PGA, USGA Launch "TEE IT FORWARD"
For Immediate Release...
PGA OF AMERICA, UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION STEP TO A NEW SET OF TEES IN NATIONWIDE SUMMER INITIATIVE, ‘TEE IT FORWARD,’ JULY 5-17
Far Hills, N.J. (May 24) – To help golfers have more fun on the course and enhance their overall experience by playing from a set of tees best suited to their abilities, The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association have partnered to support “TEE IT FORWARD,” a new national initiative to be proposed for golf facilities nationwide from July 5-17.
TEE IT FORWARD encourages all golfers to play the course at a length that is aligned with their average driving distance (see accompanying chart for guidelines). Golfers can speed up play by utilizing tees that provide the greatest playability and enjoyment.
Not if there's a group in front of them! I actually think they'll wait more than normal. But I'm weird that way.
The program will be promoted this week, at the 72nd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, and at both the U.S. Open Championship in June and the U.S. Women's Open Championship in July.
“Simply put, TEE IT FORWARD can make golf much more fun for millions of people,” said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. “We believe that by moving up to another set of tees, golfers will experience an exciting, new approach to the game that will produce more enjoyment and elevate their desire to come back and play even more golf."
Barney Adams, the founder of Adams Golf, provided the concept that led to TEE IT FORWARD. By playing from forward tees, amateur golfers have the chance to play the course at the same relative distance as a touring professional would over 18 holes. The playing field is leveled by giving golfers the opportunity to play from distances that are properly aligned with their abilities.
With many more golfers hitting approach shots with 6- and 7-irons instead of hybrids and long irons, their chances for enjoyment increase. Also, playing from forward tees should result in fewer overall shots, shorter distance traveled on each hole, and potentially, fewer lost balls.
I'm not sure about that leap, but go on...
“The passion that golfers have for our game has the potential to be enhanced by the TEE IT FORWARD initiative," said Jim Hyler, president of the United States Golf Association. "This is an innovation that we think will appeal to golfers of all skill levels because it gives them a new challenge that better aligns with their abilities. We hope that TEE IT FORWARD will be embraced by players and golf facilities across the country."
TEE IT FORWARD is not necessarily about creating a new set of tees—many facilities already have multiple tees in use every day. It is about changing the mindset of golfers in a positive way—encouraging people to consider setting aside playing from 6,500-6,700 yards and moving up to a length of 6,000-6,200 yards or moving from 6,000-6,200 yards to 5,700-5,800 yards.
The 6,700-yard course that many amateur golfers play today is proportionally equivalent to a PGA Tour player competing on a course measuring 8,100 yards—700 yards or more longer than a typical PGA Tour layout.
That's quite a disparity, wouldn't it just be easier to...ah forget it.
Jack Nicklaus, who shares the record with Walter Hagen for most PGA Championship titles with five and also shares the U.S. Open record with four victories, is a proponent of TEE IT FORWARD.
"I love the game of golf but I will be the first to tell you that there are things about our game we need to improve," Nicklaus said. "Now The PGA of America and the USGA have come together to develop ways to that can make the game more attractive and more enjoyable. TEE IT FORWARD is the first of many initiatives we have discussed together, and I think families around the country will enjoy alternate formats like this to make the game more fun.
"All of us deeply involved in the game constantly encourage golfers of all skill levels to play the proper tees, but too often golfers want to bite off as much of the golf course as they can. What ends up suffering is their scorecard and their overall enjoyment. This program should help stimulate people to play the proper tees and maximize the golf experience."
TEE IT FORWARD also coincides in July with The PGA of America’s Family Golf Month, which has approximately 2,200 facilities already registered for that national initiative.
The really fun part of this is the chart. We have the USGA declaring that proper distance for today's touring professional is a course between 7600-7900 yards! Many these guys are working out!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Reader Comments (43)
Just Hit the Ball Already: A voluntary program in which golfers pledge to take only one practice swing.
Keep the Effin Cart Moving: Cart riders are encouragd to ride to the first ball, and then drop off one player while the other rides to his ball.
Put the Ball in Your Pocket: More than three strokes over par and haven't holed out yet? Pick it up!
Then you are ahead of the game - you are already a member of the "in crowd"!
http://www.pgatour.com/r/stats/info/?317
Hey, let's give them credit for pushing an idea. For us die-hard residents of Shackland, this may not seem like much. Remember, though, that there are far too many unfortunate golfers who don't live in Shackland, and this information may provide some benefit.
