What Is a Shotgun Start in Golf?

A shotgun start in golf is a format where every group tees off at the same time, but each from a different hole spread around the course, so all players begin and finish their rounds together. Instead of groups going off one after another from the first tee, one group starts on hole 1, another on hole 2, and so on, then each plays all 18 holes in order from wherever it began.

If you have ever signed up for a charity outing or a corporate golf day and been told to “report to hole 7 for the shotgun,” this is what that means. The format is built for events, and it solves a very specific problem: getting a big field of players onto the course and off it on a shared schedule. Here is how it works, why events love it, and what its downsides are.

How a shotgun start works

The mechanics are straightforward once you picture the whole course being used at once:

1. Assignments. Before play, each group is assigned a starting hole. Group A goes to hole 1, group B to hole 2, and so on around the course.
2. The signal. At the appointed time, a single signal, a horn, siren, or radio call (historically a shotgun blast), tells everyone to begin at the same moment.
3. Everyone tees off together. All groups start their first shots simultaneously, but each on its own assigned hole.
4. Play continues in sequence. Each group plays 18 holes in order, wrapping around, so a group that started on hole 7 finishes on hole 6.

Because everyone begins and ends at about the same time, the whole field can gather afterward for a meal, scoring or a prize ceremony, which is a big part of the appeal for organised events.

Why events use a shotgun start

The format is popular for tournaments, charity days, corporate outings and leagues for a handful of practical reasons:

• Maximum players at once. A full course lets the largest possible field play in a single session.
• Shared schedule. Everyone starts and finishes together, perfect for a banquet, awards or speeches.
• Predictable timing. Organisers know almost exactly when the event will begin and end.
• Social atmosphere. A simultaneous start creates a shared, event-like feel rather than a trickle of tee times.

It pairs naturally with team formats where a whole field plays together, such as a golf scramble or a best-ball event, which is why so many charity scrambles use a shotgun start.

Shotgun start vs tee-time start

The clearest way to understand a shotgun start is to compare it with the normal way golfers begin a round.

Feature	Shotgun start	Tee-time (sequential) start
Where groups begin	Different holes across the course	All from hole 1
When groups begin	All at once	Staggered, every 8-10 minutes
Best for	Events, outings, leagues	Daily play, most pro tournaments
Course usage	Entire course closed to others	Course opens gradually through the day
Finish	Everyone finishes together	Staggered finishes

Reading across, the tee-time start is the everyday default, while the shotgun is the event specialist, trading flexibility for a big, synchronised field.

The downsides

A shotgun start is not free of trade-offs. It requires closing the whole course to regular play, so the course gives up other bookings and usually needs a large enough group to make that worthwhile. Players also do not ease in on hole 1, you might open on a tough par 3, and pace of play must be watched carefully where the field wraps around, so groups do not bunch up. Finally, since not everyone ends on the 18th green, the finish can feel less traditional than a normal round.

Etiquette on a shotgun start

Because the whole field is on the course at once, good pace and etiquette matter even more than usual. Keep up with the group ahead, be ready to play when it is your turn, and follow the organiser’s instructions on where to start and how holes are numbered for wrap-around play. If you are new to group events, our guide to golf etiquette for beginners covers the habits that keep a full field moving smoothly.

The bottom line

A shotgun start launches an entire field at once from different holes, so everyone plays 18 holes and finishes together, ideal for tournaments, charity outings and any event that wants a shared start, a set schedule and a group finish. It is the opposite of the staggered tee-time start used for daily play. It takes a full course and a decent-sized field to justify, but for organised golf, few formats are as efficient, or as social.