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What is the age/regulation regarding getting to play from the Men's forward tees?
Professional golfers tee off from the RA or USGA designated tee box for every single hole on every course worldwide. While "most" casual golfers/viewers might "think" the tee box furthest from the flag/pin is called the supposed "tips", it is not. The "tips" is a mere colloquial saying. There is nothing formal regarding any "tips". And, to be more clear, RA or USGA sets the tee box markers, on a tee box, daily on every hole on every course worldwide - just as they (RA or USGA) establish the flag/hole position daily on every hole on every course worldwide for all professional golf tournaments. A professional (certified) card-carrying golfer is a scratch golfer who receives no handicap strokes - ever. Yeah, we/they can figure out every professional golfers true handicap but they receive nothing for it - they give nothing to the field (of players) &/or they receive nothing from the field of players. This is not true of amateur/casual golf.
Now, let's move this discussion rightfully to amateur/casual golf. Amateur/Casual golfers establish a handicap based on performance from each & all rounds played - anywhere. If you want to follow along, good luck.
Every course is different. Courses have various degrees of elevation, rolling hills, few bunkers vs. many bunkers, placements of bunkers (is critical), narrow fairways vs. wide fairways, few OOB (Out Of Bound) areas vs. many, lateral hazards, water hazards, etc. etc. etc.
RA & USGA establish two primary factors to provide a rated degree of difficulty to every worldwide golf course: (1) Course Rating (CR) & (2) Slope Rating (SR). Course Rating = how difficult a course is for a scratch player; and, Slope Rating = many variables, but mostly those which I've mentioned (above) i.e. placement/number of bunkers, laterals, water hazards, trees, OOB, terrain, elevation, narrow vs. wide. So, there's a combination of CR + SR which establishes the degree of difficulty of any golf course.
Finally, let's look at this from the context of the many, many courses worldwide & you'll see the juxtaposition of establishing "what" tee box a player tees off from.
Courses vary (doh), but courses have different sets of tee boxes. Some courses have 4, 5, 6 sets of tee boxes. Some only have three, I've seen some with one or two. As you can imagine, both the CR & the SR can vary considerably based solely upon what set of tees a player begins playing from. The difference in yardage is significant. Position(s) of those bunkers, water hazards, laterals, trees, doglegs, etc. begins to take on real meaning depending on where you're launching your initial tee shot & each following shot.
So, you've established a Handicap Index (H.I.). Say I'm a 12 H.I.. My H.I. was calculated by first averaging my best 8 Score Differentials out of my most recent 20 scores. Here again, recall my H.I. is relative to the degree of difficulty for each course I've played and which tee box I played from (CR + SR). Tired of this game, yet?
Back to the tee boxes & the "age" thing - it depends. Depends on what? Depends on the course if they have a course "policy" (again, we're talking amateur/casual golf). But, here's what evens/levels the playing field. Say there are six sets of tee boxes. Green, Gold, White, Purple, Blue & Black. On any particular course I will still have a H.I. - but, the number of handicap strokes I get for a tournament or an individual game will vary depending on where I tee off from. I tee off from say one particular course on the Gold tee box, my strokes (to par) might be 8, I tee off from the Black my strokes (to par) might be 16, I tee off from Green, my strokes (to par) might be 6. So, you gain or lose strokes against the playing field, relative to par, based upon your H.I. & which tee box you tee off from. More strokes the further back you tee off from, fewer strokes the further you move up. It appropriately evens/levels the playing field in competitive play.
So, there's no age established for which any player is expected to play from. UNLESS, there exists a specific local club/course policy relative to age; age-related tee box positions are a thing of the past. I could tee off from ANY tee box I choose to play from. Those courses with a local policy are basically stubborn & set in their ways e.g. outdated.
Last edited by Vintage Chief; Aug 4, 2025 at 08:50 PM.
Decent start to the day even though about every piece of equipment has broken. Plus it's Monday for most of the people. I've got 9 so far with a half hour to break. I know now that the lead doesn't give two hoots about anything. The people playing the blue tooth speaker had on The Roof Is On Fire and he didn't say anything. Also in the past they've played The Rodeo Song. Which I happen to love.
