"Funny that 'Tee Forward' program suggests a professional play courses 7,700 to 7,900 long. Only one such course on PGA Tour - Cog Hill"

So here's something I can't reconcile with the announcement of the USGA-PGA of America "Play it Forward" campaign to play the proper tees to help make the game more fun and faster. 

There is no question too many golfers play the wrong tees. Men letting machismo get in the way are the most obvious candidates to play it forward, as are a surprising number of lower handicap female golfers.

Quite often, folks play too far back because they want to feel connected to golf at the elite level. After all, they buy the same clubs the pros use and on occasion, hit a drive they think is as long as the big boys and in general, buy into marketing that connects the everyday game with the professional. Shoot, we've all be guilty of it and there's nothing wrong with wanting to walk in the footsteps of elite players. Some of us even believe that keeping that connection is a good reason to restrict equipment for professionals.

So now we have the USGA telling us that 7,600 to 7,900 yards is the proper yardage for those big boys. Doug Ferguson noted what makes this so humorous:

While the governing bodies are against bifurcation of the game via a tournament ball or a special rules for professional equipment (well, except grooves), the Play It Forward campaign acknowledges a massive divide between the PGA Tour professional and the amateur. So massive, that only one course on the PGA Tour qualifies as the appropriate yardage in the eyes of the PGA of America and USGA!

Comments

[Del the Funk]

I think the message was meant to be "if you come across a course 7600yds or longer don't even dare to attempt it unless you are in fact a PGA Tour player".

[chico]

They are right.
To give the players the same test they had 30 yrs ago the courses should be 7800 according to my calculations.
Something wrong surely somewhere?!

[The O]

That's probably right. I had the fortune or misfortune of playing earlier in the week in the group behind one of the top 5 longest guys on the nationwide tour. I hit it decent long for an Am (average about 280), but this guy was 40-50-70 yards by me sometimes. He averages 310+ on tour and probably hits it 330 when he hits solidly. Serious. Last hole was 560 uphill; he hit driver and an iron.

[chico]

On the subject of macho men.
I've just had a few days golfing in Ireland at Lahinch.It is a wonderful course and one of the toughest in GB and I. The visiting parties(sadly almost exclusively American)insisted on playing off the tips-even though there was a wind of around 20-25mph. They could neither break 100 or 6 1/2 hours.How that was fun for them I don't know-it was certainly pergatory following them!
Golfers like that should either play easier courses or use the front tees-but would they listen?I doubt it.

[Ivan Morris]

I am a member at Lahinch who groans and heads across the street to the sporty, Castle Course when I see a busload of Americans playing 'off the blues' ahead of me. Locals do not have 6-hours plus for playing 18-holes, 36 maybe? BTW - a 20-25 mph wind was a gentle zephyr. By all means, come on over and play our great courses but play off sensible tees, guys!

[chico]

Ivan-I'm glad I didn't play in a strong wind then!!
Hit rescue and 7 iron into the 4th and didn't get anywhere near the 6th with 2 drivers!!
What a wonderful course though-you are very lucky.

[Melvyn Hunter Morrow]

I feel the real underlining message is play the game of golf, stop thinking you are a potential Tiger Woods and just bloody enjoy the game you play. In time your skills will improve but only with a cool head, so gentlemen play the Scottish ways and come off smiling and certainly not worrying about a score.

Far more will be achieved when your mind is focused upon what you are doing. Try too hard and frustration will set in forcing testosterone to start oozing from every orifice – not a pretty sight.

You may even find that your game speeds up naturally once you drop off all your baggage (testosterone, carts, distance aids etc.). After a cold days golfing on a beautiful links course the best think to have is an Arbroath Smokie followed by a few drams of Single Malt washed down by a beer or two. Any remaining testosterone should be resolved by a good work out at home, then you can decide if you have scored!!

Use the correct Tee for your game and enjoy the Arbroath Smokies too.

Melvyn

[Melvyn Hunter Morrow]

Ivan

And here it was that I was thinking Old Tom speeded up the course way back in 1894 - see what happens when you Drive down the wrong side – it’s all about understanding Golf Course Architecture and how to play the game - right.

Melvyn

[John Paul Newport]

My reading of the point the PGA and USGA were making is that average male amateurs playing a course at 6,700 yards is the equivalent of the Tour pros playing courses at 7,900 or 8,100 yards -- neither of which is desirable. At 8,100 yards, even Tour pros would have to play three woods and long-irons into greens that are meant to accept mid- and short-irons. The point is that at the length that the pros actually do play, 7,000 to 7,400 yards typically, they are hitting six and seven irons into greens, which is appropriate. For everyday male amateurs also to hit six and seven irons into greens (for them, those might be 120 yard to 150 yard shots), they should be playing courses at around 6,100 yards.

[digsouth]

@Melvin

Your blather was worth reading start to finish.

Well said. I enjoy 62-6600 yards the most, play a 6950 plus tracks every now and then, but find the 6-6100 yarders a joy with all those wedges, once in a while. Ego padding at its best.

I need to remember your post round advce.

[Justin]

"I feel the real underlining message is play the game of golf, stop thinking you are a potential Tiger Woods and just bloody enjoy the game you play. In time your skills will improve but only with a cool head, so gentlemen play the Scottish ways and come off smiling and certainly not worrying about a score". Absolutely awesome, Melvyn.


And for those thinking they're playing the same gear the pro's are playing? Ever been able to buy a Nike driver head at 380cc? How about Phil's White Hot Tour 8802-style head with the White Hot XG insert? Even better, his Frankenseinian, trailing edge-sawed-off hybrid? No? What about Vijay's 7* open-faced Cleveland driver, or Stewart Cink's old ball... the one with the One Tour D innards and the One Tour cover? Still think you're playing exactly what the pro's play?

