A FAIRER GAME – A CASE FOR PROPORTIONAL TEES

An American golf course architect describes his own earlier neanderthal design phase, when forward tees were placed 10-30 yds ahead of each other.

He explained the proportional theory of tee placement with the new wave of tees set by percentages forward of a base tee.

Greens are meant to be reached in regulation figures. Extra shots after the drive which are out of range of the green (called distance shots) aren’t fun and they slow play.

An ex-president of the ASGCA (United States Golf Architects’ Association ) wrote recently: “For design fairness tees should be set proportionately to each other, to provide the chance of using similar clubs for shots to the green for all players”.

Analysis of forward tee separations on many courses reveal consistent irregularities in comparison to the back/base tee.

Do you have regular over par scores on some holes in particular?

Highly likely this is because tee separations on those holes are well out of proportion compared to others. It is likely you are required to play longer approach shots on those holes.

Back tee players (if it is their correct tee), generally play much shorter irons to the green than forward tee players. This is quite unfair and should not be their prerogative by default.

Why play forward?

The great Byron Nelson would only tee off if he could reach the green in regulation.

“I never tee off unless I have a chance at birdie,” was his famous quote.

Which forward tee?

Driving distance determines this (2x9i ~ DD) The PGA Tour average is 260m.

1. Therefore the tee most suited to club pros and top amateurs (maybe 5-10 percent of members) would find a course length of 6000m (5800m-6100m) com- fortable. Often called the blue tee, this becomes the base tee.

2. The second group comprising say 25 percent of men, have driving distances of around 240m (225m-250m). This is eight percent less than the blue tee average. Often this is the white course.

Where possible tees should be positioned eight percent forward of the blue tees on each hole and depending on the length of the blue course, should measure around 5500m (5600m-5300m). Forward Tee 1.

3. The third group, usually over 50 percent of men, have driving distances just below 200m, according to US statistics. This is 22 percent less than the 260m, and determines the best and fairest place for this set of tees on each hole — the green course. Forward Tee 2. This means the green course will measure approximately 4700m (4900m-4500m) being 22 percent less than the blue course.

Women’s tees

The LPGA Tour average driving distance is 225m.

1. That equates well with the white tees. FT 1. Most would be five handicappers or less.

2. Women with driving distances of 220m-180m use the non gender green tees. FT 2. Most would have 12 or less handicaps.

3. Women with a driving distance of 175m or less should be using the next tee forward, best set at 35 percent less than the blue tee ie 3900m (4200m or less) and is appropriate for most 13+ handicaps. This is logical because 35 percent of 260m (the base driving distance from which tees are set) is 170m.

Very few courses provide for a tee at this distance, yet most women and some men have this driving length or less, plus juniors and beginners.

Some major clubs do not provide all three options to the detriment of their members, and some are not rated for both genders, often resulting in some 75 percent of members forced to play from unfair tees.

Some clubs provide four or more forward tees and mix the tees/courses which allows for greater choice but makes for disproportionate holes.

But placing forward tees at the three areas above is both adequate and user-friendly for players and more economical for maintenance purposes.

Proportional tees

Because courses are designed from the back tee forward, design features, hazards, doglegs, water/wetlands, streams and bunkers all come into play with that set of players in mind, including landing areas.

Unless forward tees are placed proportionately, and at correct separations, a whole range of difficulties can, and does, arise. See later examples.

The back tee golfer can drive clear of the most of the above, but on a regular basis the forward tee players discover their shots fall short, often gathered up by the very hazards they are meant to avoid.

Golden rule

Using the appropriate tees allows most players to play shots to the green using the same clubs as the back tee players.

Greens in regulation

On checking the first and second forward tees on many courses throughout New Zealand, almost all have over half which are too long.

In the introduction we saw that tees were often the same distance apart regardless of par. While this might be ok for par threes, it becomes increasingly inadequate as the hole length increases.

Perhaps this is why the par threes on most courses provide the most pars, but with strings of bogeys and doubles elsewhere. Par three tees should be placed at the shorter end of the proportional ranges stated lat- er, where there are hazards to carry.

Conclusion

Forward tee players reach fewer greens in regulation on the par fours and fives. The issue for most, males and females, of all handicaps, is the same thing always. Many holes are too long; it sometimes takes extra shots to reach the greens. No golfer can combat excessive length.

Quotes

Jon Rahm: (after first practice round prior 2021 PGA): “I hope they bring the tees forward because I had to use a 5 iron on most of my approaches.”

And his playing partner Zach Johnston, not a long hitter: “I was pulling my head covers off for nearly all my shots to the greens.”

Golf commentators are forever featuring greens in regulations as the key to better results. Therefore it is logical that club golfers play forward so that every hole is reachable.

Not only reachable but reachable with the same clubs as the top players.

Golfers are renowned for spending time and money attempting to improve their games i.e. more greens in regulations, by having expensive golf lessons, buying up to date equipment, using only the latest golf balls.

But all forward players would lower their gross scores by more than the combined effect of all of the above if they played from the correct forward tees. Many have never thought in terms of greens in regulation because they seldom reach any but the short holes, but it is the key to lower scores. Have a competition with your partners; you’ll soon find out that the shorter approach shots you play, the more greens in regulation which equate to lower numbers.

The future

There is no excuse for the executive of golf clubs not to correct this anomaly once they realise that designers have overlooked this very significant aspect, and in so doing enrich the enjoyment for many golfers who have been punished for too long.

It’s a matter of education to convince long standing members who have been indoctrinated over the years, that there is a better option, and not blindly accept the status quo.

Everyone wants a better scorecard

It is surprising to find smart business people and academics of both genders are not that smart on the golf course allowing masochism and/or peer pressure to override logic and common sense in their choice of tees totally unsuited to their ability.

Maybe a strong-willed individual can take the initiative and suggest moving forward especially if the tees are proportional and therefore more user-friendly. Committees need to publicise compulsive evidence to encourage the opportunity for lower gross scores and thus inherent increased satisfaction via starter room placards; quotes from prominent members who have graduated; provide best greens in regulation prizes for scrambles; multi tee competitions. Why not allow all players in scrambles to choose their appropriate tee — gross scores can easily be adjusted by adding the chosen course rating to determine the corrected gross from which both nett and stableford scores can be calculated. Round times are reduced as a bonus. Flags denoting new proportional tees could be trialled on holes which failed the test (see later), perhaps with written feedback handed in when scorecards are submitted.

Word soon spreads when a golf course suddenly becomes simpler, quicker and a fairer than ever before.

Peter Worrall Auckland