[Dave Doxey]

I slipped out to a local public course for a Sunday afternoon practice round.  I happened to get paired up with a threesome consisting of an older couple who moved the ball along fine, and a women who was new to the game.  I learned that the new player had taken lessons, spent quite a bit of time on ranges, and probably had played a real course a dozen times or so.  We got around a course that was not terribly busy in under 4.5 hours.  However, the new player and her 2 companions really didn't have a relaxed round, or have time to concentrate on their play.  They were very aware of pace of play and often hurried shots, picking up after getting to “double par”.  We were never pushed by the group behind us, who probably waited for us on 3 or 4 holes total. We did have a full hole open in front of us many times.  It left me wondering what enjoyment they got out of the game of golf.

Coming home and reading the latest in the “millennials thread” about pace of play got me thinking about ways courses might make it easier for beginners.  Out of character for me, I don't seem to have the answer

Could “beginner time” periods be set aside, where the expectation was that play would be “relaxed” (Slow)?  - Some of these would need to be on weekends, rather than the obvious weekday slow periods.

I do think that “beginner tees” would help.  Cut par 3's down under 100 yards, par 4's under 250, par 5's under 350.

I'm not sure about “beginner courses” such as executive courses, par 3 courses, or no-hazard 9-hole courses are feasible.  While beginners might play them, I don't see examples of these currently operating as sustainable businesses.

Maybe a fun set of USGA “beginner rules”?  Try 1 shot from a bunker & then toss the ball out.  Preferred lies everywhere.  4 putt maximum.  Try 1 shot over a hazard & then drop on the other side.  “Call for help” - let another player hit a shot for you once per hole.  Etc.

Finally, I'm sure that architect can comment on possibilities in design to aid beginners.  Perhaps a different line of play from beginner tee to green?

Like I said, I don't have the answer.  I do think that finding ways to make it easier for new players would help the game.  I'm sure some will say that they didn't need help learning the game. It's the other folks, who tried & left, that we're aiming at.

[Tom_Doak]

The biggest help for beginners is the same as for kids -- let them tee off somewhere in the fairway, so that even a topped shot makes some forward progress.

Another big help for them is to let them tee the ball for their subsequent shots, but that does slow down play a bit unless they are quick about it.

Best of all is to include them in a foursomes match, with a couple of better golfers.  That way they can laugh at their own mistakes, because the other guy has to recover from them, and they never have to follow a topped shot with another topped shot.  I played a game with my family a few years ago where I hit every other shot for all of them ... they had a fun match, and I was really grinding on hitting long approaches and not to be accused of playing better for one than another. 

[Duncan Cheslett]

Best of all is to include them in a foursomes match, with a couple of better golfers.  That way they can laugh at their own mistakes, because the other guy has to recover from them, and they never have to follow a topped shot with another topped shot.  I played a game with my family a few years ago where I hit every other shot for all of them ... they had a fun match, and I was really grinding on hitting long approaches and not to be accused of playing better for one than another.  

This how I started playing with my son, then 10.  We'd play 'Dads and Lads' games against other fathers and sons, whereby the dads took all the tee shots and then alternated shots with their sons until the ball was holed. This way two fathers and their young sons can get round a full 18 hole course in less than four hours, easy. It's also great fun for all concerned.

My wife has now started playing, and has great difficulty with the many 'heroic' carries off even the ladies tees at Reddish Vale. We either play alternate shots as above, or she tees off in the fairway. There is nothing more dispiriting for a beginner than being totally unable to make the fairway from the tee.  

Forward novice tees would be a great idea.

[Sean_A]

I see that Kington has tees in fairways.  My first thought was its a bloody long walk from greens to tees - boring.  Most of the holes have no impediment off the tee, so why not crack the ball rather than walk?  If things get rough, pick up and go to the tee.  The course does accomodate beginners, but beginners must remember to accomodate the club if they really want to learn how to play.  

Ciao

[Dave Doxey]

The biggest help for beginners is the same as for kids -- let them tee off somewhere in the fairway, so that even a topped shot makes some forward progress.

Another big help for them is to let them tee the ball for their subsequent shots, but that does slow down play a bit unless they are quick about it.

Best of all is to include them in a foursomes match, with a couple of better golfers.  That way they can laugh at their own mistakes, because the other guy has to recover from them, and they never have to follow a topped shot with another topped shot.  I played a game with my family a few years ago where I hit every other shot for all of them ... they had a fun match, and I was really grinding on hitting long approaches and not to be accused of playing better for one than another. 

I agree completely.  Having real tees, or at least tee markers in the fairway, rather than just having them drop in the fairway would help make it "more official" and help beginners feel more comfortable playing it short. 

In addition to making play easier, courses need to make beginners feel comfortable in their struggles.  I think that getting newbies to feel comfortable at the course would reduce the number that try & then give up. Golf has lots of strange customs.

