Blue Tees?

Yesterday afternoon I played at my club. The course was wide open for our 11:40 start. After several holes we caught up with a fivesome (which we shouldn't allow but we do). This group of 30 - somethings were all decked out with the latest gear; clubs, bags, apparel. The only way to describe their play is awful. To a man I don't think they made a really good shot. To their credit they offered to let us play through, but we were in no hurry (and it wasn't a bad show). Someone please tell me why they were playing the blue tees (we have 5 sets available)? We just wanted to tackle them. Ego is one thing, but isn't golf supposed to be fun. In their 30's I assume they have jobs, only getting to play on the weekend. Makes for great office conversation Monday, "Yep, didn't reach a singlr par 3 Saturday".

Maybe they play there a lot and wanted a different course to play? Playing from different tees gives different perspectives. You cannot knock them at all, since they offered to let you play through. I am guessing you are much younger than 30 by the post.

Right, because if you are lousy at golf, clearly you should be required to have beat up, outdated equipment, and be dressed in rags.

My sentiments exactly. They offered to have them play through. What else does someone want.

They offered to let you play through.

They paid their money and are properly costumed in the garb of golf and are entitled to enjoy their time on the course. If their poor play bothers you then I would suggest that you leave them behind. Everyone is bad at something.

Profile says retired, so unless he got a good job...he's older than 30

I knew it was either way young or way older.

Whoa, hold on there guys. I think you may be reacting a little harshly . . .


I don't think RMD was knocking their clothing or gear, but their choice to play the Blue Tees, which are the longest. (Although, in the skiing/snowboarding world, those fellows would be what we call "gapers" based on their pro level gear and apparel, and complete lack of game.)

And I tend to agree with him. If you are a high-capper, you shouldn't be playing from the longest tees - especially on the weekend when the course is potentially crowded. The different tees are there for a reason, and the USGA, the PGA, and the GCSA are all making a push to get people to play from the tees that suit their game. (Hence, the push to stop calling the red tee's "Ladies" tees and call them "Forward" tees.)

When players use the correct tees for their game, it speeds up play, and it makes the game more fun. And in a time when more people are quitting golf than taking it up, both of these are important if we want the sport to "grow". (And we do, because it means more courses, cheaper costs, more jobs, etc.)

Do I personally care if a high capper wants to play from the tips on a day when the course is empty and his/her game (or lack thereof) won't impact anyone else? No.

But I think RMD was just making a point about selecting tees that are appropriate for one's game.

And to answer your question directly RMD, I am guessing that either: (a) no one in the group knew better; (b) one guy in the group teed up at the blue tees and the others didn't want to feel like a "wussy" by comparison; or (c) it was just a testosterone thing - their egos wouldn't like them play shorter tees.

I know that when I started, I didn't realize how important blue vs white really was. After all, most of the times, they aren't that far apart - a few yards, right? Except I didn't know that those few yards often times mean the hole plays differently - carries over water, bringing bunkers into play, etc. I suspect the same lack of knowledge played a role in your situation as well.

Oh, and remember, allowing someone to play through isn't a cure-all for anyone except the group that gets to play through. Because, now the slow group has to stop and wait for the group "playing through" to clear the hole/fairway/green.

On a full day, that causes a "compression effect" and slows everyone behind the slower group. And when the slow group is finally playing again, they are then slowing down a whole new group of players behind them.

The real solution, which no one ever takes, is to have the slow group pick up, move back into position, and make sure they stay in position. Of course, that would require a Marshall to stalk the group. And on any given day, there is more than one group playing slow. The manpower (Marshallpower) required to force pace of play would be unrealistic. Not to mention to reactions by some of the less understanding slow players.

So the very best option is prevention - play from the correct tees, keep up, pick up (when necessary), and follow the rules. A lot of people seem to think that doing all these things sucks all the "fun" out of the game, but I disagree. There is plenty of fun to be had, especially when you aren't out there screwing up everybody else's round.

Harry, read the OP again.

He says the COURSE WAS WIDE OPEN FOR OUR 11:40 START.

To me this Post is more about the fact that these guys had all the nice and new stuff and couldnt use them more than it was about their play. They offered to let a faster group play through for the space in front of them. No where in his post was there anything about backing up the course. They caught the fivesome which of course they would whether they were bad or not, simply because there were 5 of them.

Then instead of playing through, they wanted to watch the nice dressed and equipped guys play poorly rather than playing through, yet they wanted to tackle them. Quotes from the OP himself.

I think you are a little off on this one.

I disagree:

I believe the description was to set the scene, but the main thrust was the choice of tees considering their skill. (The title of the thread is "Blue Tees" after all.)

As for my discussion regarding pace of play, that was my expansion of the topic to include other reasons why playing from the correct tees is important. I was trying to anticipate the argument of "why do you care which tees someone plays from? They offered to let you play through." But perhaps I am being too generous. Maybe the OP will return and explain his intent. If the topic is actually "fancy-pants'ed young whipper-snappers who have new expensive equipment but can't play are stupid" . . . well, then, I would have to agree with "Why would you waste your time caring about something like that?"

It just seemed like more emphasis was put on their outfits and equipment rather than the fact that they said go ahead and cruise on by us.

If these 5 golfers were just GOD AWFUL and slow as heck playing from correct tees, then what? If a group is slow, it is their job to let people faster play through. According to your logic, bad golfers should not be allowed to play on busy days. While I hate slow play with the rest of them, the fact is, they did exactly what they should have done. Let the faster group go by.

I'll be 59 in November.

Harry Longshanks is the only guy that gets it! He gets the prize. I wasn't in any way complaining about the group up front...and NO, there was no one backed up behind us. My point was (pay attention here guys) that these guys would, in all probability had more fun and better stories to tell had they played from the whites.

My favorite response was the guy that said I must be "under 30" and thus bashing the older guys. I'll be 59 in November. I gave up golf in 1998 and just picked it up again in June this year. I belong to Cedar Point Country Club in Suffolk, VA (best kept secret in the game) and play to a 15.

By the way, I generally play from the whites (6100 yds) but sometimes the Blues (6500 yds), but not yet the Blacks (7200). Call me a wuss, I'm too old to care.

I'm with you on this. I'd rather be a wuss who shoots 78-84 then a macho man who can't break 100.

No worries RMD. Chalk it up to one more reason why impersonal textual conversation fails.

I was only confused by a refusal to play through. While I've never ask to play through, I jump at the offer to play through.

I am not a great golfer, but I will often play from the blue tees at our local course just for the feel. Our tournaments often go 9 from the whites, 9 from the blues. If I were to never play from the blues, I would have no idea how to play from them. Many holes on our course have to be played much different. If you pay your dues, I feel that you are entitled to play from wherever you want.

the differene in pace of play between these ppl playing the reds or whites and the blues wouldnt have made much difference. and how can you say that they are having less fun, most of the time ive noticed that the ppl hacking it around are having more fun than the 15 handicapper because they arent as concerned with what they shoot, theyre just messing around

Not at all. Everyone is entitled to be on the course. Bad players have to learn so they can get better. Players who are that bad should be playing "ball in pocket" - pick up their balls and move back into position. Scoring shouldn't matter, working on their ball striking should. But even f scoring did matter, if they are that bad, they are going to be exceeding Equitable Stroke Control anyway. When I was learning, I picked up all the time. And I play right now with a woman who is learning. Even though she is a complete novice, the first time we played together with other people on a crowded day, she knew enough (on her own - no prompting from me) to pick up her ball when she fell behind. She just dropped her ball on the greens and putted out. She got to practice, and everyone was happy.