You are golfing in a team scramble event and a discussion ensues which ball to use on the next shot. Your team is fortunate because you have three choices for your next shot. Each ball location offers an element of success, but plays to the individual strengths for three different players of your team. The option for multiple choices is good and challenging at the same time. Each player will want to play the ball that best fits their strengths. So, how to make the decision on which ball to play and more importantly to live with the decision!

The immediate and probably simplest way to make a decision on my team is just to listen to what I want and just do it. Mostly because I am the best player and I know what is the best shot because of the risk/reward influences and I have the greater skill. Additionally, it is more likely that I will make the best shot, so lets stack all the cards in my favour. It really is for the best!

Well, if you were appalled by the above paragraph, then imagine how I felt writing it. It is contradictory to my team philosophy and hope that I am never that guy. (okay Rick and Blair, stop laughing) I have played on a couple of teams where a member was like this and I stopped playing with them after the round. It just was not any fun.

When making decisions on which ball to use (having options is always great), I believe in using the consensus approach. Using my Men’s Night team as a typical example, I like to discuss our shot options with the end result in mind. Blair and I usually chat the most, but Murray and Rick chime in on long shots and short approach shots respectively. Each contributes in their own way and it works well for us.

Ultimately, the decision is made when two or more players what to hit from a particular spot. It is important that after the decision is made, everyone needs to check their ego and own the shot. It makes absolutely no sense to complain or if things go poorly to say ‘I told you so”. That is just a defeatist attitude and has no place within a golf team.

Playing my consensus is the way to go in my humble opinion. It works very best for the team and generally produces the lowest scores. Additionally, an inclusive team takes advantage of every player’s strengths and this is important because you never know when one play will get hot!

I talked about this article with Blair and he jokingly said it would be best if we just listen to him! I knew he was kidding, but he did emphasize that owning the decision was the most important aspect of team play. He mention this before I told him that was one of the main themes of my article. This was definitely reassuring.

When you play in a team event, what are the dynamics of your team? How do you make decisions?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!