
Because a USGA Course Rating reflects the probable score of a scratch golfer, the higher-rated course is more difficult, and the player playing from the set of tees with the higher USGA Course Rating receives additional stroke (s) equal to the difference between each USGA Course Rating, with.5 or greater rounded upward.
How many strokes does a golfer receive for playing from difficult Tees?
If the result is a negative number, the golfer playing from the more difficult tees receives the strokes. In the case of the previous example, if the back tees have a course rating of 73.3 and the easier tees have a rating of 71.1, the difference is 2.2, so the golfer playing the back tees receives two strokes.
Why do golfers add 4 strokes to their handicap?
After both golfers have adjusted their USGA Handicap Indexes for the Slope ratings of their tees, she needs to add four additional strokes to her course handicap prior to play. This will level the playing field and promote a fair competition for all parties involved.
How are strokes calculated in a golf match?
For example, if you have a course handicap of 5 playing from the back tees, while your opponent has a course handicap of 12 playing from the forward tees, your opponent receives seven strokes. But the calculation doesn't end there. Subtract the course rating for the easier set of tees from the higher course rating for the more difficult tees.
How do I handle more than one set of Tees in tournaments?
If your event includes more than two sets of tees or includes players playing from more than two different Course Ratings, then keep the Course Handicap for the players playing from the lowest Course Rating and add strokes, or increase handicaps for players playing from higher Course Ratings.

Why are there different tee boxes in golf?
The different tee boxes correspond to different yardages, which also means different playing abilities.
How are handicaps from different tees calculated?
Step 1: Calculate Course Handicap from tees played per Section 3-3. Look up each player's Course Handicap on the appropriate gender-based Course Handicap Table for the tees played or use the Course Handicap formula: Handicap Index x Slope Rating of tees played, and then divided by 113.
Can players play from different tees in match play?
As a result, as long as par is the same from each set of tees being played, no Course Handicap adjustment is needed. In other words, the new calculation automatically accounts for the Course Rating difference, which makes it easier for golfers to have a fair game when they are playing from different tees.
What is the maximum strokes you can take on a golf hole?
The Rules of Golf do not limit the number of strokes a player may take on any one hole. If it requires seventeen (17) strokes to hole out (including penalty strokes) then your score for that hole is "17". In sanctioned tournament play, such scores can occur, albeit rarely.
Do you have to play off white tees to get a handicap?
Play the three off the competition tees and this will give you your correct handicap for when you actually play in a competition. Why get a handicap from the yellow tees then have to play your competitions from the white tees!
When should I move to the blue tees?
A good rule of thumb to use is if you cannot reach the green on a par three in one shot because of distance, it is a good sign that you should move up a tee. Also, the lower your handicap is, the further back you should be playing.
Should I play from the blue or white tees?
White Tees: Men's tees, middle to high handicap, typically the middle option of all the tee boxes, and used by most men. Blue Tees: Men's tees, mostly used for championship or tournament play, and for low handicap male golfers.
Can you stand outside the tee box?
You can stand outside the teeing area as long as your ball is within the teeing area. Before you play, you are not allowed to move the tee-markers.
What are white tee boxes?
White tee markers usually denote the teeing ground used most often by men, typically those who have a middle or high handicaps. This tee is almost always the middle tee between the championship and ladies tee and is often called the "men's tee". Red tee markers can have two meanings.
Is a 20 handicap good for a golfer?
If you goal is to break 100, then a good golf handicap could be a 20. But if you're trying to become a scratch golfer, a 20 handicap is quite a ways from zero. In general, if you can break 90, that is a good standard of golf.
Is a 13 handicap in golf good?
While not quite a scratch player, you have plenty of experience and get around a course well. If you are in the 10 to 15 handicap range, you are well above average and would be considered good by most standards. For the rest of the golfers near the middle and above, it is all about practice and experience.
Do triple bogeys count for handicap?
Triple Bogey is your baseline – post up to Triple Bogey +1 on holes with stroke index values less than or equal to your Course Handicap – 18.
Step 1
Look up your course handicap on the chart that’s typically located in the clubhouse or near the course’s first tee. Use your USGA handicap index to find the corresponding course handicap for your set of tees.