Ultimately, what harm can it do? I see only good in this effort. Let's give them a pat on the back for trying. The other issues are the other issues.... :)
First of all, the average driving distance on tour this year is 286.3 yards. According to that chart, are the pros going to Tee it Forward as well? The chart seems to suggest that the average touring pro hits it 320+ on average. Yeah, right. Distances have certainly gone up, but let's be real.
And most of all, this almost entirely ignores slope and course rating. That system should automatically adjust for whatever tees you were playing from...moving up doesn't make the golf course any easier, as you are also reducing the rating. It just feels easier, because it's shorter - however, you'll also have to shoot a lower score to play your handicap. For instance: I played Erin Hills last year, from the very very tips...measuring out to *almost* 8000 yards - as expected, I got my butt kicked and shot 81. Thanks to slope and course rating though, I actually beat my index. In the end, I had a blast and left the course feeling pretty satisfied.
Lastly, I never felt that distance is the biggest challenge for my higher handicap buddies - it's direction and consistency. Who cares if the hole you're playing is 380 vs. 420 yds, when you're 40 yards right in the trees? The second shot is miserable, regardless. The initiative should be two-fold: "Club down", i.e. stop the idiocy of trying to hit driver everywhere, even though you have no idea where it's going. Secondly, encourage golfers to trade in 1 greenfee every quarter or so for a lesson. Every amateur I've ever dragged to a pro to receive some instruction has found the game more enjoyable as a result. That's what should be encouraged.
Sorry about the lengthy rant, but this is just mind boggling to me.
We prefer par-3 courses, but sometimes it's fun to go out on a big course. I hit from the whites, he tees it up in the middle of the fairway, and nobody waits behind us.
All that said, a slow player is a slow player. I'm not sure that can be helped. It's a mindset, a selfish one, and I've never seen a player overcome it. One true hallmark of a slow player is that he believes he is keeping pace. Another is that he believes his routine helps him play better. Drives me nuts.
Keep it up with the little Squeakster! When my Devdog was 9 or so I would take him to "regular" courses, where he would play from the most forward set of tees. He could hit it about 125-140 yards off the tee at the time. Devdog learned to play fast, learned all about ready golf, and learned at an early age to pick up his ball and place it on the green if he was holding up people. Usually we were paired up with others, who would often be irritated at having to play with a "child". However, after a couple of holes they generally realized he wasn't holding anyone up, he was a polite kid, and could converse with them on many subjects, including almost all sports. Usually by the end of the round it was apparent they even liked playing with him! Dev learned a great deal about interacting with others (i.e., adults) in a social situation, and it really helped develop his communication skills with people he didn't know. Good life lessons all around. Now, of course, as my now-teenage son plays in junior tournaments the pace of play drives him bananas, and will only get worse as he enters high school.
Rick, it sounds like you are talking about my now-19-year-old. Especially the part about the slow play during his Junior Golf and High School playing days. Those kids make Ben Crane look like Bush41. He still talks about the time he made 3 on the 16th at the UGA Golf Course to my 4. Since that was about 11 years ago, I think he should give it a rest.
TEE IT FORWARD, THESE GUYS ARE GOOD, FIVE BAZILLION FOR CHARITY, FOR THE GOOD OF THE GAME...Whatever. Seems to me all you have to do is hire retired Marines as rangers and give them the authority they know how to use.
jb
1. Seems unfair to blame slow play on short hitters and reinforces attitudes that discourage kids and women from playing.
2. Seems like they are saying that shortening the course will increase enjoyment because one hits fewer shots or hits shorter irons into greens. If that's true it's because one's enjoyment comes from shooting a score rather than playing the game itself. Seems delusional to get that kind of enjoyment from shooting the lower score when it's just because the course is shorter.
3. Are they really suggesting that courses have tees at 2,000 and 3,000 yards, or is that a subtle way to discourage older people, kids and women to stay off 18 hole courses?
4. Are we all supposed to tee off at different tees now? That would make the game less social. How about we all use the same tees, let go of trying to match "par" (or better yet, do away with par), eliminate forced carries, and just walk along hitting the ball rather than driving halfway to the green before teeing off.
5. Fewer shots doesn't equal more enjoyment. If that were the case, we'd play one short hole and go home (or not play at all).
6. Does hitting a 6 iron from 90 yards really approximate the experience of the tour pro hitting a 6 iron from 200? Any reason, other than protecting the ego, that one can't get that same enjoyment from the 90 yard 6 iron on the third shot into a par 4?
RICKABQ - nice story about Dev, loved it!
