If you’ve played golf for a while, you probably grew up hearing about "men’s tees," "women’s tees," and "senior tees." That old system sorted players by age and gender. But times are changing - and frankly, for the better.
More and more courses are moving to a system based on skill, not demographics. Instead of deciding based on who you are, you now choose based on how you play. It's about your handicap, your real ability. Here's the breakdown you should follow for your next round:
9 Handicap or Better: You should be playing from the back tees - often called the "blue tees" or the "men’s tees" at older courses. These are challenging but fair if you're breaking 80-85 regularly. Important note: these are not the championship tees (black tees), which are a completely different beast.
10 to 19 Handicap: You belong on the middle tees, usually called the "white tees." This setup lets you enjoy the course without constantly feeling like you're grinding out long irons into every green. It’s about setting yourself up for a playable, enjoyable round.
20+ Handicap: Forward tees - traditionally labeled "women's" or "senior" tees - are where you’ll have the most fun and the fairest experience. These tees shorten the course to match your game. You’ll be hitting more wedges and short irons into greens instead of fairway woods. That's more birdie chances and a way better day.
A Quick Word on the Black Tees (Championship Tees): Unless you're carrying the ball 300 yards consistently and know, without question, that you’re finding fairways every time, stay away from the black tees. They are designed for scratch players, mini-tour pros, and the top 1% of golfers. Not "good" golfers. Elite golfers.
Why the Change to Handicap-Based Tees? The shift to handicap-based tees is all about improving pace of play, enhancing game enjoyment, and respecting golf etiquette. No one wants to spend every hole waiting for a group that’s constantly searching for balls that went out of bounds. When players tee off from the right spots, rounds move quicker, and everyone’s experience improves.
Also, there's no rule that says everyone in the same group must play from the same tees. It’s perfectly fine (and encouraged) for each player to choose the set of tees that matches their skill level. Golf is already hard enough - there's no reason to make it even tougher on yourself by playing from the wrong tees.
Bottom Line: The goal of tee selection is to make the game fun, challenging, and fair. Play from the tees that match your handicap, not your ego. You'll score better, enjoy yourself more, and keep the pace of play moving. That's a win for everybody. So next round, check your handicap, pick the right set of tees, and play smarter golf. You'll thank yourself by the back nine - and so will everyone else on the course.
