This blog post is dedicated to a program by The PGA of America, called Tee It Forward. Most inexperienced golfers go to the first tee box they see, that causes a longer round, higher score, and disappointing golf experience. Below is the highlights from their program that they institute a couple times a year!
“Do you wish your approach shot to the green was just a bit easier? Would you rather hit an iron into the green instead of a longer club? If you want to play faster and have more fun, go ahead and move up a set of tees ! When you TEE IT FORWARD, you’ll hit more lofted irons into greens, putt for birdies and pars more often, and play faster and score better!”
The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association (USGA) have joined forces to support, “TEE IT FORWARD,”. The goal of the initiative is to help golfers have more fun on the course and enhance their overall performance by playing from a set of tees best suited to their abilities.
“Simply put, TEE IT FORWARD can make golf much more fun for millions of people,” said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. “We believe that by moving up to another set of tees, golfers will experience an exciting, new approach to the game that will produce more enjoyment and elevate their desire to come back and play even more golf.”
Barney Adams, the founder of Adams Golf, provided the concept that led to TEE IT FORWARD. By playing from forward tees, amateur golfers have the chance to play the course at the same relative distance as a touring professional would over 18 holes. The playing field is leveled by giving golfers the opportunity to play from distances that are properly aligned with their abilities.
From his original Adams Tight Lies fairway woods, right on up to this new idea, Adams has always been an advocate of making the game easier for the masses. This particular idea, as well-intentioned as it is, was born more out of frustration than anything else.
• We recommend golfers play from tee markers best suited to their abilities.
• The concept is for golfers to hit approach shots into greens using more lofted clubs that might be similar to the clubs that a PGA or LPGA Tour Professional would use over the course of a round.
• Many amateurs regularly hit approach shots on a par-4 from 185 to 205 yards. When you TEE IT FORWARD, you have the potential to hit approach shots from 145 to 165 yards. Therefore, you should be hitting more lofted irons instead of hitting fairway woods and hybrids.
• By hitting more lofted irons, you should play faster and have more fun!
How to decide where to tee from:
| Driver Distances | 18-Hole Recommended Yardages |
| 126-150 | 3,200-4,500 |
| 151-200 | 5,200-5,800 |
| 200-250 | 6,000-6,300 |
| 250-300 | 6,400-6,700 |
Now get out there and have some fun!
Information Gathered and Compiled from PGA.com