 |
| Check your ego at the tips & play like a Tour Player |
TEE IT FORWARD... for those who don't know... is a new national initiative from the PGA of America and United States Golf Association that's encouraging golfers to consider switching it up a bit... and playing from the same relative distance as a touring professional would over 18 holes.
Perhaps you think you're doing that already... and maybe you are... but chances are great you may not be. Based on average amateur driver distance/tee selection, many... if not most... amateur golfers play on courses that are proportionally far longer than the typical PGA Tour layout. In other words, based on the average length of their drives, lots of
Subversive as it may sound to some, what's being advocated with TEE IT FORWARD is, simply, playing from the set of tees best suited to one's abilities. Whether those tees are red, blue, gold or... purple with pink polka dots. It's all about making the game more fun, faster and probably a tad less frustrating. Everything's explained at the PGA and USGA websites. There's also a great story on how the always innovative Barney Adams (founder of Adams Golf) initiated PLAY IT FORWARD ... and the reason I suggested this might be a good time to try it out is that it's the final weekend to enter the TEE IT FORWARD sweepstakes. All you have to do is head over to PlayGolfAmerica.com, click on the “TEE IT FORWARD” banner and then the “Enter Sweepstakes” button. There you'll be able to weigh in with your thoughts and/or experiences on this new initiative... positive or negative... and you'll be automatically entered. The prize... by the way... is a stay-and-play package for four at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Runners-up will win two tickets to either the 2012 U.S. Open Championship or the 2012 PGA Championship.
So why not try teeing it forward this weekend you may find yourself playing more like a Tour Player.
Tee it Forward is a really good idea but I'm afraid it has little chance of success due to the fact that the vast majority of casual and weekend golfers overestimate their driver distance... by a lot. They're the folks who will insist that they're already playing from the correct tee.
ReplyDeleteThat pink with purple polka dots idea isn't so bad. Maybe if they painted the back test some very girly colors the guys wouldn't feel as compelled to play them. ;)
ReplyDeleteat this point I'm only averaging 120 yards with my driver so even the forwardest tees aren't forward enough for me at most courses. I play par threes when I can to keep my confidence up.
ReplyDeleteI began teeing it forward last season and the game is indeed more enjoyable. Hitting a short iron rather than a hybrid into a par 4 is how the game was meant to be played
ReplyDeleteHi Patricia ,
ReplyDeletePlease get in touch with me at
gjaltema@hughes.net , I would like to draw your attention to the site jan-d-golf.com , with a golf jewelry line that I designed .
.
ReplyDeletei probably see MORE various style players than most
i regularly play resort courses here in soFLA and the golf tourism provides a steady stream of visiting players
one or two in ten play from the proper tees
some at doral don't even finish
on their BEST day they would be luck to break 100, but no matter, they are on vacation and want a true challenge
the resort course ambassadors do not dissuade these paying guests from their folly
i don't ski, but if i did, i don't think my experience would ever include zugspitz, but i guess the blue monster doesn't have the same respect, and may even be a dare to alcohol-fueled adventurers out for a good time
tiburon naples has the BEST idea with locating "tiburon tees" to suit the anticipated course traffic for that day (the "tiburon tees" are moved forward on very busy saturdays and sundays for pace of play to be maintained and then back during the slow part of the mid-week and varied alternatively)
otherwise it seems like daring someone that they aren't good enough to play anything other than "championship" tees
at one of my regular courses, colony west, the real touring pros of the early 70's rated it too difficult (hence the jackie gleason (today the honda) went to inverrary) mostly because of its lenght and most visitors i observe heed that warning however(1)
we may say we suck,
and we may know we suck
BUT when we go out to the course we wanna play the hard tees
(maybe it gives us an excuse to play bad)
anyway be well
frankD
ft liquordale soFLA
(1)Colony West was built and designed in 1971 by Robert Von Hagge and Bruce Devlin. The Championship Course was designed for a PGA Tournament Event. The event was the Jackie Gleason Classic, which is now the Honda Classic. Jack Nicklaus and the Tournament Committee said the course was too tough for the event. Mr. Nicklaus shot a 78 and took a 7 on #3 (#12 today) when he played the course. The original design was a monstrous par 72, 7,553 yards long with 52 additional bunkers, which were taken out before the course opened in 1971.
I understand that some pros play from shorter distances and so should we but the courses they play are tricked up for the tournaments. Don't you think this new format will effect the ratings of different golf courses.
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea but to be honest its really only going to be used during casual play. I would see no benefit if for instance you were in a club.
ReplyDelete