Check the Scorecard … Then Check Your Ego
Which tees do you play from?
I mean, suppose you turn up at a golf course that you have never played before. Do you automatically head to the white tees? The blue tees? How do you decide?
I’m often contacted by NCGA members asking which set of tees they should play at xyz golf course based upon their handicap. It’s almost comical because to me the answer couldn’t be any more obvious; play from the set of tees you think you will enjoy the golf course from the most.
I say “almost comical” because for years I didn’t heed the advice that rolls off my lips so easily now. Tragically, my mindset was that I wanted to play from the back tees, period. Sometimes it wasn’t pretty.
After years of getting beat up, it finally dawned on me that some of those tees were just too much and that they were built for far better and much longer players. Hitting mid-irons into greens designed for short irons and long irons or even woods into greens designed for mid-irons just wasn’t much fun. Now when I set foot on an unfamiliar course, I first check out the scorecard.
The first thing you should do when dissecting a scorecard is look at the yardage of the course from each set of tees. After all, yardage is the most difficult obstacle on the course to overcome. Find your comfort zone. All things being equal, for me it’s around 6,800 yards. More often than not I am able to hit every club in the bag from such tees and, hopefully, have a few reasonable opportunities for birdies.
Next, I consult the Course and Slope Ratings to tell me a little something about the character of the layout and hazards each tee presents. Especially high or low values might cause me to move up or down a set of tees.
In very broad terms, the combination of ratings can be summed up by the following table.
| Course Rating | Slope Rating | Description |
| LOW | LOW | Short course, fairly tame. |
| LOW | relatively HIGH | Short course with a lot of bite, proceed with caution |
| HIGH | relatively LOW | Long course, user-friendly. |
| HIGH | HIGH | Long punishing course, proceed at your own risk (bring lots of golf balls). |
The good news is that no matter what tees you select, the Handicap System will adjust accordingly, even if you decide to play a different set of tees than others.
Speaking of maximizing your enjoyment, two fairly recent trends seem to be sweeping the region.
More and more courses are requesting men’s ratings from their forward tees and/or installing shorter tees specifically for men (primarily seniors).
More and more golf courses are developing “combo” tees — a mixture or combination of some white tees and some blue tees to offer a different look or add a little spice to your round.
In both instances the NCGA is happy to oblige and will issue men’s ratings from any and all tees that a club wishes (likewise, the two women’s associations will issue women’s ratings from additional tees upon request).
As I’ve learned the hard way, golf should be about having fun. It should not be punishment. Let your ego take a back seat to common sense.
Great article. I also find that checking the yardage of the par 3’s is a great indicator of the tees I belong on.
September 26th, 2007 at 8:15 amPhil Henderson,
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:14 pmThanks. I kind of do the same. If most of the yardage comes from long 4’s, I may move up. If it is based on one or two long 5’s and 3’s, I am more likely to venture back. Thanks Jim Cowan
Definitely a great article – I find myself frequently trying to push it from the back tees rather than just move up a set. I agree that checking the par 3 distances is a good way to find the right tee and take some pressure off (who really wants to play a 230 yard par three, anyway?).
December 29th, 2007 at 9:07 pmWhy do golfers, and men in particular, seem to measure their manhood by which color of tee they play? I am so tired of watching groups of golfers in front of me slice and hack their way around a course, shooting well in excess of 100, and watching them do it from either the blue tees or the tips. ARE YOU FRICKIN’ KIDDING ME?? Take a tip from the NCGA…..their Associate Club tournaments are all played from the White Tees. And if you think that the white tees aren’t man enough for you….then shoot in the 70’s or better!! If a golfer cannot hit a 3, 4, or 5 iron straight then they need to play from the white tees. May I speak for everyone on the golf course when I say that I’d rather see someone play a 4 hour round from the white tees than a 5-1/2 hour round from the tips?
January 1st, 2008 at 6:55 pmGreat advise. I used to hit from the blues, and was most of the time giving up the winnings. It’s hard to get older, but it’s even harder to be unhappy with your golf. I got over the mocho attitude and went to the whites, and am very happy with the results. Now i share the winnings which overpowers the mocho attitude and feeling depressed.
