Playing from the Tips?

[Fatphil]

My brother and I have played several times at an extremely hilly course in central Missouri called Eagle Knoll (Golf Digest award winner a couple of years back). The Whites are 6139 yds., and the Blues 6670 yds. Due to some quirks in the layout, I prefer the Blues despite my HDCP.

very true...I play in S FL where all the courses are flat and look alike, but I know up north there are some spectacular courses where playing from the tips is awesome just for the views. Here at home my game is in between so I pretty much play whatever tees the other guys want to play, not a big deal to me.

[chriskzoo]

I find little difference playing from the tips, except it can make some longer par 4's brutal (e.g. a 420 yard par 4 that goes to 460). All the tips do is make you think a little more about course management. You're no longer trying to hit that par 5 in 2 or going for it on that short par 4 and putting yourself in trouble. Instead you're more apt to just play to a comfortable wedge or mid iron length and go from there.

[JetFan1983]

Played from the tips once early in my golf "career." I don't recommend it if you suck.

[Lefty-Golfer]

I only started playing regulat golf two years ago. My club is 6500 from the blues and 6900 from the black. I have only played the blacks 6 or 8 times and have not seen more then a stroke difference in the scores.

[HoosierGolfer]

I say play from where ever you have the most fun from. I switch tee's all the time just to mix things up a little day in and day out.

[enis750]

the main course i play at has 4 tees
when alone i play from the blacks (tips) because i can keep a good pace and play well from there
when w friends (who range from 14-28 hcp's) I play wherever they want to - i dont want them to feel like they have to keep up
they are paying big bux, so they might as well enjoy the round...right?

i dont really have anyone to golf w that has a similar hcp as me, so its often a lot of lonely rounds!! haha!
but its ok, i prefer it that way sometimes - i can usually bang out 18 mid week in 2.5 hours walking (its 6980 yds from the tips)

[ukalum]

I like to play from the tips but feel awkward when I am with a group who most are playing from the white or blue tees. I feel others think it is a bit egotistical to walk back to the back tees @ 7,000+ yards. Plus, it kind of screws up the cadence of the round. But, after a few holes I think they will understand why I like to play from back there. I'm not an expremely long player compare to the pro's, but above average for the the nomr. Avg drives about 275 yds.

Recently in AZ I played from the back tees at 7,100 yards and outdrove every person who was playing from the white tees at 6,100 yards on nearly every drive. Thus, my second shot was still easier than theirs.

If you can shoot in the 70's or low 80's from back there go for it. It you're going to rack up a 95, move up a tee box.

Also, 7,000 yards in AZ plays much differently than 7,000 yds in Wisconsin. Probably a 10% difference.

[ks8829]

Most times if you play with better players you stay in focus and play better. My questions is when you play back to the regular tees will you play the par 5s differently and layup?

[enis750]

Most times if you play with better players you stay in focus and play better. My questions is when you play back to the regular tees will you play the par 5s differently and layup?

depends

there are a few that become unreachable in 2 but there is one that can me made in two...not a tonne of trouble around the green.....my 4w is deadly accurate - i rarely miss w it i like to go for it from time to time...especially if im having a low round if im low, im playing well and want to try to make eagle if i need to make up ground, ill lay up and try to make bird

[Deryck Griffith]

I find the biggest issue with playing from the tips are the par 3's. Most of the courses I play are 190-220 from the tips. Playing these holes poorly can really hurt the score. Other than that, all of the other comments are very true!

[denver_nuggs_15]

I'm almost forced to play from the tips because of the group that I play with most often. I'm the worst (10 handicap) and shortest (250 off the tee average) of the group, so everyone is "qualified" to play the 7000 yard back tees. I don't notice any score change on my average and good days, but on my bad driving days, I'm in some trouble. It's tough hitting and holding long irons from the rough.

But, the advantage of playing from the tips comes when you play from closer tees. Most par 3s are much easier because they're so much closer. And if you're like me and forced to use your driver from the tips to compete, from the men's tees, you can just use a 3W and still be closer than you would be from the tips.

[DarkPrince]

I didn't start playing from the back tees until this last season..then again I hadn't golfed in around 3-4 years until last season lol. It certainly made some holes that were hard for me to reach before, even harder especially long par 3's where I can't decide if its light driver or hard hybrid. One of my co-workers (who says he's a scratch, but I've never seen him hit a ball) tells me that sometimes if I want to work on my game more I should mix it up some times on the tees, play reds one day, blues another, gold, white, etc... Anyone else try this?

[Doctorfro]

I play from the championship tees most of the time now no matter where I play. No real reason other than just trying to make it more challenging. The long par threes are quite interesting. I played one today that was 235. Hybrid was going to have to be dead solid perfect and killed and three wood was going to be too much. I choked up on the three wood and hit it pin high in right fringe. Fun stuff. And playing back makes you really hone your course management.