When do you start playing blues?

[HawkNballs]

I know some macho guys that play both tees. They start from the blue, then top their shot and it lands on the white tee box... then they hit again. ;)

[Rhodri Thomas]

I've been wrestling with the same question. I've been playing and practicing a lot, getting better... and wondering "do I have to move back to the blues now?" (especially as I just got down to below 10 handicap - oh joy!).

Thing is, it is definitely recreational, not my living... and making GIRs and having birdie putts is fun! So I think: why should I?! :)

[Kenny Lee]

I enjoy playing around 6500-6600 yards, and about once each month, I'll play a course that's 7100+. It's really a challenge I and enjoy it, but wouldn't want to do it every time.

[testerdahl]

How is your handicap based off of the blue tees? When I post a score, it asks me what tees I played from and is adjusted accordingly.

The course inputs all my scores - just how they do it. All scores are then assumed to take place on the Blues. I could write in, I played from the whites. Yet, I fear I'll forget to do this consistently, so I don't.

[testerdahl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkNballs

How is your handicap based off of the blue tees? When I post a score, it asks me what tees I played from and is adjusted accordingly.

Since he hits longer distances, he gets the benefit of the higher CR/slope ratings provided that the course is not really narrow too.

Yes. This is absolutely correct.

[testerdahl]

I started playing from the tips about a year or so ago just to see what it was like. I was surprised to see that I could do it. At first, pars felt really great to make and blow up holes didn't seem so grating because, hey, I'm playing the tips. I first moved back on a very slow day on the course, and I was by myself. Definitely a good situation to try it out.

A year later, I enjoy playing from deep… say 7000-7100 yards. It's doable and a really fun time. Plus, now 6500 feels really, really short, and that's a very nice thing.

Give it a try when it isn't crowded and see how it goes. The fairways are easier to hit from back there, but otherwise, it's harder.

I've been giving this some thought as well. I'm a member at a course here and I generally ONLY play this course. Since, I play pretty regularly moving tee boxes sometimes "spices" things up. I need to give this a try.

[HawkNballs]

I play with a couple high capper buddies and play from the whites with them. I feel it's easier on the par 3s, but there is a lot more strategy off the tee on the 4s and 5s. You can't just grab your driver on every tee. You have to be proficient with your 3 wood and hybrid off the tee, as a driver will run through the dog leg or reach the hazard.

[Tgb02]

It is really all up to you and how well you think you will do and about having fun. My dad is an incredibly short hitter because of shoulder surgery but he still plays 6500-6700 yards from the blues and his motto is that if he can break 100 every other time or so from the blues he will continue to play from them.

Since I started golf a few months ago and my first tournament was one month after starting I was basically thrown on the blue tees/the tips. Right now since its "off season" I just play what I am feeling. I play a lot of combinations of blue and blacks that end up between 6700-6900 and at least once a week I play the real tournament tips at one of my favorite courses and it plays 7400.

[Valleygolfer]

I just play whatever. Length is rarely the issue but I have had some guys tell me I should play the tips because I am out driving them 40+ yards (they were at 225-240), however I was still not scoring better than they were. Play where you are having the most fun.

[HawkNballs]

If you drive the ball so far that the fairway bunkers aren't even in play... Moving back makes sense. I've played with guys from the blues that can't reach par 4s. They need to move to the whites.

[Golfingdad]

If you drive the ball so far that the fairway bunkers aren't even in play... Moving back makes sense.

Yeah, this is a good barometer. If you want to play the course as it was intended, consider the tees that would have you near the fairway bunkers with your driver on several of the holes. Great idea.

[Shindig]

[quote name="HawkNballs" url="/t/82416/when-do-you-start-playing-blues/18#post_1151212"]How is your handicap based off of the blue tees? When I post a score, it asks me what tees I played from and is adjusted accordingly.

The course inputs all my scores - just how they do it. All scores are then assumed to take place on the Blues. I could write in, I played from the whites. Yet, I fear I'll forget to do this consistently, so I don't.[/quote] I've never heard of a course automatically entering scores for you. Where is this that they have this service? Also, something that might make it easier for you on the forum is multi-quote; you won't need to respond to a post, go back and find the other one to respond to, and repeat. It's much easier to reply all at once. Check out this thread for how it works: http://thesandtrap.com/t/69379/new-to-the-sand-trap-little-things-members-expect-and-ask-of-fellow-members

[DrvFrShow]

Some courses recommend which tee to use based on handicap. Chambers Bay has a driver distance/ tee chart. 225-250 white. 250-275 sandstone tees. (Grey)

Here's a question.... Why move back to the blues if you haven't shot par from the whites on that course?

Of course at Chambers with that rough off the fairway I'd be hitting a 5 iron 180 on the fairway and play the forward tees. A normal playable miss with the driver can be deadly there.

