Silent auction
Quick answer
Open the Contests tab and select Auction to create an auction, add items with starting bids and photos, then click Open auction to go live. Golfers bid from their phones at the public auction page during the round. When bidding closes, lock winners individually or all at once — ScrambleSync emails each winner an acknowledgment receipt automatically.
On this page
Setting up an auction
Open the Auction sub-tab
In your tournament dashboard, open the Contests tab and select Auction.
Create the auction
Click Create auction. This creates a single auction in Draft status — bidding is not open yet.
Add items
Click Add item for each auction item. Enter the item name, description, fair market value (FMV), starting bid, and minimum bid increment. Optionally upload a photo. Items can be edited or removed while the auction is in Draft.
Open the auction
When you are ready for bidding to begin, click Open auction. The status changes to Live and the public bidding page at /e/your-event/auction becomes active.
During the auction
Share the public auction link with golfers — they can scan a QR code you display, or open it from their scorecard. Golfers enter their name, email, and bid amount on each item. The current high bid and masked bidder name (first name + first initial of last name) are visible to everyone. There is no automatic countdown — you close bidding when ready.
Closing the auction and locking winners
Close the auction
Click Close auction on the Auction sub-tab (under Contests). Bidding stops — the page shows Closed to new bids.
Lock winners
Click Lock winner on each item to confirm the high bidder as the winner, or use Lock all winners to confirm all items at once.
Receipts sent automatically
As each winner is locked, ScrambleSync emails them an acknowledgment with the item name, amount paid, fair market value, and the potentially deductible portion (amount paid minus FMV). Receipts require receipt settings to be configured — see Fundraising receipts.
Auction item fields
| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| Item name | Required — shown on the public bidding page |
| Description | Optional — what is included, conditions, etc. |
| Fair market value (FMV) | Used to calculate the potentially deductible portion on the receipt |
| Starting bid | The minimum first bid allowed |
| Min. increment | How much each new bid must exceed the previous bid |
| Photo | Optional image shown on the public auction page |
Frequently asked questions
Can golfers bid from their scorecard without a separate link?
Yes — if you share the public auction URL they can open it on the same phone they are using for the scorecard. There is no automatic link from the scorecard to the auction today; you need to share the URL separately (displayed on a sign, a QR code, or sent via broadcast message).
Can I run more than one auction per tournament?
ScrambleSync supports one auction per tournament currently. All items go into that single auction.
What happens if no one bids on an item?
Items with no bids show no high bidder. You can remove those items or leave them unlocked — unlocked items with no winner do not trigger any receipt.
Can I edit an item while the auction is live?
Item editing is available while the auction is in Draft. Once the auction is Open, editing is limited — lock an item to finalize it.