In golf, a shotgun start refers to a tournament format where multiple groups of golfers tee off simultaneously from different holes, ensuring that all players finish their rounds at roughly the same time. The shotgun start is a technique to speed up the pace of play, eliminating the waiting time for tee times. The concept of the shotgun start is to place groups of golfers around the course, with each group starting on a different hole, and then moving simultaneously through the links.
The origin of the term “shotgun start” dates back to May 1956, when Jim Russell, the head pro at Walla Walla Country Club in Washington state, introduced the technique to move golfers through their rounds quickly. The shotgun format is also an effective way to increase revenue for a course, as more players can play on a given day when they finish their rounds in less time.
The shotgun start format is adaptable to tournaments with as few as 24 players and up to 144 players. When there are 144 players, it is called a double shotgun, with two foursomes on each hole starting the match, and one group being assigned as Group A, and the other as Group B. A regular shotgun tournament usually has three to four players on each hole.
The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) still uses the traditional tee time tournament format for their tournaments, including The Masters, The U.S. Open, and The PGA Championship. However, newer golf tours such as LIV Golf have adopted the shotgun start. This style of play is more conducive to smaller playing fields and reduces the time for a round of golf.
Unlike a tournament with tee times, a shotgun start format specifies to each group of players what spot they will begin on, and players play their rounds of golf, ending on the hole previous to their starting hole. This ensures that all golfers finish their rounds within a similar time frame. Golf tournaments with a shotgun start format are also popular for charity events or other fundraisers.
Golf shotgun starts are ideal for tournaments that require players to finish their rounds simultaneously, such as events with an awards ceremony, auction, or meal following the time on the golf course. Additionally, they speed up the pace of play during a tournament, making them suitable for amateur golf tournaments like high school or U.S. Kid’s Golf tournaments.
In conclusion, a shotgun start in golf is an effective tournament format that allows more golfers to play at once and speeds up the rate of play. Rather than waiting in line to tee off at hole one, placing golfers around the course and in different holes, allows them to begin the tournament simultaneously and play golf simultaneously.