Seems like they will move back even further - either because they think they are bigger or Pros...
1) everyone in a group is ready to play as soon as the way ahead is clear;
2) if one group is holding another up it must let the second play through immediately - generalized as faster players are to be waved through, even if (maybe especially if) it's a single. In fact I would further generalize and do away with fourballs altogether except when the course is reserved for a fourball competition, but although this practice is common in Ireland and Scotland I realize it'd be impossible to enforce in NA.
Oh, and one I never see mentioned. If the course has golf carts they must be allowed on the fairways. One of the great slowdowns is the "cart path only" regulation which means that all the players must walk from the path to play their balls and back - huge time-waster. If the fairways are damaged or vulnerable, then the punters walk. If they don't want to walk they don't play. All of this will speed up play immensely and go a long way towards eliminating the "need" for 12 hole courses, etc.
Another GBI timesaver (which I saw someone mention the other day) is the use of the member tee. Unless it's a competition the medal tees are not used (often the markers are not staked) and everyone plays from the day's member tee (or the forward "red" tee if they choose). You're thrown off the course if you breach this playing regulation. And you don't get your money back. This is why people in those ancient lands get to walk a round of golf in less than three hours.
But the fundamental problem, as you all will instantly spot, is the "game" versus the "industry". The "industry" wants none of the above; but the "game" demands it, or it will die. No young person, i.e. age 10 to 65, in this day and age, has the time to devote 6 - 7 hours to a day's golf. Ergo, diminishing recruitment to the game, and its eventual demise. The more the "industry" controls the game
the fewer customers it will have to sell stuff to; it's a vicious, self-destructive, downward spiral that has to be pulled out of soon.
So almost every hole is drive, wood, short (20-70 yards) shot.... drive, wood, short (20-70 yards) shot.... which gets really boring and gives me few chances at hitting a green in regulation.
I never reach the fairway bunkers and hit one or two full 5,6,7,8,9,irons or wedges all day!
Back tee golf is boring golf.
(PS I hit my best drives 220 yards and my handicap index is 15 and I like the 6000 yard tees.)
A better solution is the route Ballyneal is gone - no tee markers. Just tee up from where ever you want. I was there this weekend and for the first time I can ever remember i played a round of glf and have no idea what I shot. We just teed off wherever, even from the fringe of the previous hole, and enjoyed the weather, the architecture, and the comoany. We did ot take much time putting sine we were not worried about our score. Rounds are always very fast there.
Professor Irwin Corey, "The World's Foremost Authority" is a better reference in light of the FACT that there are only 2 PGAT courses that fit the criteria.
If you're too young to know the Professor, google him.
Also, 1 minute maximum looking for balls - and no GD ball retrievers allowed on the course.
I'm sick of courses not giving a crap about pace of play and marshalls not enforcing it. They just want people's money and do not care about the experience. Its ridiculous the slow crap I see out there on a daily basis.
When will these guys figure out that golf is played by people who like to play with friends, and who like to hit golf shots. When will these guys figure out that if I move up and shoot a lower score, my handicap stays the same, so it's obvious that nothing of value was accomplished. When will these guys figure out that personal habits, not handicap, make for slow golf.
And Kelly Blake Moran, you're the champ!
Golfers emulate tour pros but sense when do the tour pros have difficultly reaching half of the par fours in two on a golf course. To emulate them (hitting short irons into most greens) you have to consider your TRUE average handicap such that you too can hit short irons into greens - not hybrids and fairway woods.
I beg the golf world to embrace this, if just for the two weeks they are promoting. I am sure, once most put some pride in their back pocket, will admit golf can be much more fun than it is. In the words of Barney Adams, is golf FUN or is it MANAGED FRUSTRATION? Just try it. Why wouldn't you be willing to? Too much pride? Ego? Drop it for two weeks and just try it.
Even long hitting weekend hackers should play from the white tees, not the blue. But they heard on some TV show that they want
To "let the big dog eat", and are hoping to hit one good drive that day. And they paid all that money for the driver, and the
Round on the weekend. Nothing will stop them. I, on the other hand, have been playing a lot more courses from
The white tees and have been having more fun, and shooting lower scores. Once start consistently breaking 80
From the whites, i'll go back to the blues. Gotta leave that ego at the door.
Drop a ball near where you think you lost it, 1 stroke, it will speed up play and losing a $4 ball is penalty enough.
Move the ball everywhere, behind a tree? Move it! Who wants the hassle of wacking a tree?
Slow down the pace of the greens.
