Golf courses feature multiple tees to accommodate players of different skill levels. However, many golfers struggle with knowing which tees best fit their game. While you’re free to choose any set, picking the wrong tees can lead to frustration and negatively impact your round. To help ensure you’re playing from the right spot, avoid the common mistakes amateurs make when selecting tees. Use these checkpoints to guide your decision and set yourself up for the best possible day on the course.
Golf tee selection (Hole by hole)
One of the best ways to analyze which tee box to play is to break the golf course into par-3, par-4 and par-5 holes. Grab the scorecard of your local course and some knowledge of your last 18 holes and work through this problem hole by hole.
| Type of Hole | Too Short | Too Long | Just Right |
| Par 3 | Less than a gap wedge | More than a fairway wood | 6-iron distance |
| Par 4 | Driver + gap wedge | Driver + fairway wood | Driver + 6-iron |
| Par 5 | Driver + fairway wood + medium pitch | Driver + fairway wood + 6-iron | Driver + fairway wood + 9-iron |
Par-3 tee selection
A standard golf course has four par-3s. There are usually two around the same distance, then a longer one and a shorter one. Find the two holes about the same distance and determine if this distance is about a 6-or a 7-iron shot for you.
The tee box is too short if you are swinging with a wedge on most par-3s. If it takes a hybrid or a fairway wood to reach the green, you need to move up a tee box or two.
Par-4 tee selection
The length of par-4 holes varies quite a bit so you have to think about averages here. Golf courses are designed to have a variety of holes, with some being shorter opportunities for birdie and others longer challenges for par.
On an average par-4 playing from your standard tee box, you should hit a driver off the tee and then a 6-iron into the green. You’ll have some holes where you hit a great drive and have a wedge in.
Other times, you’ll play a more challenging design and need your hybrid to reach the green.
However, if you need a fairway wood to reach every par-4, you should move up a tee box. Conversely, as fun as it is to have a wedge into every green, you may want to move back a bit if this is your situation.
Par-5 tee selection
There are four par-5s on a traditional golf course. You’ll typically see the pattern you saw with the par-3s: two holes about the same length and then a longer one and a shorter one. Look at the average par-5 distance and determine if you can hit a driver, fairway wood and 9-iron into the green.
If you can do this, the course yardage is a perfect fit for your game.
For some longer hitters playing from the back tees, hitting a driver and a fairway wood could mean the par-5 is reachable in two shots.
However, shorter hitters trying to play from too far back may need two fairway woods to get on the green. If that’s the case, it’s time to move up and play from a shorter tee.
USGA Best Tees System
The USGA has developed the Best Tees System program to help golfers choose the best set of golf course tees for their game. This system is based on the average 7-iron distance. Once a golfer determines their average 7-iron distance, they can tweak the results they get for any course based on their skill level.
For example, if a 7-handicap golfer is not a long hitter, the recommended tee box may be too short to challenge their game. This is where manual adjustments for skill level should happen. You’ll also see this for beginner players who can’t break 100 but can hit a 7-iron 180 yards. These golfers should move up until they can play more consistent golf.
Average male golfer tee box selection
The average male golfer has a 7-iron distance of around 138 yards. Based on the information above about par-3 tee selection, a reasonable par-3 distance for the average male golfer will be between 145 and 155 yards.
Carrying this into par-4 and par-5 holes, we end up with a par-72 course length of around 6,100 yards.
Average female golfer tee box selection
For the average female golfer, a 7-iron flies 100 yards. The par-3 distances should be between 105 and 115 yards. You’ll end up with a total golf course length of 4,438 yards.
When putting this system together, the USGA used information and data from surveys, distance data sets and the World Handicap System score posting. All you need to know at these courses is your 7-iron distance and you’ll find a custom chart that recommends which tee is best for you.
Move forward or move back?
Now that you have a basic guideline for which tee to play from, should you move forward or back for your next round?
Playing from longer tees will require more strategic shot-making with lower-lofted clubs. You may find yourself with longer irons approaching most of the holes. Your chance of hitting greens in regulation can go down, making you rely more heavily on the short game.
The majority of amateur golfers are playing from tees that are too far back. It can take the fun out of the game if you are not smart about which tee to play from.
Proper tee selection not only makes golf more fun but it makes it faster as well. Pace of play is a key factor in this equation. Playing from too far back makes the day less enjoyable for everyone involved.
Final thoughts
If your home course offers multiple tee options, consider moving up just one tee box for your next round. According to a USGA survey, “99 percent of PGA and LPGA professionals believe golfers have a better experience when playing from tees that match their ability.” Despite this, 93 percent of those same professionals said it’s “extremely common” or “somewhat common” for golfers to play from tees that are too long for their skill level. Moving up could make your round more enjoyable and improve your overall performance.
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