Still rain. Not hard, just a nuisance. I really need to put air in my tires. Funny that they don't heat up. I started out this morning and they were at 29, and the low one was 26. I drove 19 miles to work and they hadn't changed. I don't know if the message is triggered due to the tire actually being low, or a percentage different from the others.
Norm what if you were at a club who restricted where you tee'd off from, and you used the wrong tee anyway. Would they throw you out? How would they even know, unless someone narc'ed on you.
Better get ready for break. Hope everyone has a good day.
Norm - Thanks for the extensive write-up and knowledge. After I asked the question last night I looked up some info myself. The general concensus I found was to use the "Play it forward" philosophy choosing tee boxes where you will have a reasonable chance of reaching the medium length Par 3's in 1, and have a reasonable chance of reaching the green for medium length Par 4's in 2. Conversly, if you're hitting a Pitching Wedge or high #'ed iron on every Par 3, or on your 2nd shot for Par 4's, you should probably move back to a longer set of tees.
Norm - Thanks for the extensive write-up and knowledge. After I asked the question last night I looked up some info myself. The general concensus I found was to use the "Play it forward" philosophy choosing tee boxes where you will have a reasonable chance of reaching the medium length Par 3's in 1, and have a reasonable chance of reaching the green for medium length Par 4's in 2. Conversly, if you're hitting a Pitching Wedge or high #'ed iron on every Par 3, or on your 2nd shot for Par 4's, you should probably move back to a longer set of tees.
Chris - Like most things - several ways to skin a cat. That's reasonable advice. Plenty of variance w/in amateur/casual golfers, as well. Many don't have a (established) Handicap Index - so there's that. Casual golfers who've likely never heard of a Handicap Index (H.I.). Amateur golf tournaments require a H.I. to even/level the field of play (to par). What you've described is basically Greens In Regulation (GIR). For all holes it's two putts on the green to secure a par. Par 5 GIR would be three shots to get on the green, two putts on the green to secure par = the hole was played in GIR. Par 4 GIR would be two shots to get on the green, two putts on the green to secure par = the hole was played in GIR. Par 3 GIR would be one shot to get on the green, two putts on the green to secure par = the hole was played in GIR.
It has beehas really, really nice break having low 80's temps for the 3-days. The temp's supposed to start inching back up again today, reaching seasonal low 90's by the weekend. I actually don't mind low 90's unless the humidity is horrible high.
Got my mowing done yesterday with this cooler weather. The furnace/AC filter was due for a change so I just did that. I try to change mine every 3-months. I buy a bulk 6-pack of 3M Filtrete brand off of Amazon where they're much cheaper so I always have one on hand.
Not much else on tap for today. I'm still waiting on dates/times from my daughter for the next set of the boys' hockey evals. I'm hoping for dry weather this coming Sunday for a really nice Show at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Ste. Genevieve, MO. I've been to this show before back in 2022 (pic), but it stormed in 2023, and I was headed there last year when my rear wheel bearing went out. Ste. Genevieve is known for being the oldest settlement West of the Mississippi. They have a very nice historic district with several really old buildings you can tour for a fee. This Show is held every year in conjuction with their Founder's Day Festival.
Chris - That's a great picture. Hope you're able to make the Ste. Genevieve, MO show. I change my two 3M filters between 60days - 90 days depending on season (mostly). I open the windows in my house quite often - spring the worst (pollen). I buy in bulk pkgs. from Amazon & always have a supply on hand.
Chris - Like most things - several ways to skin a cat. That's reasonable advice. Plenty of variance w/in amateur/casual golfers, as well. Many don't have a (established) Handicap Index - so there's that. Casual golfers who've likely never heard of a Handicap Index (H.I.). Amateur golf tournaments require a H.I. to even/level the field of play (to par). What you've described is basically Greens In Regulation (GIR). For all holes it's two putts on the green to secure a par. Par 5 GIR would be three shots to get on the green, two putts on the green to secure par = the hole was played in GIR. Par 4 GIR would be two shots to get on the green, two putts on the green to secure par = the hole was played in GIR. Par 3 GIR would be one shot to get on the green, two putts on the green to secure par = the hole was played in GIR.
Thanks Norm. I do know about the GIR terminology and a HI. I played in a work league for 4-years, playing 18-holes every Friday afternoon on a 36-hole course. We rotated thru different combinations of 9-holes every week to make it more interesting. My lowest HI at one point was 12, but the majority of the time it was 13. I always had grandiose dreams of getting down into the single digits, but realistically never had the time or money to invest in that much practice.
