Which Tees?
July 09, 2020
I played golf with a couple lads in the weekly medal and I wasn’t at all shocked to hear that they didn’t have the most positive experience when it came to their first round of golf. They started playing at the same time and after 8 years competing for the bragging rights, they now play off of 9 and 10. – Very impressive in my opinion.
They booked on at local municipal course. A club which boasts the fact that they welcome all visitors and new golfers. – Perfect! Until, they tee’d up from the Red tees! Out rushes the irate one club captain. Instead of educating these new golfers their “mistake” he flew off in a rant.
“The red tees are the lady’s tees! If you don’t know which tees to play from you shouldn’t be on the course at all.”
The fact they are now playing off of 9 and 10 is now even more impressive. Many would have never returned following the baptism of fire these two endured.
So… It got me thinking, what needs to change? - The website welcoming new golfers? - No, the issue is deeper engrained than that actually. Before I go off on a tangent lets deal with the issue of, ‘which tees to play from.’ The norm in the UK is Red, Yellow and White tees. Typically, these will be Ladies, Men’s and Men’s Comp Tee respectively. For the sake of saving our struggling golf clubs and encouraging people to give golf a go, this needs to change. The dinosaurs need to relax and allow golf to stray from some of the ‘traditions’ which could end up crippling the game we all love.
Drawing reference to my days as a 25-year-old beginner skier, snowploughing down the nursery slopes. The runs are classed by colour; green, blue, red and black with the latter being the toughest test on the mountain. I couldn’t imagine how daunting it would have been if I was placed at the top of a run based on a ‘Tradition’ with no regard for ability or enjoyment. After months working on technique and building the confidence required, I was finally ready to tackle the black runs. No one told me I was ready; I just knew it was time to test myself. When I’m lucky enough to get away skiing nowadays, quite often a morning on the leg burning black runs is followed by an afternoon of cruisey blues and nobody berates you for that. However, you should expect a few sly digs over the dinner table. If your ego can take it, you’re welcome to ski wherever you please. After a tiple at après the best way down is back to basics. You can see how this logic would easily transfer when choosing which tee to play from.
It makes perfect sense for a beginner golfer to play from the forward tees. Or, for the experienced golfer to do the same if they want to practice long irons from the tee. As the handicap, confidence or mood changes the golfer can move back or forward to a tee which suits them on that day.
I turn up to the course after a hard week at work I’m playing with a group of mates. Naturally, our bags are loaded with beer and we are looking to have a chat on the way round. Therefore, we fancy the kinder route. We tee it up from the forward tees, drink the contents of our bags and have a great time doing it. – What’s our crime? Who strongly opposed enough to run out of the clubhouse and confront me for daring to play from the forward tees?
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