Grayer said:
The tee location is based on handicap, not gender.
Tell that to my private club, where red tees are for ladies only and yellow for seniors. I play 6300-yard courses with my 30 handicap, but I do think it’s their loss.
I think golfers should play from the front tees until they break 80 there, then move back a set until they break 80 again, and keep going. That way, everyone ends up on the right tees.
Kai said:
I think golfers should play from the front tees until they break 80 there, then move back a set until they break 80 again, and keep going. That way, everyone ends up on the right tees.
I agree. Maybe 80 isn’t the exact target for every course, but it’s probably close.
I recommend everyone try playing from the front tees every now and then, no matter your skill level, especially if you often play the same course.
You have to think differently about your round, and it gives you a chance to hit shots you wouldn’t normally. A lot of people think they’d easily shoot 70 from the forward tees. Prove it then. You still need to make the shots and sink the putts.
@Basil
I wasn’t into it when I could only play once or twice a month, but now that I joined a club and play more often, I tried it, and it was so fun. Felt unstoppable on holes that usually give me trouble.
@Andi
I hear you. When you can only play a couple rounds a month, you don’t want to feel like you’re wasting one.
Two of my favorite things about joining a club have been trying new tees and doing short loops, like playing four or five holes starting from the clubhouse. I can do that in about an hour, and it’s great.
@Basil
You should also try playing with only your 3-4 least favorite clubs. It’s fun to see how you manage without the right tools.
@Basil
This year, I started at the front tees and only moved back after breaking 80 from each set. It only took three rounds from the front, but the whites took me about five times. Now I’m at the blues, and not sure I’ll ever get there, unless it’s a shorter course.
@Basil
Some people are too attached to one set of tees. I suggested our men’s club rotate through all three tee sets each month, but they shot it down, saying they won’t play the front tees and aren’t young enough for the blues.
We should stop calling them senior or ladies’ tees—just pick the tees that let you enjoy the game. If you’re shooting over 100, you’re probably on the wrong tees, and moving up would be more enjoyable.
@Chen
I’ve tried the forward tees a few times, and my score was about the same, but it really highlighted my weak short game.
@Chen
I totally agree. Courses should label tees based on handicaps or average scores. Getting rid of the stigma around the forward tees would help. I’m tired of seeing people playing from the tips when they can barely hit it 100 yards!
@Cameron
This topic comes up often, but in my experience, I rarely see people playing from the tips when they clearly shouldn’t be. It seems like most folks are sticking to the one-up-from-the-tips nowadays.
@Luca
Yeah, I’ve played with a few people who insisted on the tips even though it didn’t suit them, but it’s not as common as it seems.
@Chen
My 72-year-old dad, who’s fighting cancer, can still outdrive me because of his great technique. I can hit farther with woods or irons, but his swing is just that much better.
He’s around 250 yards off the tee, while I’m at 225. So calling them “senior” or “ladies” tees doesn’t make sense.
@Devlin
Some courses give senior discounts at 50. I always give my friend a hard time for saving a few bucks by using it.
My buddy just started playing a few months ago but insists on playing the tips because he wants to ‘let the big dog eat.’ It’s pretty annoying, honestly. Playing the front can be fun sometimes.
Grier said:
My buddy just started playing a few months ago but insists on playing the tips because he wants to ‘let the big dog eat.’ It’s pretty annoying, honestly. Playing the front can be fun sometimes.
It’s all fun and games until you’re spending 15 minutes on every hole searching for his ball.
@Alexis
That’s why when I hit it badly, I make sure it’s only about 30 feet off the fairway. No searching needed.
@Alexis
Sometimes he hits okay, but other times he can’t make contact at all. I keep telling him to play the whites.