Golf Instruction

Scott Johnson, PGA

Scaling Golf Courses

The play it forward movement has gathered momentum in the last few years with more golfers selecting a teeing ground, not based on age or gender, but on the distance they drive the golf ball. The shorter course allows the player to hit a greater variety of clubs and reach more greens in “regulation,” often resulting in greater enjoyment of the game.

I would like to share some information I received from a recent seminar put on by U.S. Kids Golf, one of the leaders in the junior golf club manufacturing business and a proponent of junior and family recreational and tournament golf. U.S. Kids has been influential in encouraging golf courses to scale their yardages to all levels and ages of play. They have developed a model that establishes a set of family tees for juniors, beginning golfers, and even advanced players who would like to practice their iron play and short games.

The course model is based on average carry distance, a necessary measurement for creating a playable golf course, especially for young or beginning golfers. The following chart shows how far clubs will carry on average given the driver distance on the top line. You may be surprised to see how relatively short the irons fly in relation to driver carry. Remember, a drive that flies 140 yards will often have a total distance of 160-180 yards, and a 220 yard carry, 240-260 yards.

The model hole below reflects the use of a driver and a 7-iron from two teeing grounds. The blue line is a player that has a driver carry distance of 100 yards, and the white line is for a player with a driver carry distance of 220 yards. By playing from the appropriate tees, both players can enjoy the game and play the hole in a similar manner. You may be surprised by how much difference in yardage is required for a golf hole to actually play similarly for different levels of play.



The point of the above information is to provide some factual information and a fresh perspective on course yardages. If you are happy with the course you are currently playing, by all means, continue to do so. But if you have been struggling with the length of the golf course, or by the challenge your championship course presents, the forward tee concept may help your enjoyment of the game.

If you are unsure how far you hit your driver in the air, or would like to check the distance for all of your clubs, you can make an appointment to hit shots using the club’s radar tracking device, FlightScope. Having an exact number of yards carried for each club will act as a guide in choosing your teeing ground and judging approach shots.

Scott