Chris - That's a great picture. Hope you're able to make the Ste. Genevieve, MO show. I change my two 3M filters between 60days - 90 days depending on season (mostly). I open the windows in my house quite often - spring the worst (pollen). I buy in bulk pkgs. from Amazon & always have a supply on hand.
Norm - Thanks for the compliment on the pic, it is a pretty venue for the Show. You can get an idea from the ornate wall in the foreground, that the K of C Hall there is a very large and beautiful old brick structure. I failed to mention they also have a killer Chicken & Dumplings Dinner for sale.
As for the furnace filters, Great Minds Think Alike! 😉
Chris - The newest GHIN (Golf Handicap & Information Network) handicap system with its attendant new rules of golf handicapping went into effect January 1, 2020. If you had an average 12-13 that's respectable. You should have tried out for the Korn Ferry Tour.
Chris - The newest GHIN (Golf Handicap & Information Network) handicap system with its attendant new rules of golf handicapping went into effect January 1, 2020. If you had an average 12-13 that's respectable. You should have tried out for the Korn Ferry Tour.
Norm - I'll have to read up on the new system via the link you gave me. It was back in the mid to late-90's when I was playing alot. In addition to playing in the league I was in, I used to play alot with my Ex-FIL who had a membership at one of the two Country Club's in Poplar Bluff, MO. We used to go down there alot in the Spring thru Fall and there were many weekends I'd get to play one or more rounds there with him. Plus, I had a group of 3 work buddies that played in the same league I did and we'd enter several 4-man team type of tournaments together. We had a couple of the guys who were high single digit handicappers and another guys who was right around my level. I loved playing tournaments with those guys! About all I remember about the Handicap process was they took your 8 lowest scores out of your last 20 rounds, and then averaged those 8 lowest scores to determine your Handicap, and it was continually updated after every sanctioned round. Does that sound correct, long time ago now???
Today, is whirlwind day. Remaining focused instead of the chicken running around w/ its head cut off - organizing, packing, putting furniture back in place, laundry & a final lawn mowing. Enterprise rental pick-up tomorrow morning 9am.
I downloaded the new Handicap Calculation document via the link you provided. I found it very interesting that there is now the provision for adjustment of scores for individual rounds based on adverse course conditions or play during adverse weather conditions.
I downloaded the new Handicap Calculation document via the link you provided. I found it very interesting that there is now the provision for adjustment of scores for individual rounds based on adverse course conditions or play during adverse weather conditions.
Probably the most significant delta between the two is incorporation of the SR (Slope Rating). Seldom, yet there are instances, where an adjustment is made to a round based on unusual/particular course conditions e.g. extreme wind, significant rain &/or standing water, washed out bunkers, non-normal course obstructions, ad infinitum. In ~100 rounds of golf I may have seen 8-10 adjustments to my score(s). Generally, a -1 or a +1. Any adjustment on a particular day results from the entire "field" of golfers who've played that day to arrive at an adjustment. As you'd expect, the conditions had to effect (generally) all golfers that particular day.
Norm how long you gonna be gone? Safe travels and have a Chicago dog or several for me on the way past.
Mike - Thanks. Two weeks. Of course, 1/2 of it will be driving. Best dogs (I think) for me at least, were Chicago (all beef) Vienna Red Hots. IMO, a Chicago staple. I remember the enthusiasm the 1st time me & my brother went to a Cubs game @ Wrigley - 5,6,7 yrs old? Dad bought us each a dog at a Vienna Beef Red Hot vendor on Clark street just outside the entrance. I'll never forget that dog & the Vienna Beef Yellow/Red Vendor umbrella on the hot dog cart. Almost 65 yrs. ago. I plan to whoof down a classic Italian Beef sandwich dripping w/ beef Au Jus.
I remember the enthusiasm the 1st time me & my brother went to a Cubs game @ Wrigley - 5,6,7 yrs old? Dad bought us each a dog at a Vienna Beef Red Hot vendor on Clark street just outside the entrance. I'll never forget that dog & the Vienna Beef Yellow/Red Vendor umbrella on the hot dog cart. Almost 65 yrs. ago. I plan to whoof down a classic Italian Beef sandwich dripping w/ beef Au Jus.
