Is it rude to play tees further from partners?

[newtogolf]

As a high handicapper I wouldn't mind someone playing from deeper tee's but as others have mentioned some might consider it a bit anti-social. It works out better since it's 2 and 1 so if they are using carts he can take his cart to tee off and they to theirs. I also agree if you're paying for the round you should play from the tee box you want to. You know these guys best and should have a pretty good idea how they will react.

[$2 Nassau]

I see no problem with it...but I'm sure some people would react negatively.

Considered doing this in the past with my sunday foresome that I sometimes play with, but there's one guy who would definitely get bent about it, he just that kind of guy. He always makes comments if I hit the ball further than he does. He does it jokingly I guess, but when you do it constantly it's obvious that it bothers him. He has a complex about distance, sort of like some of the people on this board (cough, cough). It's not that I'm that long, it's that he's short, but he doesn't realize that.

This year I have not even thought about it because I'm not hitting my driver well and I'm playing about 2 strokes higher than I was last year.

[walk18]

If they were complete strangers, I could care less. But they are friends of mine, and I think they'd feel pressured to play my tees and they wouldn't have fun. I suppose part of it is also that I usually play better from the back tees because they take trouble out of play.

[sean_miller]

If they were complete strangers, I could care less. But they are friends of mine, and I think they'd feel pressured to play my tees and they wouldn't have fun. I suppose part of it is also that I usually play better from the back tees because they take trouble out of play.

If I thought I could play the tips and not have people insist on playing there too, I'd do it every round. We'd be at about the same distance for our approaches and it would be more fun, I think, but alas it doesn't work out that way. They literally can not play from the tips and have fun - driver 3 wood, wedge, on a par 4 is fun how?

I play up 1 or two tee boxes up with my friends, then I'm forced to hit more irons off the tee to keep from driving into trouble or through the fairway. Then they give me the gears about not having the guts to hit a driver, trying to goad me into it. Aren't friends great?

[wannabe]

1. To the OP, no, it is not rude.
2. It should not add appreciable time to a round. In fact, given the comment about taking trouble out of play, everyone's balls ending up at similar places for the second shots, etc., could speed up the round.
3. Find a strategy/tactic to relieve the pressure on them to play from longer tees. Let them know that they put pressure on you when they play your tees. Put small wagers/dares on distance remaining to the hole after the tee shot, without regard to which tee someone uses.
4. As typically the highest handicapper in group of playing partners, I have no problem with them using the longer tees and me using the shorter ones. It actually gives me a fighting chance to keep up with them.

[jamo]

I'm going to disagree with the majority so far. I wouldn't say it was

You don't understand the actual definition of anti-social then. (Sorry, that's kind of a huge pet-peeve of mine.) If you alternate then you can't post your score for handicap purposes.

As long as you play in a timely manner , play from whatever tees you want. And by timely manner I mean don't play from the tips if it's going to add 3 strokes to each hole. But if you want to play from farther up just make sure you stand out of the way and make sure you play ready golf.

[misty_mountainhop]

Why should he alternate if they don't?

Read my post. It's implicit in what I wrote that it would make sense to alternate the tees used for each game if it's a regular event with the same playing partners.

Have to admit I'm surprised so many people want to play a social game where people quite happily hit off different tees to their playing partners. If I'm playing with someone who can't have an enjoyable game from the back markers, I'd tend to think it's somewhat anti-social not to join him/her/them off the more forward blocks. Seems odd to me but then it's probably just me! One thing. Many seem to to want to play off the back markers but I'll hazard they might often spend their time more productively off the shorter boxes (anyone taken Erik up on his Forward Tee Challenge?) and subsequently get more practice at their shorter game or with something other than driver off the tee - hit a long iron off the tee for position for a change! Golf is not all about the driver.

[misty_mountainhop]

You don't understand the actual definition of anti-social then. (Sorry, that's kind of a huge pet-peeve of mine.)...

Excuse me. I understand the definition fine thanks. I think it's anti-social. Not in a major way and it could work fine. It smacks of someone wanting to be separate in a social outing. If it's not a social game and/or your partners don't mind then fine; it's not for me. If you want to grandstand/practice from the back blocks, do it on your own or with like-minded players.

[tristanhilton85]

Excuse

I kind of see where you are coming from, but no... I don't really think it's anti-soical. In fact, I really don't see the issue with playing a different tee box. It's one shot on every hole and not a big deal.

This really isn't a matter of wanting to be separate in a social outing, but rather somebody who wants to play the game correctly. People need to understand that they NEED to be playing from the tee box that is right for them. That means low hcp or fairly long hitters in the back and high hcp or shorter players up front. That is why there are different tee boxes. In fact, this is one of the GREATEST things about the game of golf... The course is set up with different tee boxes so players of differing abilities can play with each other and still have enjoyable rounds. To make a poor/short hitter play from the back or a good/long hitter play from the front would take away from their enjoyment of the game. In my experience, golf is a lot more fun and more of a social event when everybody is playing pretty well. I hate being in a group when somebody plays from the tips and they shouldn't be... then they hit bad shots and are pissed off all round... NOT fun. If you do end up playing from the back tees and they from the front (assuming those are the appropriate tees for everybody) then your approach shots will more than likely be nearer to one another. If for whatever reason your group gets bent out of shape that you want to play from a different set of tees, then I would say find a different group of guys to play with. There is no reason that you should have to play tees that don't fit your game.

