[Arrocousa]

Played a course this morning that mandated forward tees only (getting ready for winter maintenance). It did hit many more fairways and got to use a variety of clubs from the tee. My short game killed me on the front and my score was as usual (90's). And it made for a more fun and interesting round and I could see it making a difference in scores (short shots be dammned..). I think they are on to something if we could only put our egos aside!!!

[Heliosprime]

Played a course this morning that mandated forward tees only (getting ready for winter maintenance). It did hit many more fairways and got to use a variety of clubs from the tee. My short game killed me on the front and my score was as usual (90's). And it made for a more fun and interesting round and I could see it making a difference in scores (short shots be dammned..). I think they are on to something if we could only put our egos aside!!!

So true about egos...I had to sit behind a group last round where a guy could only drive the ball 100 yards and sprayed it everywhere yet he was still playing from the tips. 6 hour rounds FTL. Thats good that you hit more fairways now you just gotta work on that short game

[ChexEcodece]

^^^^^^^^^^^^
OUCHHHHHHHH on the 6 hours.

But next time I go out by myself weather it's this year or next I will play the reds just to see how it goes for me. But as long as you have fun that's all that counts.

[Iphone]

My course is short enough where I wouldn't like playing the "Tee It Forward" program, however I am glad it worked out for you. There are some benefits of it, no doubt, but I think it is only for a certain group of people.....

[7HlBQS8j]

I've had similar experiences - one guy I golf with occasionally has always been willing to play from the forward tees, and it does make for a more enjoyable round. Of course, we're both "off the chart" handicap wise, so it's a lot easier to put the egos aside - we're more likely to be commended for it than teased about it. When I play with better golfers, though, I'll play off the same tees as they do, unless one of them suggests I play from the forward tees. Which has never actually happened, lol.

[euylvaygdq]

Courses should mandate handicap numbers for each tee box. Would make life on a golf course a bit faster!

[Iphone]

Courses should mandate handicap numbers for each tee box. Would make life on a golf course a bit faster!

I think that's really unreasonable.......IMO

[euylvaygdq]

I think that's really unreasonable.......IMO

Probably since the majority of US players don't know what their handicap really is. In other European countries they make people pass a series of tests, playing and rules, before they are allowed onto a course. Novel concept but makes too much sense over here.

[Gasfghj]

Courses should mandate handicap numbers for each tee box. Would make life on a golf course a bit faster!

They would have to have someone on every tee box to enforce this.

[EscaCsamas]

Courses should mandate handicap numbers for each tee box. Would make life on a golf course a bit faster!

That sounds like a good way to turnoff casual golfers. That would be a huge mistake for a majority of courses.

[EscaCsamas]

Probably since the majority of US players don't know what their handicap really is. In other European countries they make people pass a series of tests, playing and rules, before they are allowed onto a course. Novel concept but makes too much sense over here.

Disagree. I think it makes little sense.

[euylvaygdq]

They would have to have someone on every tee box to enforce this.

With GPS technology that would not be necessary. Look, I know it's a pipe dream but I have seen it all too often players playing the back tees that should be playing the blues or white, players playing the blues that should be playing the whites and players playing the whites that shouldn't be on the golf course on a prime time morning tee time. I will also say, that I've seen players that I've mentioned above that are playing the wrong tee boxes but are also super fast players and do not hold up the group they are playing with or the groups behind 'em. Makes for a long day of golf for them but as long as they are not the slow play issue then so be it.

[Super-Luser]

I think having the starter recommend a set of tees "as a courtesy" is a great idea. Mandating it, not so much. And as far as the series of tests in order to play, no thanks.

Golf is a serious hobby to us, to most golfers it is an escape from work and the kids. Having to take a test before playing is the best way to push people away.

I like to mix it up and play from different tees, I don't play the tips unless its a fairly short course, most courses down here at in the 6800-7200 range from the tips, and I just don't have the game for that. But I mix it up between the forward tees and middle tees most of the time. Playing from the foward tees allows me to work on my 9 iron and won a good bit, and gives me the opportunity to go for Par 5's in 2. With the middle tees its mostly 6-8 irons and chipping. Its good to mix it up and work on both.

