New Golfer's Guide To The Multiple Sets Of Tees On The Course
If you're a new golfer, you may find yourself confused by all of the tees that you see at each hole. While some golf courses may only have three or four, others can have many more. Before you step up to that first hole and find yourself unsure where to start, there are a few things that you should understand about all of those tees.
Why Are There So Many?
Each tee is placed specifically to correspond with a certain yardage. This allows golfers to choose the difficulty of their game. The tees placed at the far back of the tee box are the ones with the longest yardage rating while the ones in the front would be the shortest.
How Do You Know Which One To Use?
In order to choose the tee that's best for your game, you need to consider your ability. For new players, the shortest yardage tee is usually the best place to start. As your skills develop and your game advances, you can move back a tee. If you're struggling with the tee you've chosen, you might find it easier to move to a shorter one. Most golf courses mark each hole's yardage rating on the scorecard by color. You can also find them on the yardage guide if the course you're playing publishes one.
For beginners, you need to consider the distance of your average drive. If you aren't able to hit with some consistency and accuracy, you'll want to choose the forward set of tees. You can play a few rounds with those tees and work your way back to the tougher sets as you become more familiar with the course.
What If You Play From A Tee Beyond Your Skills?
When you're on a course with players who have a mix of skills, it's tempting to skip the front tees and play one of the harder sets to fit in. Unfortunately, this doesn't typically work out well. Teeing off from a set of tees that are beyond your ability will only lead to slowing game play because you'll likely have to get your ball out of the woods or the traps.
Don't let your first golf game turn into an exercise in frustration. Instead, ask about a yardage book, such as Fore Better Golf, at the clubhouse or make note of the yardage color codes on the scorecard. Then, be objective about your skills to choose the right tee.