NHSGA Tee Boxes: Definitions and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

 

Suggested Tees and Selected Tees

NHSGA suggests a tee for each player based on the player's handicap index and age. Most players have the option to select a different tee box. If a player doesn't exercise his option in the time period when those choices can be made, he must play from the Suggested Tees. The selected tee division cannot be changed from tournament to tournament, but remains in effect for the season. Exceptions can be made for unusual circumstances, through a written request to the Tournament Committee. 

 

What's the Best Course Length for You?

Your own feelings about the challenge of a golf course, your own long game and short game skills, your handicap, and the tees your usual golfing partners play are all things that you will want to consider. Beyond that, here are a couple of numerical ways to think about your tees.

 

A recent article at golf.com says your 7-iron distance is the way to find your personal optimal course length.

  • A good 7-iron shot of 125 yards would indicate our Middle Tee division is appropriate. 
  • A 140 yard 7-iron shot would say our Long Tees division would be fair for you.
  • A good 7-iron shot of 115 yards or less suggests our Short Tees.

 

An older article at golf.com says multiply the distance of your good 5-iron shots by 36. 

  • Good 5-iron shots over 160 yards would be in our Long Tees range.
  • Good 5-irons between 150 and 160 would generally be in our Middle Tees range

 

Midwestern club-fitting chain "Miles of Golf" says multiply the distance of your good drives by 28. 

  • Drives of 193 to 207 yards would fall in our Middle Tees range.
  • Drives longer than that would be in the Long Tees range, and shorter potential drives would be in the Short Tees range.

 

Tee Definitions

Sometimes a course's tee boxes don't quite fit within our desired parameters. We do the best we can to create separation between our three course lengths, and to get course lengths within our guidelines. Occasionally a course will seem "too long" or "too short" to some golfers. But that said, here's what we aim for:

 

  • Long Tees -- Not "the tips", but a set of tees which has a USGA slope and rating for men, ideally at a length between 5800 and 6200 yards. Our Long Tees are hardly ever a course's back tees. In 2023, 37% of NH Seniors' participants played from what we call the "Long Tees."  

 

  • Middle Tees -- A set of tees which has a USGA slope and rating for men, usually at a yardage between 5400 and 5800. In 2023, 39% played from our "Middle Tees."  

 

  • Short Tees -- A set of tees which has a USGA slope and rating for men, usually at a distance between 5000 and 5400 yards. In 2023, 24% of our players played from the "Short Tees."  

 

Tee Suggestions and Selection

We assign each player a suggested or default tee based partly on age, but mostly on handicap levels. Players have the option at the beginning of the year to select a different tee. We don't want any player with a 12-month Low Handicap Index of 21.0 or higher to choose the Long Tees. Similarly, we don't want a player with a Low H.I. below 15.0 to choose the Short Tees. 

 

The Competition Committee reserves the right to enforce restrictions of tee choices to overperforming or underperforming golfers.

 

We work to keep things as clear as possible. For example, at the golf course and on the scorecard, your tee will still have the name or color that the golf course uses for the tees. If you are playing a hybrid set of tees, there will be an NHSGA sign saying, for example "Middle Tees" by your tee markers.

 

Sometimes, Setting Up the Course is Complicated

You might be interested in what we consider when picking our tees at a particular course. Here are the goals we have:

  • We would like the long tee yardage to be between 5800 and 6200 yards.
  • We want middle tee yardage to be between 5400 and 5800 yards.
  • We want short tee yardage to be between 5000 and 5400 yards.
  • We want the middle tees to be 300 to 500 yards longer than the short tees.
  • We want the long tees to be 300 to 500 yards longer than the middle tees.
  • We would rather not have more than one division having to play off hybrid tees (playing one color on some holes, and another color on other holes)
  • We want each division to be playing a set of tees that has a slope and rating for men set according to the USGA/World Handicap System.

 

At some courses, we can't meet all those criteria. Sometimes your tees will be longer or shorter or harder or easier than other times. That's golf. 

 

Side Effects

 

Skins and Pins

When we use 3 tees, it splits the Skins pots 3 ways, For Closest to the Pin and Skins competition, there will be three pools, which will not be the same size. Smaller pots and prizes because of fewer players means a greater chance of any one player winning. The Tournament Committee will also adjust payouts as is appropriate.

 

Gross Competition

If you want to compete for gross score prizes, choose the Long Tees. You'll still also be competing for net prizes as well as gross. We don't pay out gross prizes for Short Tees and Middle Tees.

 

In net games, tees make a difference in strokes received. The longer the tee you play, the more strokes you will receive. Net competitions from Middle Tees and Short Tees will pay several places. 

 

So back up for a few more chances to win money. Move forward for more fun, and a faster round.

 

Age Divisions

Age divisions are used for Player of the Year Season Points calculations in the four age categories. All four age divisions have players playing from all three sets of tees.  

Players who play from the Long Tees will collect Season Points for the first 12 positions gross, and the first 12 positions net. Fifteen for first place, 12 for second, 10 for third, then 9 for fourth, and down to 1 point for 12th.  Any player will get points in only one category, gross or net, per event, whichever is greater.

Middle Tee players will get season points for their top 12 net finishing position.

Short Tee players will get seasons points for their net finishing positions.

Long Tee players therefore have better chances to accumulate season points than their age group competitors playing from shorter tees.

 

Summary

  • NHSGA wants our players to be able to play a course of appropriate length for them.

  • All golfers will have a choice of what length courses they wish to play. 

  • Three tees should help with pace of play, since more short-hitters will be able to choose tees where they have a better chance of reaching greens in regulation.

 

See also: Tee Preference Decision Guide to help players pick their preferred tee.