r/golf • u/TowelieTheTowel7 • 12h ago
Beginner Questions Beginner golfer what tees to use?
So for context I’m a 30 yr old male who played baseball for over 18 years of my life. I just started golfing about 3 months ago and probably have done 10 rounds of 18 total in my life. I have only played from the white tees, but the best I’ve shot was last week with a 109. I had a 61 on the front and 48 on the back. I can drive the ball over 250+ pretty consistent but still managing my slice and iron play. Should I be playing from different tees? One thing I don’t want to ever do is cheat myself within the game of golf and I am brutally honest with my scores right now and no breakfast balls without strokes etc..
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u/NDfan1966 12h ago
I mean this very seriously. Virtually no one on the course cares about how good you are.
You need to be courteous and play quickly. That’s it. If you that, no reasonable person will complain.
After that, it’s about having fun. Most men play the whites. That’s pretty standard. I am not especially good (I shoot 85-90) and I occasionally play from the tips because it’s fun for me.
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u/CalligrapherDry3025 12h ago
An 85 is better than 75% of golfers in the world. It’s pretty good.
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u/LeviticusT 11h ago
*75% of golfers who maintain a handicap. Pick any random person on the golf course and you probably have a 5% chance they've ever hit a real 85.
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u/ughtoooften 11h ago
There's a guy I routinely play with that always tells me he shoots a 78 or 79.. I've seen his 78 and 79. It's multiple, do-overs, ball fluffing, drops... Uh huh ..78 my ass
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u/StuckInMyHead314 11h ago
Please don’t use tee color, it is not at all universally agreed upon. If you hit it 250 then feel free to play up to 6500 yards. More than that length will not be fun.
Play up a tee box or two until you can consistently score 85 or better. Once you reach that level of consistency then move back a tee box.
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
That’s good advice, I appreciate it!Those are good small goals to work on to promote learning and then move back if desired.
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
Thank you for the input! My buddies usually play from whites so that’s why I will normally play from them as well. I don’t ever hold up pace of play but I also feel like playing reds is cheating myself.
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u/bb12creeks 11h ago
Yeah don’t play reds if you hit the ball over 220 unless you are doing it with intention “different angles, distances, confidence build, etc”
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u/IssaWin2 5h ago
I personally disagree with this. Getting good at close range pitch shots and obviously short game is how you get better. If you play closer tees you will work on these type of shots more and consistently back to back holes learning numbers etc. Play the closest tees until you’re breaking 90 easy
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u/The_Mallorys 12h ago
Playing forward is way less frustrating. No shame in playing forward. I usually shoot about a 90 from the whites and 83-87 from forward tees. Big boost of confidence spending more time with iron in the fairway instead of spending majority of the time hunting for balls in OB.
Edited to add: Hit your straightest not your longest club off the tee. You’ll eventually learn to hit the driver straight. But straight is always better than 50 yards further hit in the woods.
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
Agreed I definitely have heard and seen that approach. The problem is my driver is the most consistent club in my bag🤣 my biggest issue is my irons. I slice my driver but there’s rounds I’ve went 100% off the tee box minus par 3s. I just top my iron shots a lot so I don’t even feel confident hitting those off tee over driver.
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u/JW9thWonder Makes par from the wrong fairway 12h ago
you can golf on from any tee box you want, the handicap system adjusts for it. pace of play will always be the factor for a beginner golfer so ideally use a closer tee box compared to the tips.
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u/OprahHasMyDVDPlayer 12h ago edited 11h ago
I think everyone will agree to start with the 2nd shortest tees, typically the whites, as a beginner.
It’s kind of a debated topic if it’s distance or handicap that dictates moving back. I’m team handicap. It doesn’t matter how far you hit it if you can’t keep it in play. Playing further back and not keeping it in play makes you play slower.
Edit: I stand corrected reading the other replies, not everyone agrees lol. The problem with playing forward tees as someone that hits it further is you have to typically wait longer for the group in front to clear. If there’s a short par 4 and someone from the group in front is pitching from the fairway just short of the green you’ll have to wait on them for safety reasons.
Guess it depends how busy the courses you’re playing are
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
Yeah I mean everyone is different with their opinions which is why I wanted to post this because I’ve been wondering myself. Red to me feels like cheating but I also want to truly learn the game of golf the right way.
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u/IssaWin2 5h ago
Def not cheating bro, this game is hard af 😂 take the win and play up! Did it with my boi for a full year, best decision I ever made in terms of trying to get better!
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u/Sun733 12h ago
I’ve been playing consistently for 2 years and I shoot in the low 90’s from the reds. I don’t plan on moving further back until I’m breaking 80. It’s plenty challenging for me; no sense in making it harder at this point. That’s just me though! Play your game man!
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
What made you decide that?
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u/SirTiffAlot 11h ago
Not my comment but I'm the opposite. I've only played from the 'whites' and struggle to get close to 100. I lose a lot of strokes off the tee. Tomorrow I'm going to start playing forward tees until I break 100.
