Two golf outings can have the same number of players, use the same course and play the same 18 holes, yet feel completely different because of one scheduling decision:
How does everyone start?
For some events, you want golfers arriving together, beginning in one coordinated window and finishing close enough together to move directly into lunch, awards or fundraising activities.
For others, that level of synchronization is unnecessary. A smaller group may be better served by consecutive tee times that are easier to schedule and allow players to move through the day in smaller waves.
That is the real difference behind the shotgun start vs tee times decision.
It is not simply about tournament tradition.
It affects:
- Arrival flow
- How far apart groups finish
- Meal timing
- Awards
- Sponsor activities
- Player experience
- The amount of event coordination required
Oaks National Golf Club currently promotes customized golf outings and tournaments at its Kissimmee location, and its Golf Outings inquiry form includes Shotgun as an outing type. The club also states that event details can be tailored to an organizer’s specific needs.
But a shotgun start should never be assumed from the website alone.
Oaks National’s own current outing-planning guidance explains that shotgun availability can depend on course approval, group size, time and available inventory.
So before choosing a format, first understand what each option actually changes.
Shotgun Start or Consecutive Tee Times?
Use this as your starting point.
| If Your Event Needs… | Usually Consider |
| Most golfers starting in one coordinated window | Shotgun start |
| A tighter post-round finish window | Shotgun start |
| Formal lunch or dinner immediately after golf | Shotgun start |
| Awards or sponsor recognition with most players present | Shotgun start |
| Flexible arrival times | Consecutive tee times |
| A smaller or more casual outing | Consecutive tee times |
| Little or no formal post-round program | Consecutive tee times |
| A straightforward group golf experience | Consecutive tee times |
This is not a substitute for Oaks National’s current event requirements.
Think of it as a way to decide which format you should ask the outing team about first.
First: Start Format and Competition Format Are Different Decisions
This distinction prevents a lot of unnecessary confusion.
A starting format determines how golfers begin the course.
Examples:
- Shotgun start
- Consecutive tee times
A competition format determines how the golf itself is played or scored.
Examples:
- Scramble
- Best ball
- Individual stroke play
- Other team formats
These choices are not mutually exclusive.
For example, you can organize:
A scramble with a shotgun start
or:
A scramble using consecutive tee times
Oaks National’s broader current outing guide already explains several competition formats, so this article focuses specifically on the starting and scheduling decision.
What Is a Shotgun Start?
In a shotgun start, groups are positioned on different starting holes and begin at approximately the same scheduled start time.
Instead of every foursome lining up behind Hole 1, players are distributed around the course before the event begins.
For example:
- Group A may begin on Hole 1
- Group B on Hole 3
- Group C on Hole 6
- Group D on Hole 9
- Group E on Hole 12
- Group F on Hole 15
The exact setup depends on the course and event configuration.
The important idea is:
Most of the field begins in one coordinated window.
Because groups begin at approximately the same time, they also tend to finish within a much narrower window than they would if the same field were sent from the first tee over several hours.
That makes shotgun starts particularly useful when golf is only one part of a larger event.
What Are Consecutive Tee Times?
Consecutive tee times work more like normal daily golf.
Groups start one after another at assigned intervals.
An illustrative schedule might look like:
8:00 AM – Group 1
8:10 AM – Group 2
8:20 AM – Group 3
8:30 AM – Group 4
and so on.
Each foursome begins from the designated starting tee according to its assigned time.
This creates a very different event flow.
The first group may already be several holes into its round before the last group even begins.
That is often completely acceptable for:
- Smaller outings
- Friend groups
- Informal company golf
- Client foursomes
- Family golf
- Events without a formal closing program
The main tradeoff is that finishing times become spread out.
The Biggest Difference: How Far Apart Will Groups Finish?
This is the most useful way to compare the two formats.
Suppose you have 12 foursomes.
That is 48 golfers.
If they begin at 10-minute intervals:
- First group: 8:00 AM
- Last group: 9:50 AM
There is already a 1 hour 50 minute spread between the first and last starting times.
