How do you decide which tees to use?

[Smallville]

I don't play to get a handicap. In that way I am different than a lot of people on this board. I don't play from the tips, unless those tips happen to be less than 6500 yards! I find at most of the courses I play I play from the whites (red=forward, white=middle, blue=back, and they may have a fourth "tips"). Basically how I decide is how long the Par 3 holes are. I like a distance that will make at least 2 of the 4 Par 3's be between 140 and 160 yards. If the other 2 are under 200 that's fine. I, and most people I play with don't really enjoy a Par 3 that you have to use a driver or 3 wood on (some people I play with play as far back as they can no matter what). I don't mind longer Par 4's and Par 5's since I can hit my 3 wood fairly well and most of the time I can get there in one over regulation or better (bogey golf, I am happy with that for right now). Overall I'd say the tees I use will play between 5,700 and 6,300 yards (generally on the lower end of the scale). But its what we like to play; we aren't going pro any time soon and we play by the rules so we aren't going to punish ourselves playing from tees we have no business playing (maybe I should say "I" instead of "WE").

So after all that, how do you decide which tees you are using on a particular day on a particular course? I know the single digits will probably play from the backs or tips all the time, every time (maybe not) but how about the hackers, the 15- 25 and higher handicappers? Although anyone can answer if they choose. No poll, too many factors.

[Franco!]

The tips.
I usually get a lot of shit from the rangers.
"Where is your handicap card, son?!"
Up your ass, pal.
But it's either the back or I'll sometimes play the front tees.

[scottevans77]

I usually play from the middle tees. I've found lately though, as I get better with my driver, that even on a par 5 that I'm not having to use my long irons at all. Next time I play there, I may play from the back and see how that goes.

[iacas]

Play the tees from which you can break 100 consistently, then keep moving back until you can break 100 from what amounts to "your personal tips."

When you can break 100 from your personal tips (often the same as the actual longest tees), move up until you can break 90 consistently, and repeat the process. Then repeat for 80.

Once you get to the point where you can break 80 consistently, you'll know what tees to play from.

[GaijinGolfer]

I used to always play from the whites, but lately Ive started playing the reds. Playing from the reds makes the holes a lot easier and I like knowing what its like to make par every now and then.
Back when I used to play from the whites, the best I could ever managed was bogey or double bogey with the once in a blue moon par.
That left me feeling pretty bad about my golf game, to the point where it really wasnt even fun anymore.
When I get to the point where Im breaking 100 on a regular basis, I will move back to the whites but for now its the reds.
Sure, I sometimes get made fun of for playing from what some refer to as the, "ladies' tees" but I dont care. Those people are also the same people who are slicing their drives into the round, missing the green and 3-putting all the time; so I usually get the last laugh.

[NI4NI]

On most courses, I'll play from the Whites. However, if I'm playing with buddies with single-digit handicaps, then I'll play from their choice (usually Blues). I'm a high handicap player, so I'd rather be a little closer, but still have challenging go at it.

[Fraser]

I was a bit embarassed the other day, my first round in the US since moving here. I was playing alone for the first couple of holes and went off the yellow tees, which back home are the mens tees, with the whites being championship/tournament. This US course also had blue tees, further back from the whites.

I got to the 3rd hole and another single player asks if we want to play together, so I go to hit my tee shot off the yellows and he asks if I'm playing through. I reply no and he says I look too young to hit off those ones. Fortunately the first couple of holes there is only a few feet difference between yellow and white.

[rschwark]

I play from the back tees. I always say the longer the better. My home course from the tips is only about 6900. So must times what I do is just tee up from the back of the tee box. I am hoping this way I can get about 100 yards more out of my course.

[bogeyhitter25]

I'll play the middles on longer courses. And the tips on shorter ones.

[Eore]

i will play any tees that i am comfortable with. at my club i either play the blacks (6700) or the member tees (these tees are:the blue tees on par 4's and black tees on 3's and 5's:6400) this makes the average par 4 at 357 yards (drive and a 7 iron), the average par 3 at 173 yards (5 iron) and the average par 5 at 515 yards
at my schools course in the summer i play the tips (6300) even though for matches we play the next tees up (6000)

[flap]

My rule of thumb is as long as I can hit the par 4's with a iron its OK.As I get older I usually do not go above 6600 yds.

[Andrew]

currently im practicing for tryouts for my high school which is played from the blue tees so im playing those.


I sometimes play from what everyone else is playing because i have played from all tees, and ive done alright.
Usually white or blue

[yeis20]

Been playing the blues at my local to have a more diverse club selection for approach shots.

[lookimtigerwoods]

grow a pair and play the tips

[Richie3Jack]

Depends on the situation.

I generally play from the tips. There may be a 240 yard par 3 that I don't care to play, something you don't see in most pro tournaments and I'll just play it from around the 190-210 mark instead.

If I'm playing with my ole man, I may move up little since he and his friends are playing the white and it can be a bit cumbersome.

And if I'm getting ready for a tournament, I try to play the reds a few days before the tournament. I'll never forget Jack Nicklaus once stating that he played the reds a few days before a tournament because he wanted to get the mindset of scoring. It actually works.




3JACK

[firstcut]

I've seen score cards that actually tell you where you should play from based on your handicap. That's pretty cool.

Play the tees from which you can break 100 consistently, then keep moving back until you can break 100 from what amounts to "your personal tips."

I like this line of thought although I'm shooting for a consistent 95 from the whites before I move back. Unfortunetly as a walk on I'm almost always with a group that plays from the blues so I usually play there instead.

About the only place I won't play from is the tips. It's always a joy to see some 20 handicap think he should be at the tips because he's got the occasional big drive. I know I'm in for a long day if we're behind him. Gack!

[lookimtigerwoods]

the tees you play dont make half the difference yall are thinking they do. they do make a difference, but you still have to play the same green no matter what tees you play

[firstcut]

the tees you play dont make half the difference yall are thinking they do. they do make a difference, but you still have to play the same green no matter what tees you play

Maybe for a lower handicapper, but I think it makes a big difference for us hackers. One of my favorite courses has most of the bunkers at 230-250 from the blues.. So, when I play from the blues I have to be much more accurate (or hit a 3 Iron) off the tee than from the whites where I can clear the hazards.. Other things like hitting shorter irons, etc.. for second shots are important for accuracy too.

There are a lot of things a higher handicapper has to watch out for that can quickly snowball into the dreaded snowman without too much effort. A fairway bunker followed by a long second shot add up quick. Based on a lot of comments I read on this site, I think that some lower handicappers don't even see these things anymore and forget what the course looks like to us 20+ guys.