Possible Misconceptions #1: Wrong Tees?

[iacas]

It's a common perception in golf that most people "play the wrong tees" - that they play tees that are too far back for their ability.

Though I might have agreed with that ten years ago, I don't today.

I think most "serious" golfers (generally those with a handicap, even if it's self-calculated and unofficial) play the right tees. Either they know their course or they know enough about slope and course rating to pick tees on an unfamiliar course.

I think the tendency for the average golfer to want to punish himself and to "see the whole course" has dwindled.

I can't remember the last time I played with someone who wanted to play further back than I thought they could handle (including myself - except the time I had to choose between 5800 yard tees and 6900 yard tees on a soggy par-70 - and really, why an 1100-yard gap between the blues and whites?).

P.S. I voted for 21-40%, but I'm thinking it's 21%, not 40. I almost chose 0-20.

[kfowler]

I guessed at 41-60% but I really have no idea. Handicap is not a really a good indication though. For instance, I'm around a 20 HCP. However, my driver is my best club and I have no problem with distance off the tee. My issue is with the approach shot and chipping. I've found very little difference in my score when I play from the whites or blacks/blues.

[TheNatural]

I guessed at 41-60% but I really have no idea. Handicap is not a really a good indication though. For instance, I'm around a 20 HCP. However, my driver is my best club and I have no problem with distance off the tee. My issue is with the approach shot and chipping. I've found very little difference in my score when I play from the whites or blacks/blues.

IM the exact same as you...now I have not played blacks....that may have an influence since a black tee course in MD is worthy of PGA talent, 250+ carries over hazards and such

[NM Golf]

I work as a starter at a public golf course. Most people get on the right tees. I would say a very high percentage of your more serious players play the correct tees. Its the goof offs that don't, which is worse considering that they are the people that need to play up more than anyone else. I voted 21-40% but I would venture a guess to say its right at the bottom of that number.

It never fails, just about every group of yahoos, that only play golf twice a year, arrive at number one and run to the champion tees. From there they take turns topping, slicing, and missing their first tee shots. Fortunately on most days the more serious players outnumber the goof-offs.

[goblue107501]

I went 21-40. I do see a few people playing from tees that are too far back for their skill level. I base this just on when I play behind a group and they are playing from the blues or blacks when they should be playing from the whites. I think some of it is because they think that they are better than what they are and feel like it is a 'macho' thing to play from a back tee.

Conversly, I think quite a few people play from too far up and don't challenge themselves enough. Some of the guys I play with will only play from the white tees because that is where they know they will score the best. I think playing the same tees everytime at a particular course can get stagnate and some would be better off taking the greater challenge to see if they can shoot the same score from a different tee.

[cougar978]

When I was in high school, our coach always made us play from the back tees - so I've been doing it ever since I was 14 (I'm 30 now). I would imagine there were some rounds where I was overmatched, but in my opinion, it does a younger player well from a mental toughness point of view to try to push the envelope in terms of performance. Sure, you'll blow up and get embarrassed every now and then, but it also teaches you a very important lesson - which is to learn from your mistakes and avoid repeating them. Just my .02.

Oh, back to the topic - I don't see many people playing tees that arent appropriate for their skills these days.

[TMO]

Personally, I put 60-80%. I like it when courses don't just say what tees you should play but do not let you play a tee that is too far back if your handicap isn't low enough. Personal favorite for that is Medinah #2

[$2 Nassau]

I chose 21-40, but almost chose 41-60. Maybe it's just me, but I still think it is a problem. I don't think enough people understand ratings and slopes. Most people just look at the yardage. Just my opinion.

[kfowler]

I've played both both the white and black tees at one of my local courses. It's actually pretty cool because it's an entirely different course from one set of tees. Some of the holes don't even look the same. For instance, hole #18 is a straight 380 yards from the white. The blacks are 425 but have a hard dog leg left. The two play very differently.