Assuming similar round durations, the finishing window will also be roughly that far apart.
That affects everything scheduled after golf.
Your first groups may be ready to eat while later groups are still playing several holes away.
Now compare that with a shotgun format.
If all 12 groups begin around the same scheduled time from different holes, their finish times should generally fall into a much tighter overall window, even though individual groups may still finish earlier or later because of pace and course traffic.
That difference is why the start format matters so much.
Think Beyond the First Tee
Do not ask only:
“How do we get everyone started?”
Ask:
“What happens when the first group finishes?”
If the answer is:
- lunch
- awards
- fundraising
- sponsor recognition
- speeches
- group photos
then finish-time spread becomes a major planning factor.
When a Shotgun Start Makes More Sense
A shotgun start becomes attractive when your event depends on keeping the field together.
1. You Have a Formal Post-Round Program
Suppose your schedule includes:
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Awards
- Charity presentation
- Sponsor recognition
- Raffle or auction
- Company remarks
If golfers finish over a two-hour window, some early groups may wait a long time while later groups are still playing.
A shotgun compresses that finish window and can make the transition from golf to the closing program easier.
Oaks National’s current Golf Outings page specifically promotes The Oaks Café and bar as a setting for an awards ceremony, making post-round event flow relevant when planning an outing there.
2. Fundraising Depends on Keeping Participants Together
A charity event may want most participants present for:
- Final fundraising appeals
- Sponsor recognition
- Prize announcements
- Donation totals
- Closing remarks
A coordinated finish can make that easier.
The benefit is not that a shotgun automatically raises more money.
The benefit is that it creates a more synchronized audience for activities that happen after golf.
3. Sponsors Need a Coordinated Event Flow
Sponsors may participate through:
- Hole activations
- Contests
- Signage
- Hospitality
- Post-round recognition
A shotgun start can make sponsor timing easier because golfers enter the course and complete the round in a more coordinated overall window.
But sponsor value depends on the event design, not the start format alone.
4. The Golf Round Is Part of a Larger Corporate Event
A company outing may need to transition from golf into:
- Client entertainment
- Employee recognition
- Dinner
- Networking
- Presentations
The more structured the post-round schedule becomes, the more valuable a compressed finish window may be.
When Consecutive Tee Times Make More Sense
Not every outing needs tournament-style synchronization.
In many cases, consecutive tee times are the cleaner solution.
1. Your Group Is Relatively Small
A smaller group may not need the operational complexity of distributing players throughout an 18-hole course.
Consecutive tee times can keep the outing simple.
Oaks National’s current outing guide specifically notes that for a small group, consecutive tee times may be easier and less expensive than a formal tournament package.
That does not mean there is one universal number where a group suddenly becomes “large.”
The course should determine the actual minimums and package requirements.
2. Flexible Arrival Matters More Than a Shared Start
With consecutive tee times, not everyone has to be ready to play at one exact event-wide start.
Later groups can arrive according to their assigned schedule.
That can be useful when:
- Participants are driving separately
- Guests have other commitments
- The event is informal
- Arrival times are difficult to coordinate
3. There Is No Major Closing Program
If golfers are simply playing and leaving afterward, it may not matter that one foursome finishes much earlier than another.
A formal shotgun can solve a problem your event does not actually have.
4. The Outing Is Primarily About Golf
A friend group, family outing or informal client round may simply want:
several consecutive tee times + golf + maybe food afterward
without building an entire tournament operation around the day.
In that situation, simplicity can be an advantage.
Does Group Size Decide Between Shotgun and Tee Times?
It matters.
But it should not be treated as the only deciding factor.
You may see general golf-event advice online using exact thresholds such as:
- under X golfers = tee times
- over Y golfers = shotgun
Those numbers should not be treated as Oaks National policy.
Oaks National’s current outing guide explicitly says that shotgun availability depends on factors including group size, course approval, time and available inventory.
