THE CHALLENGE AS IT EXISTS TODAY

The USGA® defines a female bogey golfer as a player with a Course Handicap of 24 and can hit drives 150 yards (total yardage), while able to reach a 280-yard hole in two shots. That is the maximum yardage for a par 4 under those parameters; holes requiring approach shots with irons should measure significantly less. Furthermore, the implication is that holes longer than 280 yards will require at least one additional shot to reach the green.

So how many par 4s at your course measure longer than 280 yards from the most forward tees? In essence, we’re asking the female bogey golfer to play mostly par 5s. And then we demand they keep a proper pace-of-play. Using the correlation of distance between a driver and every other club in the bag, we will show that the female bogey golfer should play a course measuring approximately 3800 yards. A quick Google search of scorecards reveals zero courses that do so. In fact, virtually all courses have a most forward tee yardage between 4800-to-5600 yards. Is it any wonder a significant portion of golfers do not feel welcome on the course? We have set these players up for failure. This same argument could apply to youth, seniors, beginners, and many other occasional players. Golf is not providing a proper path to welcome them…until now.

SCALING THE COURSE FOR SUCCESS

Scaling a course means providing a fair and enjoyable test for every player on every hole. The most common misconception is that tee placements should allow for players to hit from similar distances after a drive. In fact, proper scaling means players will have similar tests on their approach, meaning a hole’s design that calls for a driver/7-iron for the most skilled players will also call for a driver/7-iron for the beginners and less-skilled amateurs.

PROVIDING AN ANSWER TO GOLF’S GREATEST NEED

In its current form, golf is struggling to grow. Most courses are simply too hard and unwelcoming for those who aren’t the more highly skilled players. The holes are too long, the pressure to play at a proper pace is too great, and the emphasis on scoring lower can be too formidable. Without creating multiple types of golf courses specifically designed for every kind of player, the game caters to a limited market. But what if there was a way to recreate that same expectation for every type of player? A way for each golfer to share the same golf experience, play at comparable speeds, and feel welcome and appreciated?

Introducing the Longleaf Tee System.

WORKING TOGETHER

The Longleaf Tee System is a joint initiative of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation. Our mission is to offer golf course owners and operators a practical, affordable way to adjust the length of their course in a manner that will enable more players to enjoy playing golf while keeping the design, integrity, and challenge of the layout intact.

GETTING PLAYERS STARTED

Forget word or color associations for tees
The Longleaf Tee System is simple and practical, yet very profound. It eliminates outdated norms and vernacular, such as men’s tees, ladies’ tees, senior tees, or color associations like white, red, or blue; there are now simply multiple tees locations to begin each hole at a yardage based on how far any person hits their drive. As a player develops their game, the further back they play. As the player get older and their distance begins to diminish, the player moves up.

Beginning with 100 yards, numbered poles are located on the range–ascending from 1 to 8. Players hit a number of drives, matching their average carry distance to the most closely associated number pole. The player now has the suggested tee location number optimal for their round.