What is a shotgun start in golf?

GOLF is a game of tradition and rules, some of which haven’t changed for hundreds of years.

LIV Golf is trying to break the mould, with its eye-watering fees for players, it was never going to be long before they shock the game once again.

Greg Norman CEO and commissioner of LIV GolfGetty

What is a shotgun start in golf?

A shotgun start is usually found at local golf clubs on an occasional basis and they are used to get as many players on the golf course at once, starting at the exact same time.

Whether it is a club stableford or a monthly medal, you will likely have 18 groups of players who have all put their name down to play.

One group could be starting on hole 10 and one group could be starting on hole 5.

How does it work?

As soon as the klaxon sounds, or whatever noise instrument the starter uses, everyone can begin playing on their respective holes.

The group that starts on hole 2 finishes on hole 1, the group that starts on hole 12 will finish on hole 11.

During the first LIV Golf Series event at Centurion, London in June 2022, a flyover of planes was used to signal the time when the first tee shots would be hit.

Why is this is LIV golf format?

LIV Golf has adopted the shotgun start because they believe a faster pace of play is what golfers and golf fans want to see.

Your viewing experience would only last around four hours, whereas you could be spectating your favourite players all day in a traditional set-up.

In a usual tournament’s format, groups would tee off roughly every 10 minutes from hole 1 and this could continue for a number of hours until every player has teed off.

This causes a longer golfing day from start to finish, however, this is the traditional fashion in which professional and amateur tournaments are played on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.

This promotes a more action-packed 4-hour show of golf.

Shotgun starts aren’t common in club golf, but at the same time, aren’t exactly alien.

“Don’t Blink” is one of the many mottos that LIV commissioner Greg Norman and his team use to promote the Saudi-backed events.

A shotgun start is one tool they use to support this particular phrase.