[sean_miller]

Many seem to to want to play off the back markers but I'll hazard they might often spend their time more productively off the shorter boxes (anyone taken Erik up on his Forward Tee Challenge?) and subsequently get more practice at their shorter game or with something other than driver off the tee - hit a long iron off the tee for position for a change! Golf is not all about the driver.

I get to hit my driver about 5 or 6 times as it is. If I play from the front tees that goes down to about 0-2 times per round. Hitting irons off the tee is great and all, but enough it enough.

For agument's sake I did play up on Friday. On a course I regularly play from the blacks (72.4 / 134) I played 2 boxes ahead (whites: 69.0 / 120). I'd have to shoot a 76.0 to shoot my index on that tee box. I actually putted quite well and would have shot my index, if not for the 4 penalty strokes related to hitting through a fairway with a 3-iron and and hitting another tee shot into water hazard that's normally not in play - not even remotely. There were some awkward shots from the tee and from the fairway, and the 3 doglegs I couldn't cut due to being too close to the trees - on the right side of the fairway - to allow "for my huge slice" I suppose. I played one of the best ball striking rounds of the year. Play those shots from the back tees and it would have easily been 2-4 strokes lower.

Excuse

I play other sports socially, and we don't need to be side-by-side all the time. We don't skate arm in arm while playing hockey and we don't play on the same of the net in tennis. Are rounds with my wife antisocial because she tees off from the reds? Do you need to hit the same patch of rough so you can stroll together looking for your balls?

[misty_mountainhop]

I play other sports socially, and we don't need to be side-by-side all the time. We don't skate arm in arm while playing hockey and we don't play on the same of the net in tennis.

Don't be absurd. Other sports are just that; other sports.

I think it's slightly odd to play a social game of golf with everyone teeing off from different blocks. Feel free to think differently.

Are rounds with my wife antisocial because she tees off from the reds?

Nope and I never said they were. Should have known it would be you that mentioned this one.

Do you need to hit the same patch of rough so you can stroll together looking for your balls?

Why do I bother? Yes, of course I do, in fact I like to think of my regular four-ball as a sort of five-legged event where we're all joined at the ankle by rope.

[sean_miller]

I

You're not alone. Whenever I try it, my

posse feels the need to either A.) join me, thus ruining their round, or B.) pout until I change my mind. Regarding feeling free to think differently, obviously we do.

[golfro]

Excuse

If i'm playing with strangers then i don't care to make it a social game. Even then, most people are perfectly fine with it and I don't find it to be anti social at all. We still stand around the tee box when they tee off. Not like I hit from the back tee and start walking. Usually I hit, then we move forward and they hit. Not a big deal at all...

[Williamevanl]

I think Jamo might have referring to the fact that the word anti-social is just being used incorrectly. Wiki to the rescue:
Anti-social behaviour (with or without hyphen) is behaviour that lacks consideration for others and that may cause damage to society, whether intentionally or through negligence,

In common parlance antisocial is often used to describe those perceived to be excessively introverted, an incorrect though increasingly common usage. <---- Wrong

[$2 Nassau]

LOL

Are we really pulling out the definition of anit-social? Talk about splitting hairs. Everyone knows what he meant by "anti-social" and we all know what it technically means. But by playing a different tee you are seperating yourself from the other guys. And many people, like the one in my group would take exception to that, they may not be vocal about it though.
Especially if it's just you and the other 3 guys are playing a different tee. People may view that as a "I'm better than you" move.

2 and 2 may be different. Nice and equal.

[Elvisliveson]

But by playing a different tee you are seperating yourself from the other guys. And many people, like the one in my group would take exception to that, they may not be vocal about it though.

I think you hit the nail on the head. If you're the only one who insists on doing it, you have to be prepared for some people seeing it as a bit rude. And this idea that if you're playing with strangers it somehow doesn't matter or you couldn't care less is even worse,

I remember a couple of years ago I went out as a single (unusal for me as I play with a regular group) and was hooked up with 3 other singles. The first two guys insisted on playing from the back tees, so I was going to join them. Then the last guy said "isn't anyone playing from the whites?" So I told him I would. We get done with the round and he takes me aside and thanks me for playing with him from the whites, adding "it was ironic, as you're the only one in this group who has game enough to play from the tips." Made me feel great and taught me the value of considering other people's feelings and need for comraderie.

[wubskis]

I would have no problem if a player better than myself wished to play from tees further back, but I would object profusely if they "weren't qualified" to play from the back tees.

[tristanhilton85]

Look... It's like I said before... The different tees are there for a REASON! Each person needs to play the tees that are best suited for their game. If that means one at the tips and the other three at the whites then so be it. If anybody gets offended by this, then too bad... they shouldn't be. They are there to make the course playable for golfers of all skill levels. If one person has a lot of skill, they go to the back, not so much skill, not so far back. I really can't believe that there are people that would be mad/upset or whatever about somebody wanting to play from a different set of tees.