The RBC PGA Scramble tees off at Mountain View Golf Club in Whitehorse this Saturday at 9 a.m.

The Scramble is the largest grassroots amateur golf program in Canada, taking place at 174 locations, including Whitehorse.

Other notable locations include a first-ever Newfoundland qualifier and events on Vancouver Island and in Yellowknife as well.

The winners of each local qualifier have the opportunity to participate in one of twelve Regional Finals. The Yukon finalists would be participating in the Regionals at Talking Rock golf course in Chase, B.C. on Aug. 10.

From there, Regional Final winners will be awarded the chance to participate in the National Championship at the prestigious Cabot Links Golf Course in Inverness, N.S. in the fall.

The program consistently sees over 10,000 golfers participate from coast-to-coast.

The Whitehorse competition is open to teams of four eligible amateur golfers who all have an up-to-date Golf Canada handicap and are 19 years of age and older.

The Star spoke with Wayne MacPhee, operations manager for the RBC PGA Scramble, today.

McPhee said the Whitehorse tourney is for teams of golfers with a maximum of two single-digit handicaps (9.9 or lower), plus two others. The total team index (handicap) has to be a minimum of 32.0 or higher. Handicaps are determined by average scores, or average playing abilities. The lower the handicap, the better the player.

"The RBC PGA Scramble is a handicapped event which is designed to be fun and enjoyed by all. It's certainly not a 'bring your best' type of event because of the criteria that we have outlined," related MacPhee.

He added the event is handicapped to try to level the playing field.

"(It) allows someone that may be two handicap to compete against somebody that might be a 10 handicap, where if they were to play the match straight up, the two-handicap has a much higher opportunity to beat that player, just based on their playing abilities."

Whitehorse has 13 teams of four golfers registered for a total of 52 golfers. Of those, five are female, with two each on two of the mixed teams and one on another mixed team. Teams can be all-male or female or mixed.

Registration for the scramble closed June 17.

The format is Texas Scramble or best-ball format, in which four members of a team compare results and select the best shot.

There is a two-putt maximum per team, per hole, to speed up play. If a team doesn't hole out in two putts, they are given par for that hole.

All four players on a team are also required to do a minimum of three tee shots per round.

The 18-hole tournament is being held in Whitehorse for the second time.

Prizes for the tourney are custom RBC Scramble Polo shirts for the top two finishing teams at the Whitehorse qualifier.

The polos are supplied by Adidas Golf Canada.

The entry fee for the Whitehorse scramble was $34.95 per golfer.

Only the top low net scoring team will be moving on to the regionals.

That team will be joined by Cole Marshall, the head professional at Mountain View and a PGA of Canada professional at the Regionals.

"When he moved up to Whitehorse, he was quite excited to bring the program there," recalled MacPhee. "These last couple of years seemed to be a good hit for the participants up there. They've certainly enjoyed it. Cole's done a great job in marketing it and providing an opportunity for them to compete in a fun, friendly environment."

When they get to the Regionals, they will be participating in a five-person Ambrose style scramble.

In that format, all five team members will still tee off, then all five choose the next best shot to use. And the golfer whose shot was chosen cannot hit the next shot from that particular spot. All five players are also able to putt.

"Any shot in between the team area and the putting green, only four people get to play the shot based on whose shot was chosen," explained MacPhee.

The entry fee for the Regionals is $129.95 per golfer, which includes a meal, green and cart fees and gifts.

There are 12 Regional Finals across the country.

The Nationals will feature the top 20 teams from the regional tournaments.

The entry fee for the Nationals is $595 per golfer, which includes return airfare, accommodations, meals and 54 holes of golf. The Cabot Cape Breton course fee is normally $340 per round.

"It's a trip of a lifetime," said MacPhee.

"We do all kinds of different social functions with them. There's a welcome there, awards gala."

Other highlights of the Nationals include a East Coast style kitchen party and a closing reception.

The Nationals take place Oct. 8-10.