Course operators could take that on.  Target marketing to beginners is not something that I've seen much of. Play the beginners tees & get a free 20-minute lesson.

Ever see a course with a couple of extra practice holes?  Beginners could play them without holding anyone up.

[Tim_Weiman]

Dave,

The best courses for beginners I have seen are part of Cleveland's Metropark system, namely Little Met and Mastick Woods. Both are adjacent to Big Met, one of the busiest courses in Ohio.

No forced carries. Almost no bunkers. Very pleasant walk in the park. Greens maintained at very manageable speeds. Affordable to play. Depending upon time of year can be less than ten dollars.

Will never forget one afternoon I got hooked up with a beginner at Little Met. He was awful. Far worse than a 36 handicap. But, it was obvious he loved playing.

Finally said to him that it appears he really loves golf and will love it more when he plays some "good courses".

He quickly told me he didn't want to do that.

"Why?", I asked.

"Because I already did that. There was this hole where you had to hit 100 yards over water. I never want to have to do that again".

Ok!

[Andy Shulman]

Cabot Links in Nova Scotia - which has some lengthy forced carries for better golfers - has tees in the fairways for beginners.  Total yardage from these most forward tees is 3,691.

[Mark Johnson]

another great reason for 9 hole courses.   too bad we keep closing them

[Greg Tallman]

It has to more about a complete program than just shorter tees.

Prior to staff cuts we had afternoon program dubbed Golf Academy PLUS, promoted primarily to beginners
-90 minutes of group instruction
-Sodas, Beer, Margaritas & hors d'oeuvres
-9 holes with the instructor (usually ended up being a scramble format but the guys played it by ear with each group of students)

As you might guess this was not cheap with guests paying up to $250 for 3.5 hours of time with the Director of Instruction, all the drinks and snacks at the practice tee and from the beverage cart capped with nine holes most always on The Ocean Course. While not an inexpensive intro to the game it was still quite popular prior to the financial meltdown and many commented that they would have never set foot on the golf course during their vacation were it not for this program. Give them some basic instruction, take away the intimidation factor and replace it with an upbeat, if not drink infused, atmosphere in a great setting and they had a blast, some participating multiple times during their stay.

[Peter Pallotta]

I took a friend from Kenya out for 9 holes yesterday -- his first round of golf ever, and indeed the first time he'd ever stepped on a golf course or held a club in his hands. We got to the range at 6:15, I showed him a grip and stance as best I could, and because he's a wonderful athlete he was making good contact (especially, strangely, with 3 woods off the turf) in no time. We got to the first tee (playing the whites) just before 7, and as I'd hoped the course was not crowded. I encouraged him to take his time over a shot (and not feel rushed), but to move briskly between shots and to play ready golf, and to pick up when need be. Only once did we need to let a twosome through. He had a wonderful time. He said "On tv it seems so boring, but it is great fun. Every hole is different and makes you think and feel differently, and there's excitement and then frustration, and you have to use your muscles to hit it far sometimes and very short at other times". He wants to play again as soon as possible.

Peter

[George Pazin]

another great reason for 9 hole courses.   too bad we keep closing them

My local area used to have 3 little mom and pop 9 holers - lousy architecture, but a wonderful place to learn the game (as long as you don't mind dodging the occasional wayward shot ). 2 are gone - one to new housing, the other to pasture, likely eventually housing.

My local muni is still a great place to learn, and a few trips to the driving range or local par 3 course are even better.

Cheap and abundant room sans rough or water hazards is really all a beginner needs. Hit it, find your ball, hit it again, pick up if you feel pressured - none of those cause anxieties unless $$$ are involved.

[Garland Bayley]

Dave,

You don't tell us why they were pressed on time. If they were in golf carts, I understand. The slowest way for old people healthy enough to walk well from shot to shot, is for them to be in a cart. Same with beginners.

[Dave Doxey]

Dave,

You don't tell us why they were pressed on time. If they were in golf carts, I understand. The slowest way for old people healthy enough to walk well from shot to shot, is for them to be in a cart. Same with beginners.

The older couple were walking.  By themselves, they would have no pace of play problem.  The  [younger] beginner slowed things down, taking a lot of shots (usually before picking up - didn't get to putt much...)  That tended to make the older couple, who were hosting the beginner, feel rushed.  I think that short tees for the beginner would have helped.  We never got pushed by the group behind, but watching the process made me realize why some beginners might not feel the game as enjoyable & welcoming.  Coming home & finding the discussion of pace of play in this forum got me thinking about solutions.  Initial experiences by beginners likely cause a significant percentage to not take up the game.  Bowling & yoga are easier on newbies

[Garland Bayley]

Dave,

What caused the beginner to slow things down? I've played with wild hitting experienced players that slow things down a lot more than the beginner walking with one club in hand, pull cart in other, stopping every 50 yards to swat the ball another 50 yards down the fairway.

[Ulrich Mayring]

I don't like extreme forward tees, because they're an excuse for the golf course architect to not have to worry about making the course playable for shorter hitters.

