If one of the most nerve-racking aspects of golf is how to determine which tees to play, you’re not alone! I’m not a long ball hitter myself, and for years I always prayed I would be paired with senior or female golfers so I could golf from the second set of tees without feeling bad about my game, or feeling like I was holding up the better golfers since they had to wait for me to hit at the white tees when they already teed off on the black tees. Well, I don’t worry about that any longer. Let me tell you why.
First, the game of golf itself is changing. Many courses require you to have a certain handicap, for example 10 or below, before allowing you to play the championship tees (often the black tees). Like all things in golf, this is on the honor system. Courses have become frustrated with golfers who shouldn’t be playing the championship tees because their game simply isn’t strong enough, resulting in a slower pace of play and subsequent backups for the 71 other golfers sharing the course with you.
Some of you may be thinking, “But I paid for my round; I’m entitled to golf any tee box I want!” Well, yes and no. Yes, you are, if the course allows it and if you can maintain the established pace of play. If the course hasn’t posted their pace of play, it’s simple to determine. Take the number of minutes between tee times and multiply it by 18. In other words, if a course has tee times at 8:00am, and again at 8:10am, you get 10 minutes per hole for a full round of golf being played in 3 hours. If you are not able to maintain the pace of play, you should move up to a different tee box.
Now, let’s get back to the question of “Which tee box should I play?” The newly established standard is, play the tee box that brings you the most enjoyment while ensuring you maintain the established pace of play. Remember, there is no such thing as “The Ladies Tees” anymore; this has been replaced with the term “the forward tees”. This was always a subtle way of suggesting women aren’t as good as men. Men even made betting contests and games aimed at poking fun of the golfer whose drive didn’t make it far enough to pass the ladies tee box. Women are incredible golfers, and I know plenty of women who outdrive me even on my best day. So, if on any given day you’re wanting to speed up your pace of play, stick closely with a playing partner, or you’re nursing an injury that is reducing your swing speed, there is no reason you shouldn’t play the forward tees (often the red tees). I typically play the second set of tees but have been known to move up or back depending on the type of course I’m playing. If the course is tight fairways with a lot of woods or water, I may move up a box and play the round driving with my 3-wood for more control (and less lost balls!). If I’m playing a wide-open course, I may move back a tee box and break out the big dog, because I have a better chance of finding even my errant drives.
Now, a quick note about playing with people you don’t know. You should never feel obligated to play a more challenging tee box just because others are. If you are solo for the day and get paired with a threesome, they may opt to play the championship tees. This in no way obligates you to join them. You paid for your round, and you’re entitled to play your game. As a matter of fact, you may have booked the tee time first, and the course paired them with you later. Would you expect them to play a forward tee if they are scratch golfers? Absolutely not.
Perhaps the only time you don’t get to choose your tee box is at a tournament or event where the tee boxes are already set for you. Often courses will still separate the tees by men and women, but this can work in your favor. If you have a female on your team with a long drive, that little extra distance is a huge leg up for your team!
As a final note, you can change tee boxes from round to round, but in order for your score to be pure, you should not change tee boxes within the round. In other words, if you select the white tees, don’t move up to the red tees on two holes just to improve your score.
In summary, there are no restrictions on tee box selection except that you play a tee box that allows you to maintain the established pace of play set by the course. Many factors may determine the tee boxes you select on any given day. But the newly established standard is, play the tee box that allows you to maintain pace of play, while getting the most enjoyment from your game. Let’s be honest … it’s a lot more fun to shoot a great score than it is to move back, lose balls, and have the course marshal breathing down your back for 3 hours!