[testerdahl]

[quote name="testerdahl" url="/t/82416/when-do-you-start-playing-blues/36#post_1151629"][quote name="HawkNballs" url="/t/82416/when-do-you-start-playing-blues/18#post_1151212"]How is your handicap based off of the blue tees? When I post a score, it asks me what tees I played from and is adjusted accordingly.

The course inputs all my scores - just how they do it. All scores are then assumed to take place on the Blues. I could write in, I played from the whites. Yet, I fear I'll forget to do this consistently, so I don't.[/quote] I've never heard of a course automatically entering scores for you. Where is this that they have this service? Also, something that might make it easier for you on the forum is multi-quote; you won't need to respond to a post, go back and find the other one to respond to, and repeat. It's much easier to reply all at once. Check out this thread for how it works: http://thesandtrap.com/t/69379/new-to-the-sand-trap-little-things-members-expect-and-ask-of-fellow-members[/quote] It's a small course in Gering, NE called Monument Shadows. A really nice course in the land of farmers. They do things old school I guess. Just fill out your scorecard with your name/date then drop it in a box. They take care of the rest. If I want I can get a printout of my handicap or go online and look it up. I generally don't and let them handle it all. This is pretty nice benefit for men's league since they have all my information. Good call on the multi-quote. I'll work on getting used to using that feature.

[huck344]

For me, it depends on the course I'm playing and whom I'm with.  I have a regular group that will always play blues, so I go with the flow and play blues.  I also play with a bunch of high handicappers and will play the whites with them.  I have ok length (250-270).

There is a course that I play regularly from both blue and whites. (Blue=6711, White=6389)  From the blues, there are three holes which are par 4s that play 443, 468 and 443.  Each of those holes plays 15-25 yards shorter from whites.  I have never shot par on any of those three holes when playing from white, but will typically par at least 1 of those holes when playing from blues.  I don't know if it is a mental thing.  When playing from the blues, unless I get lucky and hit a monster drive (monster for me), I play them as 3 shot holes and rely on my putting.  When playing from whites, it doesn't matter how crappy my drive was, I'm always going to go for the green and in most instances, I end up putting up an ugly number.  I can be so stupid sometimes!

[Mac62]

I've been wrestling with the same question. I've been playing and practicing a lot, getting better... and wondering "do I have to move back to the blues now?" (especially as I just got down to below 10 handicap - oh joy!).

Thing is, it is definitely recreational, not my living... and making GIRs and having birdie putts is fun! So I think: why should I?! :)

Good question indeed.  For some, it's a macho thing - they think it's more "manly" to play the blues or the tips.  If you're not hung up on that and enjoy playing the whites, I say keep playing the whites.  I see a lot more people playing back who have no business doing so than I see people teeing it forward and overwhelming the course.

IMO, it comes down to the old Dirty Harry saying, "A man's got to know his limitations".  If you can't make GIRs (or even nGIRs) from the blues, have trouble with forced carries, are going through a half-dozen balls per round and shooting in the 100s, why are you back there?  Being pissed off and humiliated for four hours isn't my idea of fun, I'd rather play from a set of tees that fit my game and give me a chance to shoot a decent score.

Before somebody brings it up as the exception, I can see it if you're a competitive golfer (or aiming that way) and trying to work your way back to the tees you'll be competing from.  It makes perfect sense in that context.  But for the average recreational golfer, why beat yourself up unnecessarily?

[JonMA1]

Good question indeed.  For some, it's a macho thing - they think it's more "manly" to play the blues or the tips.  If you're not hung up on that and enjoy playing the whites, I say keep playing the whites.  I see a lot more people playing back who have no business doing so than I see people teeing it forward and overwhelming the course.

IMO, it comes down to the old Dirty Harry saying, "A man's got to know his limitations".  If you can't make GIRs (or even nGIRs) from the blues, have trouble with forced carries, are going through a half-dozen balls per round and shooting in the 100s, why are you back there?  Being pissed off and humiliated for four hours isn't my idea of fun, I'd rather play from a set of tees that fit my game and give me a chance to shoot a decent score.

Before somebody brings it up as the exception, I can see it if you're a competitive golfer (or aiming that way) and trying to work your way back to the tees you'll be competing from.  It makes perfect sense in that context.  But for the average recreational golfer, why beat yourself up unnecessarily?

Oddly enough, over the last couple of years I've played with guys who had plenty of distance and skill to play tees further back but still prefer the forward-middle tees.

[Mac62]

Oddly enough, over the last couple of years I've played with guys who had plenty of distance and skill to play tees further back but still prefer the forward-middle tees.

Sure, because as Rhodri Thomas said above - making GIRs and having birdie putts is fun! I'd love to have the 'predicament' of finding the white tees too short/easy.