"Pace of play" has received a lot of attention in the world of golf for many years. Playing from tee boxes at a course distance appropriate to the golfer's skill level has been recognized as having an important impact on pace of play, as well as on the golfer's enjoyment of the game.

​

In 2011, the PGA of America and the USGA introduced the Tee It Forward program, a program designed to encourage golfers to play at course lengths that are aligned to their average driving distances.  "Golfers can speed up play by utilizing tees that provide the greatest playability and enjoyment."  [Click here to see the announcement of the Tee It Forward Initiative]

​

At the time of announcing this program, the two organizations published guidelines intended to help golfers choose the tee boxes best suited to their abilities:

 

                                         Average              Most Suitable

                                           Drive                Course Length

​

300 yards          7,150-7,400 yards

275 yards          6,700-6,900 yards

250 yards          6,200-6,400 yards

225 yards          5,800-6,000 yards

200 yards          5,200-5,400 yards

175 yards          4,400-4,600 yards

150 yards          3,500-3,700 yards

125 yards          2,800-3,000 yards

100 yards          2,100-2,300 yards

​

The average length of the golf courses played by the SGA, from the white tees, is about 5,900 yards (longest - 6,100 yards) and, from the red tees, is about 5,200 yards (longest - 5,600 yards).  The above table suggests that all SGA Members, on average, drive at least 200 to 225 yards off the tee.  Hmmmm!

​

A better guide that is often referenced:  A golfer should play from the tee boxes that allow him to reach the green in regulation (from the tee on par 3 holes, in two shots on par 4's and in three shots on par 5's).  These are measures of distance, not accuracy!

​

Another guideline [Click here to see the ThoughtCo article] suggests that a golfer should play from the tee boxes that produce a course length closest to the number of yards arrived at by multiplying his average 5-iron distance by 36.  Example: a 5-iron distance of 150 yards multiplied by 36 yields a distance of 5,400 yards.

​

These guidelines all provide roughly the same range of course lengths in relation to club distances.  

​

In 2023, about 40% (up from 30% in 2022) of SGA Members played from the forward (red) tees, all others playing from the white tees, which delineate a longer course of play than do the forward tees.  Some of these Members, however, played from the white tees from time to time, depending upon the course being played and the other golfers with whom they were grouped.  Since the Course Ratings and Slope Ratings will be different for the forward tees and the white tees, a question arises as to whether each Member must always play from the same tee blocks in order that the calculation of his Handicap Index does not produce distorted results.  The USGA considered this question in connection with its Tee It Forward program:

​

"When posting a score from a more forward set of tees, ... that set of tees will have Ratings that are in accordance with a shorter total yardage (e.g., a 6,500-yard set of tees may have a men’s USGA Course Rating of 71.0/Slope Rating of 120, whereas a 5,500-yard set of tees for men may be rated 66.0/110; a 5,500-yard set of tees may have a women’s rating of 71.4/114, whereas a 4,500-yard set of tees for women may be rated 65.8/101). The player’s total score is usually going to be lower by playing a shorter set of tees, but the ratings are going to be lower, respectively, to compensate for the difference. Thus, the Handicap Index and Handicap Differential™ produced from each round played should be about the same and keep a Handicap Index portable from tee to tee, course to course."  [Click here to view the USGA's comments on the portability of the Handicap Index and the 'Tee It Forward' program]

​

This argument isn't very persuasive, but it has an "internal logical consistency" that is compelling (i.e., good enough for us).  So, any one of our Members should feel comfortable playing from the forward tees if he so chooses.  BUT -- the Handicap Director will assume that he normally plays from the white tees unless his scorecards consistently support a declaration that he has chosen to always play the red.

 

A further 13% of SGA Members who played from the white tees in 2023 sported Handicap Indexes of 27 or higher (i.e., high handicap players).  These Members should be encouraged to move to the forward tees.

​