Best first teeing areas?

[Joe Leenheer]

Pebble (high anticipation)

Oakmont (where's the fairway?)

Isleworth (big 'ol bull)

La Jolla CC (there is a plaque there that will make you say "Really?!?")

Inverness (so much fairway and yet somehow I find ways to miss it)

....and any first tee I split the fairway!

[Tony_Muldoon]

54 replies and no mention of North Berwick?  The smell of seaweed is the first thing that wakens the senses there.

[Doug Siebert]

TOC is the best, followed by Prestwick, due to the atmosphere of both.  Though it is too bad that the first at Prestwick doesn't make it more reasonable to pull a driver.  Even for a guy like me who hardly ever misses right, the mental battles in your head with the railway right down the line to the hole would be epic.  It would make the issues over worrying about the parked cars and Rusack's dining room window when trying to drive TOC's 18th look a trifle by comparison.

If people are basing this purely on proximity of the first tee to the clubhouse, both courses at Dismal River may rate at the very bottom.  Or are there some courses with even greater distances from the clubhouse to the first tee?

[Mark Pearce]

Tony,

North Berwick?  Really?  There are lots of first tees nearer the sea.  NBWL's is miles from the clubhouse and has little atmosphere.  Great course, great club, meah first tee, IMHO.

Of those I have played, TOC is king, CPC has merit but is just a little remote from the house.  Elie is a good one, particularly on a sunny day when the patio is busy, with the periscope, that hill to get over and drinkers watching your shot.

[Sean_A]

Tony,

North Berwick?  Really?  NBWL's is miles from the clubhouse and has little atmosphere.  Great course, great club, meah first tee, IMHO.

Si

Ciao

[Mark Johnson]

I might be alone of this point, but I am not a huge fan of public teeing areas--  I think it tends to slow down play and puts undue pressure on players.

[Jud_T]

I might be alone of this point, but I am not a huge fan of public teeing areas--  I think it tends to slow down play and puts undue pressure on players.

Agreed.  First tee jitters are bad enough without the risk of everyone having brunch at the club witnessing you duck hook one OB.

[jeffwarne]

I might be alone of this point, but I am not a huge fan of public teeing areas--  I think it tends to slow down play and puts undue pressure on players.

Agreed.  First tee jitters are bad enough without the risk of everyone having brunch at the club witnessing you duck hook one OB.

Nothing better than a little gallery.

I took my father, who plays golf once a year, to a public course, with a very public first tee.
a group of 20 playing a big money game was about to go out and stepped aside and told us to go ahead.
I stepped up and quickly hit my first hole low tee,safety fade, right down the middle.
My father ,who never takes a practice swing,gets up, addresses it, and takes a practice swing. Then immediately continues into a swing and rips it down the middle.

As we drove away in hurried, relieved silence, I finally said "That wasn't a practice swing...was it"

[Mark McKeever]

The aforementioned first tee at Merion.

I wont mention any names, but I know a member who took out a place setting sitting on one of those tables with a low bullet hook.

Mark

[Stephen Davis]

I agree with those mentioning Riviera. It is a great looking club house and great teeing area. Best part is you get to do it again on #10 (although it is not quite as near the clubhouse) but which, IMO, is an all world hole.

[Bryan Lewis]

Columbia Country Club has a great first tee, but I'm sure not many would know that one.

[John Mayhugh]

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.

Every time I see this picture I think that I have to go play there.  Well, sometime in 2013 I will.  Thanks for the nudge.

[James Boon]

If you are looking for a first tee that's close to the clubhouse, Hunstanton is about as close and intimate as I can remember playing!

I've always liked the way the first tee at Saunton East sits up on that narrow dune ridge. You drop down from the clubhouse to the putting green and then back up to the tee.

John Mayhugh pointed out to me that the first tee area, well everything around the clubhouse, is a great setting at Notts (Hollinwell). So much going on with clubhouse, pro shop, entrance drive, 1st tee, 3rd green and 18th green all on top of each other. A great juxtaposition with the quieter moments out on the course when it seems like you could be on the only golf hole for miles around.

Cheers,

James

[Jason Topp]

I'm pretty surprised that nearly every comment has agreed with my thought that it is preferable to have the first tee in a spot where many people can watch.  I only recall one dissenter.  I would have thought my view would be in the minority.

[Bill Seitz]

I might be alone of this point, but I am not a huge fan of public teeing areas--  I think it tends to slow down play and puts undue pressure on players.

Agreed.  First tee jitters are bad enough without the risk of everyone having brunch at the club witnessing you duck hook one OB.

Suck it up!  Though now I understand why you joined a club that doesn't get a ton of play.

[Sean_A]

If you are looking for a first tee that's close to the clubhouse, Hunstanton is about as close and intimate as I can remember playing!

I've always liked the way the first tee at Saunton East sits up on that narrow dune ridge. You drop down from the clubhouse to the putting green and then back up to the tee.

Cheers,

James

Boony

Yes, I had forgotten about Hunstanton.  Its not as cozy as Blackwell's, but it does offer a lovely view.


Ciao

[RDecker]

I always liked the understated simplicity of the 1st at Newport CC. Very old school.

[Brian Colbert]

The aforementioned first tee at Merion.

I wont mention any names, but I know a member who took out a place setting sitting on one of those tables with a low bullet hook.

Mark

A friend of mine who is a member told me about a guy who hit a low rope hook (lefty) off the tree to the right, only to have the ball ricochet onto the roof and roll down within 6" of where he had teed up the ball.

[BHoover]

This may be slightly off-topic, but if we also are referring to the best opening tee shot, my vote might be the first tee at Tobacco Road. I thought the need to thread the two huge mounds was very cool. Reminded me very much of Sofia Vergara. 

[Charlie_Bell]

I'll settle for a blind opening drive to the fairway at Cabot Links, given the view...  {I'm having no luck posting it.}

[SteveOgulukian]

No mention of NGLA yet....

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

For me TOC and Cypress Point take the cake. 

[Greg Gilson]

Here's one from left field....The Championship tee at Royal Sydney. I've never actually played from there myself but it literally is practically hitting out of the restaurant.

[Jon Wiggett]

Alwoodley is another one I like...

+1. Great atmosphere around the clubhouse. Also I have a very soft spot for Abernethy GC first tee/clubhouse area, it is what good golf is all about.

Jon

[Leo Barber]

Old Course by plenty.  Actually also love Royal Melbournes (west) first tee because of the "comfort" presented in the form of a generous fairway.  Hate first tees with hard out of bounds (baker finches shot exempted on my initial grading above)

I love tees which flow off the clubhouse.  Generally the majority of club courses as opposed to the resort contrast which is positioned for different reason.