Best first teeing areas?

[Ally Mcintosh]

On the Lahinch thread, Ivan Morris put forward the first tee as the best in Ireland, presumably because it is neatly tucked in between the clubhose and the pro-shop with full visibility from the bar.... I countered with Portmarnock which has an iconic (and huge) first tee positioned beautifully between clubhouse, bar and estuary (there is still a proposal on the table to relocate the back tee as an island in the water - sometimes economic downturns can have advantages after all!)... Sean Arble weighed in with Portstewart although he's not that keen on the hole...

What are you favourite first tees?.... Why?

[jeffwarne]

On the Lahinch thread, Ivan Morris put forward the first tee as the best in Ireland, presumably because it is neatly tucked in between the clubhose and the pro-shop with full visibility from the bar.... I countered with Portmarnock which has an iconic (and huge) first tee positioned beautifully between clubhouse, bar and estuary (there is still a proposal on the table to relocate the back tee as an island in the water - sometimes economic downturns can have advantages after all!)... Sean Arble weighed in with Portstewart although he's not that keen on the hole...

What are you favourite first tees?.... Why?

Royal Aberdeen is pretty much in the bar.....
Machrihanish. another small feature next to it
St. Andrews, the audience.

[Bryan Lewis]

Here are those that first come to mind...

St. Andrews Old - Can't get any better than that.
Marion East
Olympic Club Lake
Royal Dornoch
Cypress Point - Over 17 Mile Drive
Stanford
Pittsburgh Field Club

Most of these it is because of the proximity of the club house that makes it special.  Some partially because of the anticipation of the round ahead, too.  A couple are dramatically down hill, which it a fun way to start.

Bryan

[Sean_A]

As Jeff mentions, TOC is special, but it is tainted with the likelihood that one doesn't normally walk from the R&A to play.

Machrihanish is nice, spoiled a bit by the charmless pro shop and the need to cross a road from the house.  

Aberdeen's is very fine.  

Burnham's is very good.  

Prestwick's has a certain butt puckering appeal - easy now boys.

I like Brora's quite a bit.

Brancaster has a neat walk to the tee, but thats the best part.

St Georges Hill is very good.  

Knole Park's is good, but its a par 3 start.

Porthcawl's doesn't get much truck, but its very good.

Delamere Forest has a fine introduction to the course which starts in the house.

I think my favourite though is Blackwell.  But its more than merely the first tee.  As seen in the pic, continuing to the right is the 18th green, practice green and 10th tee.  Immediately below the house to the left (out of shot) is the 9th green.  An absolutely perfect, spot on set up - The Model.


Ciao
  

 

  

[Rich Goodale]

http://www.aberdourgolfclub.co.uk/course_images/course_photos/42.jpg

[Ally Mcintosh]

From the Heathlands:

St George's hill with the imposing clubhouse in the background and the panoramic views over some of the finest and most undulating heathland golfing terrain. It sits perched on a bit of high ground just underneath the clubhouse and has a cool little starters hut / small bar.

Very pleasing indeed.

St.George's Hill is a good one. I like Woking's as well in the heathlands.

From Jeff's post, I prefer Royal Aberdeen to both Machrihanish and TOC for the same reasons Sean stated.

Alwoodley is another one I like...

[Jonathan Decker]

Milwaukee Country Club is one that comes to mind.  The back tee cannot be more than twenty feet from the pro shop and the men's locker room, and the view from the elevated tee is just a preview of what awaits.

[Tim Passalacqua]

Olympic Club - Lake course - The tee box is right in front of a huge proshop window where the pros are working and can watch all of the tee shots from 20 feet away.  It's intimidating, but after you get off the tee, the adventure of the Lake starts on one of my favorite opening holes.  As you turn the corner of the dogleg the fairway tumbles downhill to the green with the ocean in the background.  A gentle par five to warm you up for the next four difficult holes.  Great start to your day.

[Tim Gavrich]

Any first tee that's cozy with the putting green/pro shop/patio is a winner in my book. The Country Club of Farmington (CT) might have my favorite one. Country Club of Waterbury's is cool too.

[Scott Sander]

Always loved how Cherry Hills (used to?) keep the Palmer/'60 Open tee maintained for guests to see and use.

Haven't been back in many years, so I don't know if that's still the case.

