So I’ve been doing a little reading up on this Tee It Forward thing and I’ve gotta tell ya…I wanted so bad to rip it apart. All that would cross my mind was what pansies we were making out of people. “Ooooh, the game’s too haaaard…I’m not having any fuuuunnnn…., waaaaa…., waaa….., waaaaa.”
Really, think about it. What other sport gives you the option to make the game easier? If basketball is too hard, do they lower the hoop for you? If baseball is too hard, do they pitch slower? Of course not! But in golf, they tell people to just move up and play closer.
Aren’t there enough technological advances in golf designed to make the game easier already? Specialized balls that are designed to travel straighter or farther. Drivers with heads the size of a small SUV. Clubs that make the ball do things that scientists years ago would have considered to be physically impossible. But none of that is enough? Now we tell people…”Just move up.”
See, it all sounds so silly doesn’t it? But I thought about it a little further and realized, maybe this is necessary. It shouldn’t be…but maybe it is. What I’m saying is, why aren’t people playing from the correct tees to begin with? Who taught them the game? I feel that you should be able to play from whatever tees you choose, but at the same time, it’s a matter of etiquette as well. And as we all know, etiquette is just as much a part of the game as the act of golf itself. And I think that’s where Tee It Forward should really come into play.
I may be wrong, and I’m sure many people will argue against my way of thinking, but something in the back of my mind tells me that Tee It Forward was designed with its initial intended purpose to be teaching etiquette and speeding up the game, not trying to get people to have more fun. But with today’s younger generation, it’s hard to teach golf etiquette to newcomers without sounding like a pompous ass. So instead, they put the “fun” twist on it to make the game sound less stuffy. Now, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. As a matter of fact, it’s quite smart. Look, my opinion is if you want to play from the blues then play from the blues, whether you belong there or not. I could care less. But if what you’re doing is holding people up because you stink at golf and you’re only making a hard game that much harder, then you need someone to tell you to tee it forward due to etiquette.
See, the “fun” approach that Tee It Forward takes, in my opinion, is the correct approach that should be taken. It’s the reason I play. At the end of the day, I don’t really care what the number is on my scorecard. I care that I had fun out on the course with my friends. I try to play well obviously, but if I don’t, who gives a crap? It’s not my job. I don’t get paid for it. I’m not a pro, not trying to be a pro and understand that I never will be a pro. But I am trying to have fun, and I’m doing exactly that.
Tee It Forward is a step in the right direction. The more organizations that can stress the fun aspect of the game, the better. If they can subconsciously teach a little etiquette as well, then they’re really onto something.
My only wish is that, at some point, people will just come out and say that golf (or any sport for that matter) is a tough game. And rather than put together initiatives and such to make the game easier or more fun, someone will just simply say either “Hey, maybe this game isn’t for you,” or better yet, “Just go have fun.”
Swing ’til you’re happy!
I play in a number of tournaments that tee it forward and I can tell you it is refreshing to always have a wedge in your hand for your approach rather than a three wood.
While I don’t want to play 5700 yards every day it is certainly fun to be able to go low and experience more birdie putts.
I can’t imagine that conversation that preceded the “Tee if Forward” campaign didn’t have everything to do with speed of play. Let’s face it, golf takes a long time anyway and it’s way more fun when you’re not waiting for the group in front of you.
Golf is a little different from most other sports because there are such a variety of ways it can be played. How many different games have you played with your friends? I also like the Nicklaus concept of 12 holes. Fits my schedule better!
Chris
I just went and read the “official” PGA announcement. If they can get the golf courses to support it and take some of the “ego” out of where people tee from, perhaps it will indeed speed up the pace of play and make the game a bit less frustrating for high handicap golfers.
That said I would not improve my game if every hole was as simple as playing on a par3 course. Golf IS hard and takes a lot of practice, determination to get to where you can actually par a hole, especially the long ones. If that challenge did not exist the game would loose a lot of its allure. I still remember my first par on a 450 par 4. We already receive a tremendous boost with the modern titanium sticks and Pro V golf balls :>)
Michael Brown
Course owners/managers, especially munis, don’t want to piss off the paying public, so Mr. 119 plays the blues to get the bang for his buck. What they don’t realize is though they may be keeping him happy their frosting the regular folks who have to wait while the bozo looks for his ball on every hole. If courses were stuffed, had starters and marshalls, this would be minimized. I subscibe to the theory in some Euro countries where a minimum handicap is required to hit the course. If you can’t get the ball in the air, ever, you belong on the range.
“My only wish is that, at some point, people will just come out and say that golf (or any sport for that matter) is a tough game. And rather than put together initiatives and such to make the game easier or more fun, someone will just simply say either “Hey, maybe this game isn’t for you,” or better yet, “Just go have fun.”
Yeah, I agree. Many thinks that Golf is a very easy game and everyone would just say, hey fun in golf! they don’t know that to able to play this it requires skills! a great golf skills!
People know if they hit the ball a regular distance and they are unwilling to move forward from the regular tees if they are capable enough. Most courses I play have the Championship Tees and Regular Tees to close together or not enough options. The courses I see that have the least friction over this issue have (1) Pro Tees, (2) Championship Tees, then (3) Regular Tees. If the course is set up properly this will resolve the issue. There are reasons why people will not go forward from regular tees. This reasons don’t seem to be addressed other than someone saying ego gets into it. Also, golf courses play longer or shorter due to a number of factors which are independent of their yardage. I’ve always thought that these factors should be factored into both tee management and course length. Real playing length and measured length are hardly ever the same and I’d like to see someone tackle this issue.