Playing from 6,000 Yards

[stealthhwk]

I think the problem is easily solved by working on your swing. If you have time to play then you have time to practice (even if that means giving up playing a round to just practice). Post a swing video in the Member Swings forum and get to it.

A pro i spoke with recommended the same thing. Said since i dont have practice time, i should give up playing once a week to practice instead. Maybe i will give that a shot. Havnt tried that approach.

[phan52]

Our course has tees from 5200 (juniors) up to 6900 (tips). The regular tees are around 6500 and we have a set of Senior tees at around 5900.

Our course used to tip out at around 6650 yards (and even held a PGA event at that yardage from 1963 to 1980) and the regular tees were around 6250. We built a bunch of tees to lengthen the course about 20 years ago and it can only max out at 6900 because of lack of real estate and, as a result, we lengthened the regular tees as well to the 6500 yards. A lot of our regular tees are now where the tips used to be. But we are using a scorecard from those days to re-establish another set of tees that will match what used to be our regular tees, at around 6200 to 6250. Much more playable for the majority of players. A lot of guys would probably fare better with the 5900 yard Senior tees but nobody wants to play "Senior" tees, not even most of the Seniors. We will use Roman Numerals to designate the tee boxes (I, II III, etc.) so as not to stigmatize them.

[stealthhwk]

A pro i spoke with recommended the same thing. Said since i dont have practice time, i should give up playing once a week to practice instead. Maybe i will give that a shot. Havnt tried that approach.

Meant give up playing one week to practice

[rkim291968]

6000 yard course suits me fine given my driver carry distance of 200 yards.  I feel less stressed playing such courses.

[RGoosen]

Here's a link to the 'tee-it-forward' guide to average driver yardage and recommended course length:  [URL=http://www.ngcoa.org/images/player_dev/yardage%20guidelines.pdf]http://www.ngcoa.org/images/player_dev/yardage%20guidelines.pdf[/URL] It seems a bit 'short' to me, but nonetheless, the OP is doing the right thing playing correct tees based on his driver distance.  Might even want to move up if you can. Like others on this thread, I PREFER playing courses in the 5800-6200 yard range because my bombs off the tee go 230 (downhill with wind at my back!) at best.  Normal range is 200-210. Most of the summer, I've been playing with a group of guys who insist on playing further back tees.  Last Sunday the yardage was 6480.  For me, this makes half the par-4 holes play to 3 shots.  Also makes for significantly longer par-3 shots.  Ironically, I find that I don't score any worse playing from the longer tees than 'right-sizing' the course for me at 5800-6200 yards.  Go figure. Our group scored 78, 83, 84 (me) and 88 from the blue tees at 6480. dave

Thanks for the link. That link for tee it forward matches what yardage I prefer already. Give me 6300-6500 any day. I've tried 6700 yards plus and did not enjoy playing at all. I have some friends that give me give grief for not playing the back tee boxes b/c of how far I hit the ball and my handicap. My response is always "Next time you want to pay for my round of golf I'll play whatever tee box you want to play. " Yes I enjoy hitting sandwedge to 8 irons into all the greens. Why wouldn't you want to? Who the hell wants to hit hybrids and 3 woods into every green? The pros don't have to do that.

[Aflighter]

Its fine to play shorter tees so you can hit wedges and short irons into greens for scorewise....but you do know theres 14 clubs in the bag.If your only using drivers and wedges then whats point of having 4-7 irons? Them clubs are made for a reason...use em.

[shanksalot]

There is nothing wrong with playing at any length tee box if it is the one that fits your game. When I was just turning 70 years old I was playing at a course that had a set of tees at just under 6600 yards. I found my self having a hard time reaching some of the par 4's in two even with a three wood. The par 5's  I could not reach in two and in fact I had more than a short iron in on my third shots. Time to move up. If you are not hitting the ball longer than 195 off the tee you should be playing tees at about 5500 yards much less 6000. I moved up to the next set of tees at just under 6200 and had much more fun and still could shoot a decent score. Today one of my playing partners is playing not only from these tees, but he has selected about 8 tees that are further up since he now has trouble reaching some of the par 4's in regulation.

[JonMA1]

What courses do you have most fun playing? I don't go by tee length. I go by course layout.

I find this to be the case as well. I play one course where the white tees play just as hard at 5,000 as other courses play at 6,000. The blue tees at this course are over 6,000 with a rating of 70.5/129, but can be just as easy on some holes because of the layout. On average, I'd guess I'm 4 or 5 strokes higher on these middle tees. However, the tips are ridiculously hard at around 6700 (73/138), and why I've never attempted them.

It's all about at what distances the fairways/rough open up, where they become narrow, and how far I hit my clubs.

[Grumpter]

I find this to be the case as well. I play one course where the white tees play just as hard at 5,000 as other courses play at 6,000. The blue tees at this course are over 6,000 with a rating of 70.5/129, but can be just as easy on some holes because of the layout. On average, I'd guess I'm 4 or 5 strokes higher on these middle tees. However, the tips are ridiculously hard at around 6700 (73/138), and why I've never attempted them.

It's all about at what distances the fairways/rough open up, where they become narrow, and how far I hit my clubs.

There is no rule that you need to hit driver or 3 wood just because you are on a par 4. It HAS to be easier to hit a hybrid or 4 iron to the safe spot than it would be to hit a driver from 50 yards further away to the same spot. If you are 4 or 5 strokes higher on the middle tees than the blue tees then I would guess you need to work on course management for the middle tees.