Inside 3 feet? Pick it up! Who wants the hassle of trying to make a 3 footer?
Mow the rough way down - Augusta like - and move the ball!
Two mulligans per side - if you don't use a mulligan, deduct 1 stroke.
Banish commercials that feature pros hyping products! Now that we have clearly decided that there are different games for the pros and the rest of us, why do we hacks want equipment that was designed for another sport?
Max double bogey on any hole and it counts for the beer bet! Serve more beer on the course and have water slides!
I'm contacting the USTA to see if we can make our lines wider and the net lower - you know, us hacks shouldn't have to play "tennis" but have a "tennis like" experience.
As a PGA Member myself I know what you are getting at an is exactly what I did when developing a new set of tees for our men members. The course was six years old at the time and with 300 or so members we had a much better idea of the distances our regular players hit the ball. We could make a good estimation of what their abilities would be like a few years down the road as they aged as well. That information, coupled with determining the most generous areas of the fairways and where they were relative to the existing tee complexes, we eventually determined a new set of tees that was catered to the guys who hit it 190-210 yards off the tee Less than 190 and they would likely be better off a whole tee up and from say 220 or more they might better appreciate the next longer tee. Despite some of the initial skepticism about a tee only 6000 yards in total, it is the tee that 80% of the men are now playing and will play for many years before moving forward, not backward.
In reality guys DO NOT hit the ball as far as they think they do. There is no denying it. I would challenge all amateur players to get some help from their local professional or someone else to actually measure real shots with a driver. Take a range finder out on the range and measure back to the tee how far each of 10 shots go. Exact yardage. I bet less than 2 in 10 male golfers and maybe 3 in 10 female golfers are within 5 yards of the actual yardage. None will underestimate their distance.
The USGA themselves say the average bogey male golfer hits it 200 yards off the tee and have an approximate handicap of 20 on a course of standard difficulty (slope 113) We don't have such a course in south Florida it seems so someone who has a 20 handicap on a course of a slope of 113 would likely have an approximate handicap of something more like 24-25 on an average slope of 124 course (typical member tee around here). Line up 100 24ish handicapped guys and there is no way more than 10 will average 200 yards off the tee. Had this conversation with the USGA at the time of the tee project and they just kept telling me that it's been time tested, blah, blah, blah. Today they seem to endorse the idea that at 200 yards off the tee should have this player playing from 5,300 yards? This, of course is just a smidge longer than the average forward tee around here.
So where does the average female bogey player play? USGA says these ladies average 150 yards off the tee and have an approximate handicap of 24 on a course of standard difficulty (slope 113). Again, average slope down here is probably more like 120 for the ladies meaning the same bogey lady golfers would likely have more of an approximate handicap of 28 or so. Line up 100 28 handicaps and I would bet the house that not 5 in 100 average 150 yards. More like 130-135 yards. Thus, the USGA is now endorsing a course of say 3,200 yards! Unless it's an executive course, this distance doesn't exist.
Ultimately, as bent as I sound about the USGA I am glad (extremely glad) they are endorsing this initiative. Better late than never and better to suck it up sooner rather than later, accept error, and fix it. There will need to be a fresh look at ratings, the rating program, and maybe a new look at handicapping. This is the paradigm shift I've been wishing for for some time. Let's wrap our arms around this and make it happen for the good of the game!
The truth is, simply put, the obsession to 'play fast' drives more people away from the game who would otherwise love to take it up. While 'slow play' does not keep people who love to play from playing. So, I just don't understand why they would go to such extremes to further alienate new players; which' clearly they desperately need. You guys should be dripping with hospitality and encouragement for all new players regardless of age or gender because you need our money! There is palpable prejudice toward women onevery course I've played. For example, if the play slows for any reason and there is one woman in one group that group is the one asked by the course marshall to speed up regardless of the skill of the woman. Meanwhile, the men will invariably walk up to the first tee, all three will take a mulligan and by the time I get to my tee box the group behind is waiting for me to take my shot. We (women) are always rushed, always watched and pressured to speed up and guess what, that doesn't help anyone's game.
The real objective of this tee it forward campaign is not for people to 'have more fun'. The objective is to speed it up thereby, appease the old time good old boys (who are anything but gentlemen). I say go ahead see how that works out. The game will wilt like the old men it is populated with. Instead. I suggest they find ways to welcome newcomers of every age and gender. Just a few: Make nine hole rounds the basic unit. Block times for 'leisure play'. Offer incentives in rates that encourage beginners, I'd be okay with charging by the half hour. But this is just more of the same and not good for the game.