Isn't it amazing how vivid your memory is of events like that from your childhood. I vividly remember my 1st Tiger's game in 1968, the year they beat StL in 7 to win the World Series, and Denny McClain won 31 games. We were sitting halfway up the Upper Deck in Right Field and Dad caught a bomb off the bat of Boog Powell during batting practice. Of course Detroit fans know that Detroit brewed Stroh's Beer was the official beer at Tiger Stadium forever. What alot of people don't remember is that Stroh's Icecream was the official icecream there, and it was delicious.
Last edited by Dream67Olds442; Aug 5, 2025 at 12:42 PM.
Isn't it because you're elderly, Professor? Yes. I have an old vagina.
I click on the last page of T.G.M.T. and that's what I see. What did I stumble into? LOL! I get my filters from Amazon as well. Chris, we were fishing for Coho in Manistee during the '68 W.S., I did make to the '84 W.S., saw Trammel hit two home runs.
Chris, we were fishing for Coho in Manistee during the '68 W.S., I did make to the '84 W.S., saw Trammel hit two home runs.
Dan - That's very cool you were able to see a Tiger's World Series game!
Looking back at that '68 Series I have a funny story to tell. I was in the 4th Grade and my teacher was Ms. French. Ms. French was probably at least 6ft tall, probably in her mid to late 40's, and was a huge baseball fan. Back then, all the World Series games were day games. She brought a portable TV into the classroom so that we didn't have to miss any of the games! All us boys thought it was so cool! I may be wrong, but now looking back and remembering her mannerisms and masculinity, I highly suspect she was a Lesbian.
Isn't it amazing how vivid your memory is of events like that from your childhood.
I was 4 yrs or 5 yrs old. Three houses down was a girl about same age. We were sitting under a picnic table in her parents backyard - there was ~2' - 3' of snow on the ground all around us everywhere. We're just sitting there on the ground under this picnic table talking & whatever 4 & 5 yr old kids do. Out of nowhere, this girl lays a big wet kiss on my lips - out of nowhere. It may have been at that moment my parents knew I'd be a handful.
I was 4 yrs or 5 yrs old. Three houses down was a girl about same age. We were sitting under a picnic table in her parents backyard - there was ~2' - 3' of snow on the ground all around us everywhere. We're just sitting there on the ground under this picnic table talking & whatever 4 & 5 yr old kids do. Out of nowhere, this girl lays a big wet kiss on my lips - out of nowhere. It may have been at that moment my parents knew I'd be a handful.
Well, it could have been worse, at least they didn't find you "playing Doctor" with her!
Good start to work. The back didn't have anything ready to go but so far we've had a steady supply of wheels.
Chris while I was reading about your teacher I was thinking she was really a man. How funny you ended by saying you thought she was a lesbian.
So I noticed at Mom's the other day that half the gutter over the back porch is hanging down, ready to fall. This is not the section where I was working. This afternoon I'm gonna see if I can reattach it to the house. It's the whole facia that has pulled loose. Must have been a hefty squirrel. I really hope I don't have to take the gutter down. What an odd thing. Never seen that before.
Okay gonna go take a walk. I'll have a couple wheels in a little while. Hope everyone has a good day.
So I noticed at Mom's the other day that half the gutter over the back porch is hanging down, ready to fall. This is not the section where I was working. This afternoon I'm gonna see if I can reattach it to the house. It's the whole facia that has pulled loose. Must have been a hefty squirrel. I really hope I don't have to take the gutter down. What an odd thing. Never seen that before.
Hope everyone is well. No big plans for today. Dawn is down the street doing her weekly house cleaning for our elderly neighbor friends. I found out late last night that Gabe has another Hockey Eval session tonight at 6:30 so I'll be going to that.
Don't worry Chris, I'm not going up on the roof. I can stand on the floor, or at least one step up on the ladder. Can't go on the roof when Mom is home. Though I need to get up on the garage and blow the pine needles off. I guess I just won't say what I'm doing and go up there, and if she happens to see me on the roof, well, too bad I'm already up there. I'm not doing that today.
Hope Gabe is more on his game today. More importantly I hope he enjoys it.