Step 2
Compare your course handicap with your opponent’s. Whoever has the higher course handicap will receive the appropriate number of strokes.
Step 4
Subtract the course rating for the easier set of tees from the higher course rating for the more difficult tees. Round any decimal of .5 or more up to a whole number to determine the number of strokes that the golfer playing the more difficult set of tees receives.
Step 5
Subtract the Step 4 figure from the Step 2 figure to determine the final number of handicap strokes. If the result is a negative number, the golfer playing from the more difficult tees receives the strokes.
HonestyPolicy
So we have a very small club. Most are 65+, few are just a little younger. The 65+ guys have all moved to the forward tees mostly because the committee has made a rule that in competition 65+ can play from the forward tees, but those younger must play from the member tees.
MasonAsher2014
The club I work at doesn’t even use handicaps for it. You must play member tees and lowest gross is crowned senior champion.
HonestyPolicy
Yes maybe I should have said this is with regard to "Net play" only. Yes our crowned Sr Club Champ is the gross.
Wendy Dominick
The three stroke difference (based on course rating) only comes into play when players are competing from different tees. When everyone is playing from the same tees they just use their handicap index and determine their course handicap based on the slope.
HonestyPolicy
So all of the suggestions we've tried in the past. The higher the rating the more difficulty, yes check. The ratings reflect a scratch golfers performance, yes check. The calculations, yes check. And all else of what was suggested here. Thanks for those suggestions but we've used them all.
MacDutch
Well, I stumbled into this when I was figuring out my usga handicap. There is a big difference between the way usga handles handicaps and the EGA system used in my country (Spain, Netherlands, Germany and others) handles it.
Vinny Cap
The best response I've heard yet came from our State Golf Association president after he just explained the system to one of the forward tees players and the player wanted to debate him about it. He said to a player, "well I can explain it to you again, but I can't make you understand it".
Feedback
Sawgrass, I agree with ROGOLF and Cancun. We tried it for our men's league in 2013 and it really didn't go over very well, and guys were always confused. Believe it or not, I had some golfers that were bitching. In 2014 we moved that league all up to a new set of Senior tees between the reds and the whites.
Feedback
In every handicapped event I have seen, both players must play from the same set of tees. The whole flight does for that matter. Low handicaps play from back and as the handicap increases, the flights move forward. Has always worked well.
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How many yards are tees less than the pro tour?
Mid-handicappers might choose the set of tees whose yardage is around 500-1,000 yards less than the pro tour that represents their gender or age. High-handicappers should consider the set of tees whose yardage is 1,000 to 1,500 yards less than the pros play.
What does the tee box mean in golf?
The different tee boxes correspond to different yardages, which also means different playing abilities. The tees at the back of the tee box are the longest set, the ones at the front the shortest set (you can find the yardages by checking the corresponding lines on the scorecard— blue tees are designated on the scorecard by the "Blue" line, ...
How many yards are there on the Champions Tour?
On the Champions Tour for over-50 pros, average golf course length is around 6,500 to 6,800 yards. If you are a low-handicap golfer, then feel free to play from the set of tees that mimics the yardages on the pro tours (which will be the back tees for men).
How many tees are there in golf?
Most golf courses have at least three sets of tees—the forward tees, middle tees and back (or championship) tees. Other courses might have as many as five, six or seven sets of tees.
What is a championship tee?
The championship tees ( back tees) are for low-handicap men. The middle tees are for middle to high handicap men, low-handicap or long-hitting women, and low-handicap or long-hitting senior men. The forward tees are for middle or high handicap women and seniors, and beginners of all stripes.
How many yards does a 5 iron hit?
Example: You hit your 5-iron 150 yards. So 150 times 36 equals 5,400. Choose the tees closest to 5,400 yards in length. If you hit your 5-iron 180 yards, then look for tees around 6,500 yards (180 times 36 equals 6,480).
Who is Brent Kelley?
Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. Every golf course you visit is likely to have multiple sets of tees boxes, as designated by colored markers on the teeing grounds at the start of each hole.
