Definition: The Arizona Shuffle is a golf tournament format similar to 1-2-3 Best Ball, 4-Man Cha Cha Cha and Irish Four Ball. Which is to say that Arizona Shuffle is:
1. A team format, with 3- or 4-person teams;
2. Stroke play (often using Stableford system);
3. A different number of team members' scores are used on each hole.
No. 3 is where you'll find the most variance in the format depending on where Arizona Shuffle is being played. We've seen it played in any of the following ways:
- On par-3 holes, one low ball counts as the team score; on par-4 holes, two low balls are combined for the team score; on par-5 holes; three low balls are combined for the team scores.
- And the other way: par-3s, use three low balls; par-4s, use two low balls; par-5s, use one low ball.
- We've also seen it played with 4-person teams in which all four scores are counted on par-3 holes; the three low balls are par-4s; and two low balls on par-5s.