Hope Gabe is more on his game today. More importantly I hope he enjoys it.
Mike - I'm not trying to sound like a Mom, but would just hate to see you have another fall. This is coming from someone who hates getting up on roofs or ladders, unless I absolutely have to. It's funny though, I have no problem scrambling up boulders and mountain sides in places that would make a Mountain Goat cringe when I've hiked in Colorado.
Yep, I hope Gabe has a better performance this evening and I hope he has fun doing it. You know I'll be there to encourage and root for him regardless of the level he is placed in this season.
Thanks Chris. The fact of the matter is if I don't do it, no one will, and it has to be done. When I'm on the garage roof wielding a corded leaf blower my situational awareness is pretty good. I just wasn't paying attention to where I was when I fell on the porch.
And herein lies the rub. My sister would say, hire it done. I can't think of anyone that does that sort of thing. Besides that, how's it going to look, me an able-bodied male, hiring done a simple job like that? I'd have to turn in my man card. I'm no wuss.
This reminds me of a tale I've heard at work a few times, albeit in different versions. A guy went up on his roof and tied a rope around his waist, threw the other end over the peak and told his young son to tie the end to something sturdy. He tied it to the bumper of the car. The wife came out and got in the car and drove off, pulling the guy over the peak of the roof and down onto the driveway. In all versions it was some dumbass that everyone supposedly knew, and he lived. I think it's lore, but who knows it's amusing.
Thanks Chris. The fact of the matter is if I don't do it, no one will, and it has to be done. When I'm on the garage roof wielding a corded leaf blower my situational awareness is pretty good. I just wasn't paying attention to where I was when I fell on the porch.
Mike - Understood.
Funny story, although I hope it never happened! It wouldn't surprise me if it did though.
Slow start. That's okay, I'm not really feeling it this morning. Tiger wanted to get up twice last night, the second time at about 215. I get up at 3. That throws a wrench into things.
The gutter work was a bust. I'm going to have to remove the gutter completely. It's about 15 feet long so it will be a two man job, and I got no one to help me. I'm going to hire a guy to put down my flooring, so I'll ask him if he would fix the gutter. What did I say about not hiring things done? Eh, even I have limits.
After work today is still up in the air. If it rains, who knows. If it doesn't, mow. I see people out mowing in the rain. For one thing, I hate getting rained on. For another, if I do mow when the grass is wet, it always comes out uneven and clumpy. No, not mowing in the rain.
Okay guess I'll do something. Hope everyone has a good day.
Slow start. That's okay, I'm not really feeling it this morning. Tiger wanted to get up twice last night, the second time at about 215. I get up at 3. That throws a wrench into things.
Mike - Sorry Tiger put a wrench into your getting much sleep. You definitely touched on a sore spot here for me. I usually go to bed around 11pm, but Dawn's a Night Owl and often stays up until 1 or 2am. The trouble is she doesn't force the dogs to go outside and at least try to go before she comes to bed. Then often one or both of them want to get up around 3 or 4am and I'm the person that gets stuck with that task. Often I just stay up because I'm wide awake after spending at least a 1/2-hour while they do their business.
Good luck with the guy you're hiring to put down the flooring, I hope he can fix the gutter too? Have a good day!
Last edited by Dream67Olds442; Aug 7, 2025 at 07:44 AM.
Good Day. I noticed something this morning I thought I'd share.
I usually awake in the mornings without an alarm except for robins that sit and chirp on my roof ridge. It seems they getting later this week. I checked my local sun rise/set times and it seems we've lost ten minutes of day light in the first seven days of August alone.
I caught sight of two squirrels improvising in removing the top of the bird feeder. They were eating palm fulls of seed. I got a feeling this isn't the end of these shenanigans.
Good Day. I noticed something this morning I thought I'd share.
I usually awake in the mornings without an alarm except for robins that sit and chirp on my roof ridge. It seems they getting later this week. I checked my local sun rise/set times and it seems we've lost ten minutes of day light in the first seven days of August alone.
I caught sight of two squirrels improvising in removing the top of the bird feeder. They were eating palm fulls of seed. I got a feeling this isn't the end of these shenanigans.
Don71 - Nice to hear from a new face on this thread. Welcome. Yep, the days are getting shorter quick. I don't like it, reminds me of what's coming around the corner!