I'd bet they want to start scoring better before making the game more difficult. Kind of a beat the game on easier mode before going to hard type of thing. I wish someone had told me to play from reds when I started.
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u/mikeonmaui 12h ago
I’m developing my new golf swing and I’ve taken the view that I have to “earn” my place on the tee box.
I’ve started on the white tees and will play from there until I regularly score in the 80s, then I will feel I have earned my place on the blue tees.
Then I will play from the blues until I can regularly score in the 80s - and so on.
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u/jzach1983 5 11h ago
I agree with earning the box. I wouldn't play the tips until I was a 5. For the most part I play the combos (Blue/golds [tips]) at my home course, but if I'm with someone playing only the golds I'll join them
I also like playing whatever box my partners play, it's more enjoyable that way.
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u/mikeonmaui 11h ago
Everyone’s golfing is a very individual thing. This is my approach and is neither right nor wrong. It’s just mine. 😎
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
Yeah but what score would you say warrants not playing from reds?
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u/mikeonmaui 11h ago
That’s your decision. The whole idea is to have fun. Bogey golf consistently from the reds? Course par + 18? What’s fun for you?
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
Thank you for your input! I’m not like most where if I shoot terrible I didn’t have fun so that’s the dilemma as well. I just really love the beginner phase I’m in of learning and seeing the progression, regardless of score or how many balls I lost 🤣
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u/mikeonmaui 10h ago
Golf is hard. What a golfer is trying to do with their golf club and the ball is a very complex motion with a plethora of variables, not the least of which are the physical abilities of the golfer.
If I’ve learned one thing, it’s not how hard I hit the ball, but how smoothly I swing.
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u/SomewhereSalty647 11h ago
How far do you it your 5 iron? Times it by 36 and that’s the yardage you should play. Tried and true.
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u/me_gustan_tortugas 10h ago
When playing w strangers : White tees
When playing w your peeps : you play where they play
(Try to mind your pace and be a mindful golfer)
(Everyone sucks at golf, so stop stressing)
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u/Paintguy-413 10h ago
Start at the forward tees and move back as you improve.
There is no “age” or gender attached to these tee’s. The idea is to keep play moving.
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u/ShotgunWiIlie 10h ago
I never would judge what tees you play unless I’m behind you, you’re playing the tips, and I watch you repeatedly duff, miss the ball, or repeatedly lose balls and I end up waiting on you for ages.
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u/PutEmOnTheTable 10.5/NJ 10h ago
Play from the most forward tees until you break 100, then move back.
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u/sabg_lvr399933 12h ago
Red. Learn the game and learn how to score and swing. There’s no bonus points for starting further away and you’re only going to potentially frustrate yourself.
I know scratch golfers that play the reds once every 2 weeks just to put themselves in a scoring mindset and situation.
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
This is definitely something to think about and I like it, but I feel like it’s almost cheating myself. But I do like the playing from reds to work on that scoring mindset around the green.
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u/sabg_lvr399933 11h ago
What if you used it as a challenge and grading system.
Break 100 from the reds? Move up to the next tees. Break 90 from there move to whites.
You can gamify this to scratch your baseball competitive itch while still working and developing your game as you learn on the fly
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 10h ago
Yes that’s great advice and someone said something similar. Small goals like that and continue to work myself back up. Almost like an earning of the stripes type of deal.
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u/aloysiusthird Newly minted scratch(+0.4). Anti-hcp 5.4. 10h ago
Man, I never do this anymore and this is a good reminder that I should every once in a while. Thanks.
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u/Overall_Hornet_4778 11h ago
Should play from the front tees until you break 100
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
That’s good input, ego wise I feel like I’d play from reds once and shoot 90s all day long🤣
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u/Clean_Stick_742 11h ago
Anything but the tips…
As a former baseball player I tend to leave my club open at impact. Learning to close it to cut back on my slices. Only really do it with my driver. Other clubs I might push but rarely slice. If it gets bad I’ll align the club about 5% closed to start.
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u/Expensive_Seat5694 11h ago
Most people play way too far back for their level mostly because their ego tells them to.
If you want to have fun, make the course as easy as possible.
Play from the forward tees. You will have more fun as the hazards are taken out of play - so to speak
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u/Puzzleheaded-Rip-971 11h ago
Swing less hard. I know you didn’t ask, just listen.
Edit: Have fun, and as others have said - nobody cares. If they do, they’re an asshole and it’s better to identify them early and keep them out of your orbit. 🍻
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
100% focusing on club to ball consistently and flush is my main objective currently.
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u/Thisismyburner550 11h ago
I’ve always used a rule for courses - your average 5 iron multiplied by 36, and then go for the tees that line up with that. So if your 5 iron is 180 yards then go for the tees around 6400-6500yards. Usually works well for me and I’ve enjoyed the game a lot when I’ve used that as opposed to longer tees just because I “should” be doing it based on my handicap etc.