[dave s]

Another item to consider when choosing the longer tees is forced carry distance from tee box. We played back tees on a course this summer where two holes had forced carries of 200+ yards.  Me and a buddy moved up to the white tees on both holes.  Hitting over those ravine-like waste areas would have meant lost ball and re-tee, or hit from the front of the tee box.  Neither of us would have realistically been able to clear that forced carry with a second shot, either.

The only option in some cases is to move up or tee-it-forward.

Some of the other ideas for the tee-it-forward concept involves playing multiple tees during the round.  A few courses I've played have overly long par-3 holes, but the par-5s are just around 500 yards.  No harm in moving up to avoid a 198 yard par 3 to give yourself a chance.  I'm not sure there is a rule by which one can be held accountable on a Sunday afternoon round of golf that says you MUST play the same tee boxes on every hole during a round.

Do what works for you.

dave

[vangator]

+1. I find its someof the younger players (im only 35 do you count as young?) that insist on playing from the back tees, kind of a bravado thing or peer pressure. We should be spending more time of the fun aspect of golf and making the game harder when we dont need to defeats the object. Obviously if you have to play from the back tees (competition or something) then thats different. I know too many people who will only play a course "as the pro's would"

I'm one of those players. When I play a course that's held a pro tournament, I want to punish myself from the tips to know what they are looking at. I hit a pretty long tee ball in play most of the time, so playing the tips gives me a chance to play something other than driver - wedge on par 4's. I played World Woods Pine Barrens from the tips the day after the Mickelson / Toms match in the 1990's. The course was setup the same as on that day. I shot a 75. Toms shot a 73 the day before. That made for a nice feeling. I also played the Doral Blue Monster from the tips the day after the tournament several years ago. I shot an 89 that day. It wasn't the length per se. It was the 5 inch Bermuda rough. You miss the fairway and you had to chip it back sideways onto the fairway (if you found it). Very humbling. I play the whites on my home course (6300 yards) during the summer because the fairways are wet with no roll. During the drier winters, I play the back tees at 6700 yards. It's a muni, so the rough isn't punishing. The day is coming when I'll move to the gold tees (forward tees), but not yet. Golf is mainly about having fun, but it is also about challenging yourself too.

[BuckeyeNut]

There's nothing wrong with playing forward tees.  I'd rather see mid-high HC players playing forward......than playing back.   Don't be "That group" with limited ability playing from yardages you have no business playing.   With all things considered, providing you play fast enough and keep pace with who you are following, it doesn't matter.   Play from wherever the heck you want........if you keep up.

[onthehunt526]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a course of around 6,000 yards at all... I haven't played the tips or even the blue Tees in a while... But my home course is only 6,400 yards tipped out, so I don't play courses that are very long. I play mostly shorter courses... Except Soaring Eagles which is 7,000 yards from the tips...

[BuckeyeNut]

For me, it's a pace of play issue.   If you play from white tees and can't keep up..............Move up and play the very front tees!!

[stealthhwk]

For me, it's a pace of play issue.   If you play from white tees and can't keep up..............Move up and play the very front tees!!

Hey, i know i suck but im not a slow player. I can shoot a 140 and keep up with the guys in front of me thank u very much! Lol.

[JonMA1]

There is no rule that you need to hit driver or 3 wood just because you are on a par 4. It HAS to be easier to hit a hybrid or 4 iron to the safe spot than it would be to hit a driver from 50 yards further away to the same spot. If you are 4 or 5 strokes higher on the middle tees than the blue tees then I would guess you need to work on course management for the middle tees.

I appreciate the advice. I don't agree that course management is my biggest issue, but I could be wrong. I've never thought that losing 4 or 5 strokes was that bad for the extra 1,000 yards.

As far as not playing my fairway woods and driver at 6,000 yards, I get about 170 yards from my 4 iron. That means I'd have to not only hit a decent 4 iron off the tee, but a really good 2nd shot with that club to hit a green on a 340 yard par 4. Anything longer and I'd be out of luck (ability) of hitting a GIR. Not to mention the par 5 where I have to carry 180 yards of swamp.

I've played this course many different ways and from different tees. The question for me on each hole comes down to which is riskier... a driver off the tee or a longer iron to the green? While many will disagree, there is not alway one right answer, it just depends. Because I try to factor in my abilities (shot zones) along with where the danger lies (shades of gray), I consider myself pretty good at course management - even if I sometimes suck at executing the shots.

I know one thing for sure, I will never score very low by leaving my long clubs in the bag, nor will I improve that part of my game by not playing them.

You are right that initially I'll score a bit lower using just the irons, but that's only because my woods and driver are such a glaring weakness right now.

[bm85]

Come what may, I just play white tees wherever I go and don't even look at yardage. Width of fairway is the biggest factor in my game lol.

[rcwkent]

Most of the guys I play with seem "locked in"to the tees they regularly play...

I get bored at my club playing the same tees every time....but when I suggest playing the shorter tees (5600)

for a change...their response is "ï'm not a sissy!"....then if I suggest the longest tees (6500) their response is

""no way"".

I can go over my average round at my club in my head typing this and on the par 4's for the approach I 75% of the

time use 1) 6i 2) 5i 6) 6i 7) 5h 9) 5i 12) 3h 14) 3h 16) 6i 17 7i  18 5h. Gets pretty monotonous.

I advocate changing up tees. Good 9 hole courses use different sets of tees to change the character of holes. I can

do that too ...round to round.