[Jim Nelson]

For proximity to the clubhouse it has to be Riviera on the West Coast and Merion on the East Coast.  I felt like I had a 100 pairs of eyes staring at me.  I'm quite sure no one gave a damn, but the effect is there.

[Wade Whitehead]

Merion
The Old White

WW

[Jason Topp]

I tend to like first tees right in front of the clubhouse in a high traffic area.  I know that approach runs contrary to the approach of many current architects. I believe the first tee is now often hidden to reduce the stress of the opening tee shot.  Dr. Sadalla of Arizona State Univesity wrote a piece on that issue in one of the "Golf Architecture - A Worldwide Perspective" books.

Despite that drawback I think a tee in a high traffic area carries more positives than negatives, particularly at a private club.  It increases interaction between members.  It creates a sense of excitement and atmosphere.  I also think there is something to be said about learning to overcome the jitters of teeing off with people watching.

The Old Course is the prototype, but Lundin Links is the first one that sprang to my mind.  It is in a high traffic area and carries a fine view of the Ocean. 

[Tom Birkert]

I think Merion is hard to top. The atmosphere is incredible as those enjoying lunch / a beer on the terrace gradually stop to watch the group tee off. Definitely adds a bit of extra pressure!

Aside from that, Shinnecock is fantastic as the whole course is pretty much laid out in front of you for you to see.

The Old Course is the most nervous I have been, due again to the number of people watching and the sense of history that is overriding.

Prestwick is fantastic as well.

I thikn the common denominator is being close to the clubhouse. It just adds something special to me.

[Mark Chaplin]

Does anywhere beat the framing of the tee at Royal St George's?

Sean why wouldn't you use the R&A prior to golf on TOC?  

[Jim Nelson]

Forgot Bel Air.  As a guest, it was great to talk to some of the older members as they watched us prep for our tee shot.  To your point Jason, it was good fun.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Question - Would you prefer the 1st tee or the 18th green to be under the bar window / next to the terrace etc...?

Obviously both are preferable but which creates a better community feel and/or better flow to your round?

[Tommy Williamsen]

I'll throw in Plianfield and Riviera. 

[Carl Johnson]

Based on my experience, I'd vote for Greenbrier's Old White over here in the USA (proximity to "spectators" and down and out view), and for Prestwick (proximity to club house, wall and train station) and The Old Course (proximity to "golf") (tied) in the U.K.  However, if I had to pick only one, it would have to be The Old Course.  Among many other things, you're teeing off into serious history.

[Matthew Petersen]

Always loved how Cherry Hills (used to?) keep the Palmer/'60 Open tee maintained for guests to see and use.

Haven't been back in many years, so I don't know if that's still the case.

They still do and in fact for the US Am this year it was used more often than the other tee.

Pebble beach also fits the bill of a tee right by the clubhouse and in a very high traffic area. Not only are there typically plenty of visitors around, but there's a webcam on you too.

[Ben Klaas]

I love the first tee near the clubhouse.  I would also second all of the courses mentioned that I have played.

TOC - for sure the history and the audience.  The fact that they have to ask the members of the tee time before you get partnered up adds to the "I hope I don't have to play with a total hack" factor.  That and the R&A shadow is in the background.

Lahinch - sandwiched between a busy foot traffic area is a great way to get the nerves going

Machrinhanish - The drama of the shot is fabulous.

I would also add:

Hoylake - The horse track looms to the right.
Pebble and Bethpage Black - See Lahinch above (though the hole is less than stellar)
Crystal Downs - The top perch and the excitement of what looms is great.

[Ben Kodadek]

White Bear Yacht Club is pretty solid.

[Ben Klaas]

White Bear Yacht Club is pretty solid.

I second White Bear YC as well.  It's about three feet from the putting green and maybe 45 from the clubhouse.

[Jeff Taylor]

Westhampton CC.

I recall sitting in a comfortable chair on the sidewalk just outside the proshop only 10 feet away from the 1st tee. It was magical.

[Mark McKeever]

Good topic.  The first ones to come to mind:

1. Atlantic City CC- Mowed right into the practice green at the same speed is an awesome touch.  Plus everyone on the green stops to watch since it's all fairly close proximity.
2. Bethpage Black- Everyone is watching behind you, and you have to walk over to the tee markers alone.  Awesome feeling.
3. Merion- The entire awning is watching from behind you and you know it...

It looks to me like the common theme (for me at least) is that you are being watched by multiple people beyond your foursome.

Mark