[RickABQ]

@Justin -

Ever notice in the "What's in the Bag" type features how many times you see the word "Prototype" stamped on irons, putters, hybrids, etc., or hear the pros are using prototype balls? As soon as the huddled masses can buy them, the pros have usually moved on to the next prototype. I'm not on the leading edge of technology or golf equipment (I still use a Nike CPR hybrid, for jeebus' sake) so it doesn't bother me, but I am sure there are many people who find that important. Every club I have ever bought is better than I am...

[digsouth]

RickABQ:

This morning on Morning Drivel, where Good Golly Miss Holly is soooo sweet, one of the guys at the mic, in talking with Barney Adams said in passing...(attempting to quote on my part so 3 Quote marks for the sake of not quoting :;) ) '''and with planned obsolescence'''...in refering to golf clubs.....

so as a former manufaturers rep, in the hgh performance auti industry ( race car parts) I can tell you that R&D is 3 or 4 cluba, in this instance ahead of what is being sold.so there's yer prototype and then some.

And Melvin is so right...play the game. I NEVER add up my score until after the round is over.

[RickABQ]

digs -

So you are telling me it is easy to promise something (improvements) when you've already got them lined up in the bag? I wish my job in research worked that well!!!

Hope the recovery is going swimmingly. I'll be in Austin in early November giving a talk at a conference there. Maybe we can hit the BBQ/beer near downtown, and maybe a round if you are up for it? At a minimum, the beer/BBQ....

[PA PLAYA]

Working as an assistant pro, you get to see a lot of crazy stuff.

While the course where I worked for the better part of 10 seasons is obviously not Bethpage Black or Pine Valley tough, it's a fairly challenging track and the wind is always present... on a calm day it's 10-15 mph, mostly because of where the course sits in the valley, in relation to where two prominent mountains bisect. It is very rare to stand over any shot and play the yardage on the marker there. Usually you're adding 2 clubs on the approach if you're teeing north. Yet day after day for the better part of 10 years - I'd watch dozens of groups of golfers drive down to the starting hole, totally ignoring the sage advice from our veteran starter to play the appropriate tees... and they would sashay back to the tips that measure 6800 yds, but because of the wind and elevation easily plays 200-300 yards longer, if not more. And to note the number of those players who couldn't physically generate enough clubhead speed to kill a garden snake, yet felt that they had the length to challenge this enormous test of a golf course.... it more than validated the premise that golf is an ego-driven endeavor.

The PGA can come out with these initiatives all they want.... but until these facilities take it upon themselves to formally close the back tees for normal non-tournament play - there will always be a sizable portion of the golfing populous that feel inspired to shoot 100+ while cursing and hacking up the course hither and yon while revealing their torturous stupidity and making life absolutely miserable for the groups playing behind them.

And those types spend good money on the weekend to experience that.... I just don't get it.

[digsouth]

RickABQ,

sounds like a plan. I have no idea how I'll be playing, but I am hoping to be back in 80's regularly by then, or 70's from the 150 markers !!!!.....

SHHHH!!!! I went out Sunday and attempted to play the 4 hole par 3 practice track at my course, and played 3 balls 3 holes and had to give it up,,,,carriying a lightweight bag with 4-pw,a SW and a lob and putter was TOOO MUCH....had I not carried the stuff, I think I could have went around a couple of times, but I cannot walk the hilly yardage with 20 pounds or so...no mas trying that chit, mannn...

I hit 2 skanks for every ok shot, and my yardage was 2-3 clubs short of normal ( I have a broken shoulder in addition to everything else) but no pain, as I keep my back arm very close to my body ( L shoulder broke, amd I play LH) HOWEVER....very tired and a LOT OF PAIN the beginning of the week and my overall assessment.....IT WAS GREAT GETTING OUT!!!!!! but not worth the pain, just not worth it.. I will wait until I can go on a REAL TRACK WITH A CART, AS THE WALKING & CARRYING WERE THE CULPRITS.

So we can do beer or a coke if I am still on too many meds, but BBQ for certain, and golf more than likeliy... also what kind of music do you like? and do you know what part of town you will be staying in?

Bonus question. Are there flea circuses?

[Tottenham Hotspur]

@ PA PLAYA

You're absolutely correct. However, I've seen players play from the tips at public courses even when the starter won't let them because their hcp is too high. On hole2, they're back there even if there are no markers, How does this policy get enforced...a ranger at every tee?

[OnTheRoad]

I played golf a couple of weeks ago with a 70 year old man. He admits that he has never broken 80 in his life. He plays 'Only' from the tips because he says that if you break the 'Course Record' it only counts if you are playing from the tips. I will never play with this idiot again!

[CBell]

Time for Frank Hannigan to chime in.

[BE]

I'm not sure what to think of this new marketing campaign. With golf costing so much these days, so long as you can keep up with the group in front of you and aren't holding up people behind you, play what ever darn tee makes you happy! A slow golfer is a slow golfer no matter what tee they play! Play ready golf! Most of the slow play I witness is around the green, guys spotting a one foot put, looking at a 2 footer from 8 different angles as if the US Open is on the line.

If you really want to speed up play, have marshals do their job. If a group is playing slow, give them a warning, maybe 2, then escort them from the property. That will pick things up a bit...

[RickABQ]

digs -

Maybe we can "play it forward" and play off the forward tees - it will sure make the USGA-PGA of America happy. We will definitely get together and invite all the other Austin members of Club Shackelford to play in the First Digsouth Recovery Open.... Details closer to November! When I was a student there I used to go to Liberty Lunch every week to listen to Beto y los Fairlanes. I have no idea if they (or Liberty Lunch) are still around.....

[digsouth]

Too tired to post El, Ricko...more later. LL is gone, sadly.