Which tees when playing as a visitor?

[JezzE]

Afternoon all,
Just working on a debate piece for the magazine regarding visitors' tees and wanted to pose a couple of questions...

1) If you're visiting another club, do you think you should at least have the option of playing off the whites or back tees?

2) If you're a member of a club, do you think it's right that the back tees should be reserved for members only purely as a perk or privilege of membership, or perhaps to reduce wear and tear and keep them nice for the big club events?

 

[GB72]

The white tees are only marked out at my club for comps so everyone on every other day plays the yellows. Not ideal as I would rather play off the whites but at least it is fair to all.

That said, this does remind me of my post a couple of months ago. We were a 3 ball, 2 members in a comp and a visitor playing in a friendly (well a bit of money on it) knock as well. The pro was a bit funny about the visitor playing with us off the whites even considering the circumstances.

I have no problem with anyone playing off the whites at weekends if they are set out as it is limited to members and guests.

 

[jammydodger]

It's ridiculous to stop players paying their green fee and then making them play off the yellows. I can understand it if there's a big society and you want to get them round in a decent time. Also if you havnt attained a certain standard of golf then youre just kidding yourself if you want to play off the back tees.

Thats why there are 3 or 4 different tees , you should be able to make the your own choice dependant on the level of golfer you are. I dont want to pay and play off the old fellas tees (yellows) but some courses I wouldnt want to play off the blacks either. I'm competent to a certain level and know which tees would suit me by looking at the yardage on the scorecard.

As for wear and tear , thats just baloney because you're spreading out the players across all the tees and therefore reducing wear and tear. I think that the pro in the shop should have a say in which tees he puts visitors off depending on the h/c that they are. No point a 20 thinking he's Tiger woods and giving the blacks a bash cos he wont enjoy it and will probs hold the course up. A cat 1 golfer should have the choice though as he's earnt the right to play whatever tees he wants to play IMO.

 

[Simo19]

I am afraid even as a member you cannot play off the white tees unless in a comp at our club, although we have just re-positioned the yellow tees so they are closer to the whites on most of the holes. I would respect the clubs rules as a visitor and would hope visitors would do likewise at my club, but for handicap purposes it puts you at a distinct disadvantage if you cannot practice on the longer and more difficult tees when other clubs allow their members this privilage.

 

[Marko77]

1) no. Pro's discretion perhaps?

2) yes. The back tee's should be available to the members at any time and also to any guest the member brings up at the members prerogative. It could be the member doesn't want his guest playing off the back tee's?

 

[Ethan]

1. Yes. I hate hate hate going to a decent course and being asked to play off the yellow tees when the course was designed to be played from the whites. On many holes, it may only be 5 or 10 yards difference, but then you come to a feature par-3 which is 180 off the whites, but 135 off the yellows. Not the same hole at all. Or par-5s which are 460 yards off the yellows. Not par-5s at all, but you then hear players saying they hit the par-5 in 2. No, you didn't.

The courses that do this are the same ones which play all flags 4 feet onto the greens on society days. I won't be going back there, thanks.

2. No. I think members should be able to play off any tee they like. At my course, I can play off the black tees (championship) or white (medal) anytime, so I never play off the yellows.

 

[sev112]

i think i should be allowed to play off the Blues, and that Ladies should be able to play off any tees they want - Blue red Yellow White or Black.

 

[Smiffy]

If you pay the full green fee you should be able to play the full course.

I hate it when a course advertises itself as a 6,700 yard "Championship" track, begs you to part with your money to play it and then serves you up 5,900 yards of crap.

All golf holes were designed to be played off the white tees. Yellow tees were just put in to please Homer

 

[fundy]

Should always be allowed to play off the back tees imo, if im going somewhere new I now ask in advance if we can play off the whites and make a fuss if not allowed (if told in advance we will go and play elsewhere)

Recently played at a Devere course and we played off the whites (a 2 ball, both competent golfers). On the 3rd tee the group behind rushed over to ask why we playing off the whites, as they as members are only allowed in certain comps and knockout matches and were clearly put out we were playing off the whites. At this place must have been 400 yds + between the 2 and a completely different course off the yellows, and wouldve been nowhere near as enjoyable.

The only time where I can understand a course limiting it is if they are exceptionally busy and or the golfers are not of satisfactory standard to play from the back tees (in this case should they be on the course at all?)

Every round I have played at my home course has been off the whites, if we were made to play off the yellows most of the time I would look for a new club

 

[LanDog]

I think everyone should be allowed to play off the back tees as if they pay their Green Fee then they are entitled to do so as long as they stick to the same rules as the members I can't see a problem with it

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Surely, once you've paid your green fee, are you not a member of that club for one day? That's how it works in my mind. Thus, seeing as you're a member of that club (for a day) you should be able to play the course off the back pegs.

Either that or offer two green fees - dependant on ability???

 

[richart]

A lot of clubs only use the whites for competitions, and members as well as guests play off the yellows. Having played the majority of courses around my area that is the norm.

 

[Bigfoot]

If you are playing matchplay, off the yellows then the stroke index is generally wrong. The competition tees are set and stroke index is set accordingly with matchplay in mind. That is why the index is spread over both nines rather than based on difficulty.

For those playing a match at a neutral venue, or neither is a member this would be an important point.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

At our club the white tees are for compettition use only, we have 2 comps a week so there's always oppurtunnity to play off them.

I think you should be able to play off the whites more often because its a better test of golf to play the course at its longest.

Also when you put your 3 cards in for handicap purposes its usually off the yellows which at some courses its a huge difference.

 

[RichardC]

At mine the whites are for comp use only. It was the same at my previous club.

 

[Region3]

Members aren't supposed to play off the whites except in comps between April-October.

I hate it. Would much rather play off the whites all the time, comp or not.

 

[viscount17]

as a visitor I want to have the choice

as a member I can see the advantage of putting visitors out on the yellows, especially if the whites 'make a difference'.

at my place even as a member, unless you're Cat 1, you are supposed to use yellows for general play

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I think it would be a novelty if you got to play off the yellows. So many courses round here say you have to play off yellows and then stick the so far forward you're practically off the reds. We always play off whites and I don't know of a rule that says guests can't do the same.

I would like to be given the choice myself.

 

[RGDave]

1) If you're visiting another club, do you think you should at least have the option of playing off the whites or back tees?

2) If you're a member of a club, do you think it's right that the back tees should be reserved for members only purely as a perk or privilege of membership, or perhaps to reduce wear and tear and keep them nice for the big club events?

1) Yes, unless you are "really challenged" as a player.
2) I think our whites should be available more regularly (for us) and certainly for full paying guests with decent bona-fide handicaps.

I don't personally see why we can't have members tee (in a chosen colour) where the tee is a little in front of the "big match" whites, but on the same line. My club frustrates me because the yellows are often in a completely different place, therefore requiring a completely different shot.

Today, we had the most rediculous thing I've seen on a course in years. Our par 3 8th had a far right pin and a far right tee....there was no line to the pin, unless you count 186 yards of 40-50 foot fir trees a direct line.

We all tried to slide a big cut round, but none of us managed. Thankfully 2/4 players managed to get up and down to save a par 3 becoming a crazy-short par 4.....

 

[Leftie]

At Sundridge Park, members can play off any tee they want in general play.

Societies are usually asked to play off the yellows to try to get them round in a reasonable time (after all, they wouldn't want a cold meal after the game, would they?).

As for members' guests, it is up to the member as to whether they play off the yellows, whites, or blacks. If he feels that the "full" course would be too challenging for his guests then they would play the yellows (unless it was Smiffy and you wanted to take his money .......(again )....