Which Tees to Play
Also known as: which tees should I play, what tees should I play from, choosing tees, choosing the right tees, forward tees, tee it forward
Play the tees whose total length lets you reach greens with clubs you hit well. The USGA's Best Tees guidance uses your 7-iron carry. About 125 yards suits a course of 5,400 to 5,600 yards, and about 140 yards suits 5,900 to 6,100 yards.
Many golfers play tees that are too long for their game, and both scores and enjoyment suffer. The USGA built its Best Tees system from handicap scores, hitting-distance data and golfer surveys. It uses the 7-iron because most golfers know roughly how far they hit it. The guide is for an 18-hole, par-72 course. A 7-iron of 80 yards or less suits about 3,500 to 3,700 yards. A 7-iron of 125 yards suits 5,400 to 5,600, and 140 yards suits 5,900 to 6,100. A 7-iron of 155 yards suits 6,400 to 6,600, and over 170 yards suits about 6,700 yards and up.
The scorecard lists the total length of each set of tees. Pick the set closest to your range. If you often need a fairway wood or hybrid to reach par 4s in two, moving forward is likely the better choice. An earlier program from the USGA and PGA of America, called Tee It Forward, used driver distance in the same way.
Playing the right tees is not a lesser version of golf. You will hit more short irons into greens, keep up a better pace and get a truer test of your skills. Some courses have combination tees between the main sets. These are useful if one set is a little short and the next is too long. Your Course Handicap changes with the tees, so check it for the set you choose.
Tips by skill level
Find your typical 7-iron carry, then check the scorecard and choose the set of tees closest to the recommended length.
Look at which clubs you hit into par 4s. If most approaches are long irons or woods, the course is playing longer than your game.
Example
A golfer who carries his 7-iron about 140 yards has been playing the 6,600-yard tees. He moves to the 6,000-yard set, hits mid-irons into most greens instead of hybrids, and his average score drops by several shots.
Why it matters
Tee choice decides which clubs you hit into greens all round. The right tees make the course play the way it was designed for your distance.
Common mistakes
- Playing the back tees out of habit or pride
- Choosing tees from your best drive instead of your typical distance
- Ignoring combination tees when one set is too short and the next too long
- Forgetting that Course Handicap changes with the tees you play
Frequently asked questions
Which tees should I play from?
Use your 7-iron carry as a guide. In the USGA's Best Tees guidance, about 125 yards suits a course of 5,400 to 5,600 yards, and about 140 yards suits 5,900 to 6,100. Choose the set on the scorecard closest to that length.
What tees should a beginner play?
Usually the forward or shortest tees, where you can reach greens with clubs you hit well. Move back as your distance and scores improve.
How long a course should I play based on my 7-iron?
The USGA guide suggests 3,500 to 3,700 yards for a 7-iron of 80 yards or less, and 6,400 to 6,600 yards for 155 yards. Over 170 yards suits about 6,700 yards and up.
Sources
Related terms
- Golf Club DistancesThere is no single right distance for each club, since it depends mostly on your swing speed and how solidly you strike the ball. In USGA Best Tees research, the average male golfer hit a 7-iron about 138 yards and the average female golfer about 100 yards. Measure your own carry with each club and plan from those numbers, not from a chart.
- Course ManagementCourse management is your strategy for where to aim, which club to hit, and how to play each hole. The goal is to limit risk and score well for your skill level.
- Course Rating vs Slope RatingCourse rating estimates the score a scratch golfer would shoot on a course. Slope rating measures how much harder that same course plays for a bogey golfer relative to a scratch golfer. Together they adjust a handicap for the specific course being played.
- Course Handicap vs Handicap IndexHandicap Index is a portable number representing a golfer's general ability, calculated from past scores. Course handicap converts that same index into the actual number of strokes they receive on a specific course and tee, using that course's slope rating.
- Ready Golf (Pace of Play)"Ready golf" means whoever is ready hits next, instead of strictly waiting for the golfer farthest from the hole. It is widely encouraged in casual and recreational rounds to keep pace of play reasonable.
Related guides & benchmarks
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