TEE IT FORWARD

The PGA of America, with support of the USGA promoted a program during July called “Tee It Forward”. As a PGA Life Member, I certainly support our programs, but it this case I believe they got it wrong. Our game is searching for new golfers as courses find it increasingly difficult to maintain operations with decreasing rounds. One of the reasons is the lack of time and the other as outlined in the program, is the difficulty of the game.

While courses do a good job of suggesting where golfers should play through the use of the multiple tees, most are configured as Championship, Men’s and Ladies. The Tee It Forward program suggests that based on the average distance one hits their driver, an overall course yardage will be determined and using that yardage, golfers would move to the shorter set of tees resulting in more enjoyable rounds and decreased time spent on the course.

I think the idea is sound, but no ‘macho’ man is going to head to the Ladies tees and what set of tees are the ladies supposed to move to? I would suggest that instead, the individual golfer or your golf group should determine the average length of course as suggested in the program, but instead of moving forward a set of tees, the golfers should configure a “hybrid” course that utilizes a combination of tees positions. Our group might play the par-5 holes from the championship and men’s tees while mixing up the par fours and par three’s to achieve the desired over all course length. I have used this system many times with my golfing buddies and I can tell you they are more in favor of the hybrid tees than playing the up tees every hole.

While I’m at it, I also think that we should eliminate tee names and colors and instead place yardages on the tee markers that can be adjusted to match their position on the course. This would make it easier to select the yardage we are comfortable playing. What about handicaps? Our course handicaps are based on a number of factors, but in most cases, the total yardage and score could easily be entered to calculate a handicap each person could take and play anywhere. After all, I know what you shoot and you know what I shoot. If I am two strokes better, you get one on the front and if necessary we adjust on the back. Have some fun and try playing a hybrid set of tees. I’ll bet you make it regular part of your game.