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:09 pmChris, Mark and Tom,
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:09 pmThank you for your positive comments. To me it’s about having fun and a nice contrast of short and long approach shots. At the end of the day if I find that I have used just about every club in the bag, I more than likely found the right set of tees for my game. Thanks again – Jim Cowan
This subject has been very difficult for many to understand! It’s been amazing to me how many will call me a “sandbagger” because I play from the middle tees and hit a short but accurate drive, short fairway wood (even on par 4’s), and frequently a mid iron to the green. Because of my decent short game I seldom take more than a double or have a decent chance for a birdie. It took me over 7 years to birdie every hole on my course! I frequently win tournaments, due to my consistent play. Consequently, I am “penalized” by having to play to a “R” index. I play a significant number of rounds (over 200) last year, so my index is statically more accurate than most of my components, yet I suffer the bain of being called and labeled by the “R” as a sandbagger! A good day is 4/5 pars and 14/13 bogies which puts me right around 90 for the day. That frequently beats my friends who are 12/13 handicap and have 3 or 4 really bad holes! The only solice is that I play as best I can every round and let the comments roll off as I enjoy every one of those rounds!
January 7th, 2008 at 12:00 amGreat article. I understand WANTING to be able to play from the “tips” but if you do the score SHOULD NOT be considered for use in calculating your handicap. It should not be difficult to compare a course rating and slope against a players current handicap when a score is posted and then EXCLUDE those scores that are posted from an obviously more difficult tee box than is indicated by the plsyers handicap and ability. Then the “sand bag” stigma would not come into play,(except of course for those who do not have a code of ethics).
February 28th, 2008 at 10:36 amPaul, Though I can sympathize with the thought process behind your comments, such scores would have to be posted. The Handicap System knows how to take care of scores from rounds where “we bit off more than we can chew” or we played uncharacteristically poor. The System relegates them to the worst 10 of your 20 most recent rounds which means that they are not computed into the Index you are issued. Thanks again – Jim Cowan
February 29th, 2008 at 2:26 pmI agree with this article and a majority of the complaints. there are far too many golfers who want to play as far back as they can without the ability to play from there. there is nothing more frustrating than watching a player at the back tees shoot 90+ and hold up a course. this should be a game of enjoyment and pleasure. So when you check in, checkin in your ego at the same time and play the game thank you
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:39 amEd – Thank you for your comments. Slow play is certainly a byproduct of playing a set of tees that is more than a golfer can handle. Thanks again – Jim Cowan
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:14 amJim, As a newer golfer I am curious as to what qualifies as a low/high slope and or course rating? I am playing 6400 71.5/132 Where does that fit in?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:26 pmScott – Thank you for your comment. There is no set standard as to what a high or low Course or Slope Rating is. In very, very broad terms, Course Ratings in the high 60’s/low 70’s might be on the easier side, especially if this rating is well below par. Slopes in the low 120’s and down would normally be considered on the user friendly side (unless it is a short course that carries an exceptionally low Course Rating). At 6,400 yards I would consider the tees you describe as a HIGH/HIGH course. It implies lots of action or lots of trouble in one form or the other. Thanks again – Jim Cowan.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:17 amCould not agree with you more. I am a Caddie at Pebble Beach. My primary
June 25th, 2008 at 8:40 pmcourse is Spyglass Hill. Very difficult. But day in and day out I have people that just have to play the gold or blue tee box. Years ago when I was playing a lot of golf, I had an instructor tell me to play the forward tee’s and get used to shooting lower scores. It works. As you say in your article, it’s no fun hitting driver- 5 wood into a hole a touring pro might 3 wood – 7 iron. You get the point. But it’s hard to tell someone who just put the better part of $500.00 on the counter what tee box to play from.
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June 14th, 2009 at 8:09 pmHey Scott…Great article.I am at a Veterans home in Yountville,Ca. I have been here six months and was nominated to be Secy of this golf league. We have golfers with the average age of 78 and thats’ only because we have 2 golfers that are 63. Most of us have trouble walikng. Majority of them average 85, so I am introducing them to the senior tees(gold). What a hassle. I found an article in Golf Digest by Mike Shultz similar to yours a month ago and passed it out. Cry, cry cry, but not all of them. They insist on playing from the white tees. I’m not giving in. I played from the senior tees back home. What a blast to hit the greens in regulation with a iron that was designated to reach the green and not a wood.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:25 pmWould it be possiblle for you to send me a email with your staff heading to help them move forward and start enjoying the game as it was meant to be played.
Thank you
Robert – Check your e-mail. Thanks
February 24th, 2010 at 3:21 pm