So instead of memorizing a generic threshold, ask:
For a smaller field
Would consecutive tee times provide everything we need without unnecessary event infrastructure?
For a larger field
Would the total tee-time spread make meals, awards or sponsors difficult to coordinate?
For any field size
What formats will Oaks National approve for our date and time?
That last question is the one that determines the booking.
How Meals and Awards Change the Decision
Food timing is easy to underestimate.
Suppose the first groups finish at 12:30 PM but the final groups are not expected until 2:15 PM.
What time should lunch begin?
If you serve at 12:45:
Later golfers miss it.
If you wait until 2:30:
Early golfers may sit around for nearly two hours.
That does not automatically make consecutive tee times wrong.
It means the post-round plan needs to match the format.
If You Use Consecutive Tee Times
Consider:
- Flexible food service
- Informal dining
- Players ordering as they finish
- A later optional gathering
- Awards that do not require every golfer present
If You Use a Shotgun Start
You can more easily build toward:
Golf → score collection → meal → awards
because most groups should finish within a more concentrated window.
Oaks National currently promotes its clubhouse’s Oaks Café and bar as an awards setting for outings.
Ask the outing team how food timing and event space would work with your selected start format.
How Sponsors Change the Decision
Sponsors often influence golf-event scheduling.
Imagine your sponsor package includes:
- Contest-hole presence
- On-course product sampling
- Sponsor representatives
- Post-round acknowledgement
With consecutive tee times, golfers may pass a sponsor location over a long window.
With a shotgun, groups begin throughout the course at roughly the same time, so the activation pattern will be different.
Neither is automatically better.
Ask:
- How long will sponsor representatives need to remain on site?
- Does every golfer need to encounter a particular activation?
- Is sponsor recognition happening after the round?
- Do sponsors need time to relocate from the course to the awards area?
Choose the format that supports the sponsor experience you are actually selling.
Can a Scramble Use Either Start Format?
Yes.
This is one of the most common points of confusion.
A scramble determines how the team plays.
A shotgun or consecutive tee-time schedule determines how the groups begin.
So you can have:
Shotgun + Scramble
Useful when you want a team competition and a coordinated overall event schedule.
Consecutive Tee Times + Scramble
Useful when you want a beginner-friendly team format without requiring a simultaneous field start.
Do not choose your competition format and start format as if one automatically determines the other.
Oaks National’s broader current outing guide already discusses scramble, best ball, shamble and other golf formats in more detail.
Sample Schedule Comparison
These examples are illustrative only.
They are not guaranteed Oaks National round times or event schedules.
Assume 12 foursomes and approximately the same round duration for every group.
Option A: Consecutive Tee Times
| Time | Activity |
| 7:15 AM | First groups begin arriving |
| 8:00 AM | Group 1 tees off |
| 8:10 AM | Group 2 |
| 8:20 AM | Group 3 |
| … | Groups continue every 10 minutes |
| 9:50 AM | Group 12 tees off |
| Around 12:30 PM | Early groups begin finishing |
| Around 2:20 PM | Later groups finish |
| Afterward | Flexible food or gathering |
The exact times would depend on pace and the course’s actual tee-time interval.
The planning point is the wide finish-time spread.
Option B: Shotgun Start
| Time | Activity |
| 7:30 AM | Registration / arrival |
| 8:30 AM | Event briefing |
| 9:00 AM | Groups begin from assigned holes |
| After round | Groups finish within a narrower window |
| Next | Meal / awards / sponsor recognition |
This structure can make the closing program easier to coordinate.
But the actual schedule, hole assignments and start configuration must be approved by Oaks National.
Which Format Fits Different Event Goals?