6300-6400 is my ideal range, it seems alot of courses around are either 6000 or 6500.

[spoddersedpn]

Courses should mandate handicap numbers for each tee box. Would make life on a golf course a bit faster!

At my home course where I work part time, we recommend what tees to play if someone asks, but I'm not in favore of any type of mandate. Course's just have to be proactive when it comes to slow play. Slow play is nothing new I don't think. I've been playing for 35+ years it has always been some what of a issue.

I love the idea of the play it forward program and I think we will see it pushed even further in 2012. The whole idea is for everyone on the course to have fun. I have had a great time this playing shorter tees from time to time.

[beepbeet]

Its really pretty simple to just put up a sign on the 1st tee recommending a tee selection based on handicap. I don't want to see anyone forcing you to play a specific tee, but a good suggestion up front plus peer pressure from other players would help make the decision easier.

To go one small step further, courses could do away with the traditional color for tees. Last time I played the Robert Trent Jones courses in Alabama they did this, but I don't know if they continue it. Orange tees, Purple Tees, Grey tees......of course its a simple matter of looking looking at the scorecard and trying to judge the proper length for you, but psychologically it does away with the concept of playing Blue tees or White tees.

I've always been a shorter hitter off the tees, and now that I'm pushing 50 I'll play the white tees anytime someone wants to.

[euylvaygdq]

Disagree. I think it makes little sense.

Little sense to educate the golfer and learn the game the right way? Boy, would love to hear why you disagree on that. Please explain.

[ARKLqAZ6]

Teeing it forward is for babies. Nah I think it's actually really good to mix in a variety of clubs and just make the game more fun. But I prefer to play long tees because I like hitting longer irons into greens. More challenging, but still can shoot decent scores.

[costamarianavia]

I don't like the idea of mandating it, but I DO think courses should list a suggested handicap range on the scorecards next to the appropriate set of tees. Most people don't understand rating and slope, so if the just added a handicap suggestion it might make some people move up.

I played behind a 3 some of 25+ handicappers a few weeks back and all 3 of them where playing the tips..when the finally let me and my buddy play through and we went up to the "blues", one of the guys said "are we allowed to hit from there?"...they thought since they were Males, not juniors, seniors or women that they had to play the back tees.

[euylvaygdq]

I think having the starter recommend a set of tees "as a courtesy" is a great idea. Mandating it, not so much. And as far as the series of tests in order to play, no thanks.

Golf is a serious hobby to us, to most golfers it is an escape from work and the kids. Having to take a test before playing is the best way to push people away.

I like to mix it up and play from different tees, I don't play the tips unless its a fairly short course, most courses down here at in the 6800-7200 range from the tips, and I just don't have the game for that. But I mix it up between the forward tees and middle tees most of the time. Playing from the foward tees allows me to work on my 9 iron and won a good bit, and gives me the opportunity to go for Par 5's in 2. With the middle tees its mostly 6-8 irons and chipping. Its good to mix it up and work on both.

6300-6400 is my ideal range, it seems alot of courses around are either 6000 or 6500.

All for it as long as your not the one holding up the 5 groups behind ya! Slow play is a problem around the country and there are tons of articles that are written about it. Players playing the "wrong" tees is one cause of rounds taking 5 hours to play. This was one reason I ended up joing a country club instead of playing the muni's I use to play for years..........it just took too long esp. on the weekends! As Rick stated above, much of it is to do with egos. Your playing with 2 guys that shoot in the 80's and they are playing the blue tees. You shoot in the high 90's to 100 and want to belong and feel apart teeing off on the same tees. I get it. I understand. But it doesn't make it right. Again, I have no problem with this guy playing the blues with his buddies AS LONG AS he is keeping up with everyone else. But odds are, this player is struggling more than his buddies are which most of the time ends up in slow play. A round of golf should take no more than 4 hours to play and really should be in the 3.5 hour range.

[euylvaygdq]

I played behind a 3 some of 25+ handicappers a few weeks back and all 3 of them where playing the tips..when the finally let me and my buddy play through and we went up to the "blues", one of the guys said "are we allowed to hit from there?"...they thought since they were Males, not juniors, seniors or women that they had to play the back tees.

Perfect example.....lack of education.