap.

On each hole, you can choose to record both players’ scores or just one. Whilst you’re playing a hole, if one player can’t beat the score of their partner, they don’t need to hole out and should pick up.

Four ball rules and handicaps

The rules around handicaps in four ball golf depend on whether you choose stroke play or match play.

With stroke play, each player is given 85% of their handicap allowance. So, if Player 1 has a handicap of 12, they will be given 10 shots in four ball stroke play competitions (12 x 0.85 = 10.2, rounded down to 10).

It gets a little more complicated with four ball match play games. The handicap allowance is 90% of the difference from the lowest handicap golfer in the match.

Take the example of Golfers 1 and 2 with handicaps of 5 and 9 forming one team. They’re playing against Golfers 3 and 4, with handicaps 11 and 13. Golfer 1 has the lowest handicap, so gets 0 shots. The other players then subtract 5 from their handicap and multiply this difference by 90%.

Golfer 1: 0 shots (lowest handicapper)

Golfer 2: 4 shots (9 – 5 = 4 x 0.9 = 3.6, rounded up to 4)

Golfer 3: 5 shots (11 – 5 = 6 x 0.9 = 5.4, rounded down to 5)

Golfer 4: 7 shots (13 – 5 = 8 x 0.9 = 7.2, rounded down to 7)

Confusing? It can sometimes be a little difficult to get your head around at first, but you’ll soon get the hang of it.

What order do you play your balls in four ball golf?

You play alternate shots in four ball golf, but you can choose for your strongest player to go first. In the above example, Golfer 1 would likely go first. They would then be followed by the strongest player on the other team, Golfer 3. Golfer 2 would then tee off, followed by Golfer 4.

Is four ball golf good for amateur golfers?

Four ball golf is one of the best formats for amateur golfers to play. You get to play with three of your golf buddies, making for a fun, social time on the course. Plus, it caters to golfers of all abilities, with the four ball golf rules around handicaps and the fact you only take the best score on each hole.

So, that’s the basics of four ball golf. Now you know how to play, why not grab three of your friends and hit the course for a spot of four ball?

Specialist golf insurance through Golf Care

It doesn’t matter what format of golf you’re playing, accidents can happen out on the course. That’s why you might want to consider protecting yourself and your gear with specialist golf insurance before your next round.

With specialist golf insurance through Golf Care, policies can include Public Liability, Personal Accident, and Equipment Cover. Learn more about specialist golf insurance or get a quote today.

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