Instead of creating separate rules for every possible outing type, use this matrix.
| Event Goal | Shotgun May Fit When… | Tee Times May Fit When… |
| Corporate outing | Shared lunch, awards or networking matter | Group is smaller and schedule can stay informal |
| Charity fundraiser | Post-round fundraising and sponsors need a shared audience | Fundraiser is small and does not require synchronized programming |
| Client appreciation | Everyone should attend one shared closing experience | Clients need flexible arrival/departure |
| Employee outing | A large team should move through one shared event | Small department or casual group |
| Friends/family | You intentionally want a tournament experience | Main goal is simply playing together |
| Alumni/association event | Reunion, meal or recognition follows golf | Golf is only an optional informal activity |
The event type alone does not decide.
The schedule does.
Is a Shotgun Start Faster?
Not necessarily.
A shotgun start does not automatically make each foursome play 18 holes faster.
Slow play can still happen.
What a shotgun does is make the overall event timeline more synchronized because participants begin within the same general window.
That distinction matters.
If individual rounds take 4½ hours, a shotgun does not magically turn them into 3½-hour rounds.
It simply prevents the final foursome from starting two hours after the first foursome.
Are Consecutive Tee Times Always Cheaper?
Do not assume so.
For a smaller group, consecutive tee times may require less event infrastructure and Oaks National’s own current planning guide notes they may be easier and less expensive than a formal tournament package.
But final Golf Outing cost can depend on:
- Date
- Time
- Number of golfers
- Event services
- Food
- Start format
- Course access
- Other contracted details
Compare Oaks National’s actual event proposal rather than treating “tee times = cheap” and “shotgun = expensive” as universal rules.
What Should You Confirm With Oaks National Before Choosing?
This is more important than any generic golf-event rule.
If you are considering a shotgun start, ask:
1. Is a Shotgun Available on Our Date?
Oaks National currently includes Shotgun in its outing inquiry options, but its own guidance says availability depends on course approval and other operational factors.
Get confirmation before advertising the format to players.
2. What Player Count Is Required?
Do not use a generic tournament minimum found elsewhere online.
Ask Oaks National what applies to your date and event.
3. What Start Times Are Available?
A shotgun at one time of day may be possible while another window is not.
4. Does the Format Require Special Course Access or Pricing?
Ask how the proposed setup changes:
- Cost
- Deposit
- Course access
- Event services
- Final player commitment
5. What Happens if Your Final Player Count Changes?
This matters when sponsorships, teams and registrations are still being sold.
Ask about deadlines and any financial impact.
6. What Tournament Services Are Included?
Instead of assuming the package automatically includes everything, ask about:
- Pairings
- Hole assignments
- Scorecards
- Scoring
- Contest setup
- Signage
- Registration support
- Cart staging
The current Golf Outings page promises professional attention and customized event details but does not publicly list every operational service as a guaranteed inclusion.
7. How Will the Meal and Awards Work?
Oaks National currently promotes The Oaks Café and bar as a post-round awards setting.
Ask:
- When food can begin
- How many guests the setup supports
- Whether non-golfers can attend
- What happens if golf finishes late
- How awards timing should be structured
8. What Is the Weather Policy?
Before paying deposits or finalizing invitations, understand how:
- Delays
- Suspensions
- Rain
- Lightning
- Shortened rounds
- Rescheduling
would affect the event.
Golf Outings at Oaks National Golf Club
Oaks National Golf Club is located at 1500 The Oaks Blvd, Kissimmee, Florida, minutes from Orlando-area attractions according to its current website.
The club currently promotes:
- Golf outings
- Tournaments
- Customized event details
- Professional staff support
- The Oaks Café and bar as an awards setting
and its current outing inquiry form includes Shotgun among the available outing-type selections.
For organizers searching for an Orlando-area golf outing, the important next step is not assuming which start format Oaks National will use.
It is giving the event team the details needed to recommend an appropriate structure.
Be prepared to provide:
- Preferred date
- Approximate golfer count
- Event purpose
- Whether a shared meal is planned
- Whether awards are planned
- Sponsor requirements
- Preferred start format
Then confirm the final structure before promoting it to participants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Difference Between a Shotgun Start and Tee Times?
A shotgun places groups on different holes so they can begin in approximately the same scheduled window.