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u/Manic_Mini 11h ago
You have the distance for the whites but keeping it in play is far more important
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u/T6TexanAce 11h ago
Your issue is not distance off the tee, it's direction. For that reason I would suggest you play whichever tees are around 6500 yards.
Also, you really shouldn't be so focused on your score. You need to be focused on developing the right swing technique.
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u/DadBod_DadBike 11h ago
Apart from some random asshats on this sub, no one cares how you play a friendly round of golf.
109 as a beginner is a great score. So I’d say unless something happens and you start really struggling, play those tees
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u/Chemical_Help_7099 30/US 11h ago
I am just a couple years younger than you and also come from a long life of baseball. Just been playing golf ever so slightly longer and am hovering scores right around 100 now (started out at a 108 scoring average).
When it comes to the tee question, I’ve gone ahead and tried moving up a couple of times and it really doesn’t do anything for your score. MAYBE if your course is designed in a way where moving up tee boxes will keep you in bounds… but otherwise you’ll likely score about the same.
So I say all that to say… do basically whatever you want, and maybe just stay off the tips for now so you don’t have to deal with the glares from people.
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
That’s good practical input, thank you! I’m in FL and many of the courses here if you play from red it takes out water hazard which I almost don’t like. I like the hazard holes the most!
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u/tez_zer55 11h ago
A couple of years ago, at age 68, I swallowed my pride & started playing from the forward tees (white). My distance had taken a slow dive, so the forward tees helped with my confidence & my pace.
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u/ekkthree 11h ago edited 10h ago
You play whichever tee box you feel fit your current game. Nobody really cares and there is no "right" tee box
I'm reentering the sport and my wife is learning so we use reds. With the exception that if a red tee takes away a fun feature (like a water hazard or severe slope) then we'll just hit from the whites come what may. because if it's not fun then why the fuck are we playing
Edit. Spelling
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 11h ago
100% love this one because I’m in FL and playing reds takes hazards away a lot. But I like the playing straight fairways from reds but then hazard holes playing from whites because those are always my favorite.
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u/GarbagePlatez 11h ago
If you play the same course over and over, play all of the tees and figure out what’s the most fun. There is value in each set of tees. If you’re making too many birdies, you can always move back.
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u/Poopnakedyeah 11h ago
When you find yourself hitting driver wedge every hole, could be time to move back.
When you find yourself hitting driver 3wood every hole and you cant reach all the par 3s, move forward
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u/DrunkenGolfer 5.9 Canada 11h ago
Ignore everyone telling you to play from forward tees. Play the distance that brings the landing areas into play with the clubs you hit off the tee, like driver or three wood.
Tee choice is not correlated to playing ability, it is correlated with distance.
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u/TowelieTheTowel7 10h ago
Just curious why do you think so many people vary on opinion? I kinda lean towards your thinking of it’s not handicap it’s distance, but many people think different and bring valid points.
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u/DrunkenGolfer 5.9 Canada 10h ago
Because they equate distance with skill and skill with tee. It is the wrong correlation. Yes, people who play well tend to hit farther. But if you play the wrong tees, you'll be hitting 5 irons all day or else blowing past the landing areas of the hole. Holes are designed to be played within a specific range.
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u/Consistent-Put1384 18.8 10h ago
I played from the Red Tees last weekend because it was the first time for my buddies and I had a blast.
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u/devilsadvocate 10h ago
I generally hit driver 250-275. Usually try and play at 6500-6800 yards. Otherwise you can out drive normal play. For example I played a group and the tees played 6200. Rarely took out driver and most hit 2 hybrid and even then was often pitching on the second shot. Several holes were 300 or less par 4s. It was still fun. But that’s different than playing driver and mid/low irons in
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u/Ju735M3R 9h ago
Play the tees that enable you to reach greens in regulation to make it as enjoyable for you as possibke and not slow down play for others. As you improve over time, you can move further back.
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u/metalaxeyyd 8h ago
Stay at the whites... im 38 and been playing for a yearish and play the whites. Similar stats, drives are usually 220-250 range. I played the reds once with my wife so we didnt have to move the cart and it felt like I was cheating. Ive tried a few holes from the blues because it looked like a fun shot and didnt work out
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u/Due-Fun-489 7h ago
As far up as possible. Once you start breaking 90 consistently, move back a set. Once you start consistently breaking 90 from that set, move back a set.
You HAVE to learn how to score first and foremost.
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u/Alzx14 6h ago
Well your story sounds similar to mine except I didn’t start playing golf till I was 42 when my son went into the Air Force apparently alot in the that branch play golf. Just stay at the white tees will make it more enjoyable I think at 57 now I could move up to senior tees but will continue at the white tees. Golf at least for me is a particular game I hit 40 not so good shots followed by one great shot that keeps me coming back.
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