Page type: Format comparison (two named formats)
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When each fits
Choose Ambrose when a group wants collaborative team stroke play, shared shot selection and a forgiving gross or net result rather than a wager. Choose Hammer when two players or two sides want hole-by-hole match play with an agreed stake, doubling decisions and clearly written house rules.
Ambrose in brief
A team scramble where partners choose the best shot and continue from it.
Hammer in brief
A match-play side game where players can call a hammer to double the current hole’s agreed stake.
Table
| Comparison | Ambrose | Hammer |
|---|---|---|
| One line | A team scramble where partners choose the best shot and continue from it. | A match-play side game where players can call a hammer to double the current hole’s agreed stake. |
| Players | Minimum 2 players; ideal 4 players per team in a conventional event. This is a team-versus-field stroke-play arrangement, not a head-to-head match by definition; event Terms may set another team size. | Minimum 2; ideal 2 head-to-head or 4 as two sides. A three-player version is a house arrangement, not covered here. |
| Scoring unit | Strokes: the team records one gross score for each hole and ranks total gross or net strokes over the round, according to the event Terms. | The hole, with a dollar stake attached; the hole winner receives the agreed current stake. A halved hole and carryover treatment must be agreed before play. |
| Handicap method | Ambrose has no single universal handicap convention. For a four-player scramble, WHS Appendix C recommends 25% of the lowest Course Handicap plus 20% of the next, 15% of the next and 10% of the highest; for three players it recommends 30%/20%/10%, and for two players 35%/15%. Apply the allowance to unrounded Course Handicaps as the final step in calculating Playing Handicap, and have the Committee state the allowance and rounding in the Terms. These scramble recommendations are guidance for organised competitions, not proof that every Ambrose event uses them. | Hammer has no separate WHS allowance. If the underlying game is individual match play, WHS Appendix C recommends 100% of each player’s unrounded Course Handicap when calculating Playing Handicap; the lowest Playing Handicap normally plays off zero and others receive the difference. For four-ball match play, Appendix C recommends 90%. Confirm the Committee or group’s Terms because Hammer is an informal overlay. |
| Money settles how | No money settlement is inherent. If players agree stakes, settle after the round from the agreed gross or net team ranking, or use a separately stated side game; record the amount, tie-break and payment rule before tee-off. | Set a base stake before teeing off, such as $1 per hole. A valid hammer doubles the current stake; agree whether it is automatic or may be declined, whether halved-hole stakes carry forward, and whether the stake resets after a won hole. Settle net amounts at the end, not by treating a casual side game as an official Rules competition. |
| Pace | Usually slower than ordinary individual stroke play when comparing the same number of players, because each team plays multiple shots from each position and then discusses which ball to select. Actual pace depends on team size, course traffic and the event's selection rules; this is an editorial tendency, not a measured fact. | Usually the same as match play or slower than ordinary stroke play, as each hole still uses match-play scoring but calling, accepting and recording doubles adds decisions. This is an editorial tendency, not a measured timing claim. |
| Best for | Club days, charity events and social team competitions where players want shared decisions and a forgiving team result. Four-person teams are a practical choice when the organiser wants broad participation, but the event should publish its drive minimums, shot-selection procedure, handicaps, ties and any local conditions. | Two golfers who want head-to-head match play with a negotiated money side game, or four golfers already comfortable with two-sided match play and clear pre-round limits. It suits players who enjoy risk decisions and can keep the stake modest. |
| Weakness | The name does not settle the important local details: team size, minimum drives, whether every player must contribute a selected shot, handicap formula, limits on repeated selections and tie-breaks can vary. Without written Terms, teams can apply different versions of Ambrose and dispute both fairness and pace. | The stake can escalate quickly, and unclear choices about acceptance, carryovers, timing, concessions or four-ball sides can create arguments. The group must agree a cap or stop rule if players do not want an unexpected liability. |
Worked example
Illustrative inputs and selected terms, not historical results. In this explicitly selected Ambrose event, Alex's side selects a shot at each stage and records 4; Ben's side records 5. The team sizes, selected-shot procedures and gross or net contest are event terms. For an accepted single hammer on an agreed $2 hole stake, the stake becomes $4. If Alex wins the hole, Ben pays Alex $4 under that expressly chosen house rule.
Rule reference: WHS Appendix C (scramble and match-play handicap recommendations); Rules of Golf Rule 3 (team-side, stroke-play and match-play framework). Ambrose and Hammer are not named standalone Rules of Golf formats; Hammer is an informal side game.
Sources: www.usga.org , www.randa.org , www.randa.org , www.golfdigest.com
Common questions
How do Ambrose and Hammer score differently?
For Ambrose: Strokes: the team records one gross score for each hole and ranks total gross or net strokes over the round, according to the event Terms. For Hammer: The hole, with a dollar stake attached; the hole winner receives the agreed current stake. A halved hole and carryover treatment must be agreed before play.
How do handicaps apply in Ambrose vs Hammer?
Ambrose: Ambrose has no single universal handicap convention. For a four-player scramble, WHS Appendix C recommends 25% of the lowest Course Handicap plus 20% of the next, 15% of the next and 10% of the highest; for three players it recommends 30%/20%/10%, and for two players 35%/15%. Apply the allowance to unrounded Course Handicaps as the final step in calculating Playing Handicap, and have the Committee state the allowance and rounding in the Terms. These scramble recommendations are guidance for organised competitions, not proof that every Ambrose event uses them. Hammer: Hammer has no separate WHS allowance. If the underlying game is individual match play, WHS Appendix C recommends 100% of each player’s unrounded Course Handicap when calculating Playing Handicap; the lowest Playing Handicap normally plays off zero and others receive the difference. For four-ball match play, Appendix C recommends 90%. Confirm the Committee or group’s Terms because Hammer is an informal overlay.
When should I choose Ambrose instead of Hammer?
Choose Ambrose when a group wants collaborative team stroke play, shared shot selection and a forgiving gross or net result rather than a wager. Choose Hammer when two players or two sides want hole-by-hole match play with an agreed stake, doubling decisions and clearly written house rules.