Golf Competitions: Definitions from www.ABOUT.com

Format:Individual Handicap:
This is the most common form of tournament play.
     Procedure: In this format, all players play their own ball  and post the total number of strokes taken.
At the end of 18 holes, the total score (gross score) is calculated.
The players handicap is subtracted from the gross score, giving the player a net score which is posted as the competition score.

Format: Scramble:
     Procedure: All players tee off, the best shot is selected and all players hit again from that same spot.

The best second shot is selected, and all players hit from that same spot, and so on until the ball is holed.

This format may be played with 2 or 4 man teams.

Format: Shamble:

(Note: Shambles can have other variations. The following is the most common).

A shamble is a type of golf tournament that combines elements of a scramble with elements of stroke play.

As in a scramble, all members of a team (usually four) tee off and the best ball of the four tee shots is selected. All players move their balls to the spot of the best ball. From this point, the hole is played out at stroke play, with all members of the team playing their own ball into the hole.

     Procedure: Select the best shot off the tee, move all balls to that spot, then play individual stroke play until each member of the group has holed out.

Shamble tournaments are also known as "brambles." Shambles should be played with full handicaps to make sure weaker players contribute to the team score. (Scoring, as with scrambles, can be done any number of ways, such as using one low ball per hole as the team score, or using two or three low balls per hole. Shamble scoring is only limited by the tournament director's imagination.)

Definition: "Ambrose Competition" is another name for a scramble, but one in which a team handicap is used. All players tee off, the best shot is selected and all players hit again from that same spot. The best second shot is selected, and all players hit from that same spot, and so on until the ball is holed