Consecutive tee times send groups off one after another at assigned intervals.
The biggest event-planning difference is usually how far apart participants start and finish.
Is a Shotgun Start Better for a Golf Tournament?
It can be when the event depends on a coordinated finish.
For example, a shotgun may be useful when most golfers need to attend a shared lunch, awards ceremony, fundraiser or sponsor program immediately after golf.
For a smaller or more casual tournament, consecutive tee times may be completely sufficient.
Are Tee Times Better for Small Golf Outings?
Often, yes.
Oaks National’s current outing-planning guide notes that a small group may find consecutive tee times easier and less expensive than a formal tournament package.
The actual group minimums should still be confirmed directly with the course.
How Many Golfers Does Oaks National Require for a Shotgun?
The current public website does not publish one universal shotgun minimum.
Oaks National’s own planning guide says availability depends on factors such as group size, time, course approval and inventory.
Ask the outing team for the current requirement for your date.
Does a Shotgun Start Mean Everyone Finishes at the Same Time?
Not exactly.
Groups can still finish at different times because pace varies.
The advantage is that finish times are generally compressed into a much narrower window compared with a long sequence of tee times.
Does a Shotgun Start Make the Round Faster?
Not automatically.
It improves synchronization of the event, not necessarily the playing speed of each group.
Can We Play a Scramble With Consecutive Tee Times?
Yes.
A scramble is a competition format.
Consecutive tee times are a starting method.
The two can be used together.
Which Format Is Better for a Charity Golf Outing?
A shotgun can be useful when fundraising, sponsors, food and awards depend on most participants finishing in a similar window.
A smaller fundraiser without a formal post-round program may not need a shotgun.
Which Format Is Better for a Corporate Golf Outing?
Choose based on the event agenda.
If golf transitions into a shared meal, awards or networking program, a shotgun may simplify the schedule.
If the group is small and flexibility matters more, consecutive tee times may be sufficient.
Can Oaks National Host Golf Outings?
Yes.
Oaks National currently has a dedicated Golf Outings & Tournaments program and says event details can be tailored around an organizer’s specific needs.
Does Oaks National Offer Shotgun Starts?
The club’s current Golf Outings inquiry form includes Shotgun as an outing type.
However, do not treat that as guaranteed availability for every event. Oaks National’s current planning guide says shotgun starts depend on course approval, group size, time and inventory.
Final 60-Second Decision Checklist
Before choosing a start format, answer these questions.
Your Group
- How many golfers do we realistically expect?
- Do they need to arrive at the same time?
- Is flexible arrival important?
After Golf
- Is there a formal meal?
- Are there awards?
- Does everyone need to be present?
- Are sponsors being recognized?
- Is there a fundraising program?
Event Flow
- Would a wide finishing-time spread create a problem?
- Can early groups comfortably wait for later groups?
- Could food be served flexibly instead?
Oaks National
- Is a shotgun available for our date?
- What player count applies?
- What start windows are offered?
- What does each option cost?
- Which event services are included?
- What are the deposit and final-count rules?
- What is the weather policy?
Choose Based on the Finish, Not Just the Start
When comparing shotgun start vs tee times, it is easy to focus on where golfers stand before their first shot.
The more important question is:
Where does your event need everyone to be after the final shot?
If most golfers need to move together into:
- Lunch
- Awards
- Sponsor recognition
- Fundraising
- Networking
then a shotgun start may create the tighter event flow you need.
If the outing is smaller, informal and does not require everyone to finish together, consecutive tee times may provide all the structure you need without adding unnecessary complexity.
Oaks National currently supports customized golf outings and tournaments at its Kissimmee location, and its outing form recognizes Shotgun as an event option.
But the course’s own planning guidance makes the key rule clear:
Confirm the shotgun before you advertise the shotgun. Availability can depend on group size, timing, course approval and inventory.
So begin with your event agenda.
Determine how tightly golfers need to start and finish.
Then take that information to Oaks National and choose the format that fits the day you are actually planning.