Traditionally, individual tee times are assigned to each player off holes 1 and 10. But a new starting method is gaining popularity. It’s called shotgun start. Tours like the LIV Golf are beginning to implement this format. So, what is a shotgun start in golf, and what are the benefits? Below we explain everything you need to understand about this alternative format.
What Does Shotgun Start Mean in Golf?
A shotgun in golf is an alternative format in which all pairings tee off at the same time from different holes throughout the golf course. By tradition, a shotgun or air horn will blow into the air to signal the start of the tournament. From there, the groups will start playing on their assigned hole and then play through the designated number of holes.
For example, pairing #1 will start on hole 1, pairing #2 will start on hole 2, and so on. Each group will hit their first tee shot simultaneously. The advantage to a shotgun format is the time efficiency. The tournament will end around the same time because everyone starts at the same time.
According to Golf Digest, head professional Jim Russell organized the first shotgun start at Walla Walla Country Club in Washington State. Today, the shotgun start evolved into an air horn and siren.
A shotgun start is a popular format for charity events, pro-amateur tournaments, and other alternative events. It allows everyone to start and finish simultaneously, making room for other events to fall logistically into place. An awards ceremony and post-event meal would require everyone to be at the same location at once, which is why a shotgun start is so attractive.
Shotgun Rules and Policies
Most golf courses have a set of rules and policies for a golf shotgun start. Booking this type of golf event will require special approval from the venue. Because the golf course has members to please and other golf operations to conduct, the shotgun start must adhere to these requirements. Below are several examples of rules and stipulations.
Total Number of Players
For a shotgun event to work, there must be a minimum number of golfers playing in the tournament. There must be ample golfers to fill most of the tees for the event to work. If the shotgun start does not follow this rule, the course will implement a traditional tee time start.
Start Time
Shotgun starts in golf will produce a consistent duration for the round. Therefore, golf courses will want the event to occur during a specific 4- or 5-hour time block. Shotgun starts at 8 am or 1 pm, allowing the golf course to offer private and public tee times for golfers NOT participating in the shotgun tournament.
Day of the Week
Event organizers might only be able to schedule a shotgun event on a weekday or day with minimal traffic. Golf courses want to maximize their revenue on high-traffic days, and a shotgun event could interfere with this. Golf courses are more likely to accept a shotgun start if it is on a day when it typically does not have a full tee sheet of public golfers or members.
Post Event Meal
Golf courses may also require event organizers to host a post-round meal at the clubhouse. The event starts and ends at the same time, making it easy for the event to plan this part of the festivities. The post-event meal will also create an extra revenue opportunity for the golf course.
Clear Event Instructions
Sometimes the shotgun event participants may have never played or seen the golf course before. Because everyone starts on a different hole, it could be challenging to find the correct tee. The carts must drive an irregular path to make it to the accurate tee.
Therefore, it is essential for the event organizers to have an organized system for directing people to the correct location. It would be best for the tournament to have a map or path for carts to follow so they know where to go.
LIV Golf Tour and the Shotgun Start
The LIV Golf Tour is a startup tour competing with the PGA tour. Because of financial backing from Saudi Arabia, it offers players a much more lucrative opportunity to earn more money, while playing fewer events throughout the year.
One of the main differences between the PGA and LIV tours is the shotgun format. While the PGA tour does a more traditional tee time format, the LIV tour does a shotgun start. For the LIV tour, all golfers will start at the same time. However, they will be on different tees. Because of the total pool size, the LIV can implement this format with no overlap.
Summary: Benefits of a Shotgun Start
While shotgun starts demand extra requirements from the host course, there are many reasons why the format is becoming a popular alternative for tournaments and events. Below are the benefits of choosing a shotgun start:
- Timing – everyone starts and ends at the same time, making the event go much smoother.
- Individual holes – some groups might start on an easier hole, allowing them to gain momentum from the start of the tournament.
- Post-event festivities – shotgun starts will often include a post-round meal or awards celebration at the clubhouse.
- Organization – as long as the event organizers do a good job, a shotgun start allows for the completion of an event with a lot of participants.
- Hole by hole prizes – shotgun starts usually include a few minigames at each hole, including closest to the pin, longest drive, and a hole-in-one challenge.