[Fourputt]

It's a common perception in golf that most people "play the wrong tees" - that they play tees that are too far back for their ability.

I'm with Erik on this... I'd put it at the lower end of 21-40, and I honestly feel that it's probably even lower than that. The only reason I'm putting it that high is that many courses just don't provide enough options. I know quite a few guys on my home course who would move up one tee box if we had 4 sets instead of 3. The course is in the process of rebuilding all the tee boxes and adding a 4th box to each tee, but at about $15,000-$20,000 per hole, they can only do a couple each year. Since we have 36 holes of golf to deal with, it's going to take a while, and until then most of the average to below average men will still be playing from the middle tees, and at 6500 yards, that is just too far back for about 20% of those players.

[cigarnut81]

I voted 81-100% because we should all play the tees that allow us to beat our handicap not shoot it and most of the golfers I play with never get any better because they are to far from the green to have a chance at par! That is the point of the game right PAR!!!!!!!!Why never have a chance at it??????????????

[Lemay427]

I voted 81-100% because we should all play the tees that allow us to beat our handicap not shoot it and most of the golfers I play with never get any better because they are to far from the green to have a chance at par! That is the point of the game right PAR!!!!!!!!Why never have a chance at it??????????????

Are you serious? Go play putt putt.

[Big Padrigo]

Excellent thread.

In my regular Saturday morning foursome, we have been playing the whites tees (so the shortest mens tees) over the last couple of weeks as the wind has been 20-25mph. I play off 13, my buddies play off 18, 9 and 12. We will move back when the wind isn't so strong, but there's no point playing a set of tees where you're going to have a miserable round.

At my course we do occasionally fall behind a group who clearly are playing off the wrong tees, but most of the members know their level.

[meenman]

I voted 81-100% because we should all play the tees that allow us to beat our handicap not shoot it

Very flawed thinking - your course handicap changes with each set of tees so you still should not be beating your handicap everytime.

[iacas]

I voted 81-100% because we should all play the tees that allow us to beat our handicap not shoot it

That doesn't make any sense. Not only does our handicap change as we move from one set of tees to another, but if you "beat" your handicap with any regularity, your handicap will drop.

and most of the golfers I play with never get any better because they are to far from the green to have a chance at par!

That doesn't make any sense either. They don't get better because they don't take lessons or because they don't apply what they've learned.

You seem to have gotten things backwards. Getting a par or birdie does not make you better. Getting better leads to more pars or birdies...

[Eeryck]

I think slightly more than 1/2 of all golfers play from the wrong tee. Being a high hcp and knowing many people that golf that don't keep an accurate handicap, I have argued with many golfers the past year about playing closer tees.

Also, at many of the local muni's I have witnessed quite a few groups go off the Blacks and drive the ball 150-225 consistantly each hole.

-E

[Jay-Bird]

I went with 0-20%. I played through a group of terrible golfers today, a group of SEVEN people - a sevensome (if that's a word), but atleast they were playing the front tees . I was behind them for two holes...They didn't let me through until I got to a par 3 tee when they were all hitting their mulligan tee shots...

†

[ZaPPPa]

If I have to go by what I see every weekend I'd almost say 90%, but I went with 40-60.

The local practice green is right next to a Tee-box. I have spent many hours there and like to watch people tee off while I am doing pitching and chipping. In several months I have seen not a single male tee off from the Whites. 60% tee off from the blacks and 40% from gold, which they most likely aren't even allowed to according to club rules.

Three weeks ago I witnessed a group of guys walk up to the tee box (blacks) and wait for the people in front of them to clear. They waited and waited until the other group was at least 300 yards away. I expected some fireworks, but person A hit a wormburner about 150 yards. Person B Sliced it into the woods about 160 yards away, C hit under the ball, it hitting the crown and shooting straight up and D)had an average shot.. maybe 220 at the most. None of the swing speeds broke 90mph and technique was awful.

And I always tee off from the whites..