Instead, I really like the idea of officially sanctioned "beginner rules". Try the shot once and if it doesn't come off, drop behind the hazard / toss it out of the rough. Preferred lies everywhere. No limit on putts - that's your reward for getting it onto the green in double par figures. Otherwise pick up without putting.

The "officially sanctioned" part is important. No one wants to feel like cheating. Once you get a handicap (i. e. -36 or better), you're not allowed to use beginner rules anymore.

Ulrich

[Sean_A]

I don't like extreme forward tees, because they're an excuse for the golf course architect to not have to worry about making the course playable for shorter hitters.

I think there is something in this sentiment.  Archies need all the push possible to make courses playable for the 99%ers, and not worry about the 1%ers.  But, not all beginners will be blessed to learn on a well designed course for the 99%ers, so I guess fake forward tees can work sometimes.  Although, I still wonder about the huge walks between greens and tees this creates.

Ciao

[Chris DeToro]

I agree with this sentiment.  I find that the older courses tend to suit beginners better as there tend to be fewer forced carries, fewer water hazards.  Surely the architect didn't necessarily intend for the courses to be like that, it was simply a matter of the era and how they could build a course, but I think the return to that sort of course design can only be a good thing to help make the game more fun and less frustrating for a beginner

[Adam Clayman]

Accommodating the beginning golfer, through architecture, has proven to be an even worse road than the wrong road. I call it the Chicago school.

[Stephen Northrup]

The biggest help for beginners is the same as for kids -- let them tee off somewhere in the fairway, so that even a topped shot makes some forward progress.

Another big help for them is to let them tee the ball for their subsequent shots, but that does slow down play a bit unless they are quick about it.

Best of all is to include them in a foursomes match, with a couple of better golfers.  That way they can laugh at their own mistakes, because the other guy has to recover from them, and they never have to follow a topped shot with another topped shot.  I played a game with my family a few years ago where I hit every other shot for all of them ... they had a fun match, and I was really grinding on hitting long approaches and not to be accused of playing better for one than another. 

From personal experience, Tom's suggestion about foursomes play is an great way to introduce kids to the game. My 10-year-old is a beginner at golf but very competitive in general about sports. The most fun we've had on the course this summer so far was a 9-hole alternate shot tournament at our club, where he could revel in the good shots and not have to worry about following a topped shot with another topped shot.

[Brent Hutto]

I sometimes wonder if one of my favorite courses in the world, the Ocean Course at Kiawah, is so appealing to me because of the tee-shot flexibility. From the way-back tees or even the sort of back ones the carry distances and angles on quite a few tee shots really require both strength and confidence in ones ability to hit driver Far and Sure (tm).

But more than 'most any other course I've played, the shorter tees are positioned to be playable even by an under-200-yard hitting player in a 10, 15, 20mph breeze while still (in most cases at least) retaining a flavor of the playing angles and visual intimidation that a stonger player faces. It is the exact opposite of the "just put the short tees beyond all the trouble" that I often see when trying to play a great course at around 6,000 yards. I think Pete Dye's work on the tee shots at that course is genius.

Of course for someone like a senior lady golfer who just can't get the ball to carry in the air even 150 yards, there's just no way to extend that feeling of having to decide how much to "bite off" on an angled tee shot. Probably what's really special about the Ocean Course is that the fun tee shots extend JUST far enough to accomodate my own weak but not totally ground-bound game.

What seems to happen on a lot of shots at that course is that the big hitters may have 240 yards of water to get across while from my shorter tees the water is either a minimal carry or is replaced by a "waste area" hazard instead. Given how playable the through-the-green sand areas are at the Ocean Course that's a very workable substitute, although there are a couple of of holes with 100-150 yard carries over water from the up tees as well.

[Mark Smolens]

I sometimes wonder if one of my favorite courses in the world, the Ocean Course at Kiawah, is so appealing to me because of the tee-shot flexibility. From the way-back tees or even the sort of back ones the carry distances and angles on quite a few tee shots really require both strength and confidence in ones ability to hit driver Far and Sure (tm).

But more than 'most any other course I've played, the shorter tees are positioned to be playable even by an under-200-yard hitting player in a 10, 15, 20mph breeze while still (in most cases at least) retaining a flavor of the playing angles and visual intimidation that a stonger player faces. It is the exact opposite of the "just put the short tees beyond all the trouble" that I often see when trying to play a great course at around 6,000 yards. I think Pete Dye's work on the tee shots at that course is genius.

Of course for someone like a senior lady golfer who just can't get the ball to carry in the air even 150 yards, there's just no way to extend that feeling of having to decide how much to "bite off" on an angled tee shot. Probably what's really special about the Ocean Course is that the fun tee shots extend JUST far enough to accomodate my own weak but not totally ground-bound game.

What seems to happen on a lot of shots at that course is that the big hitters may have 240 yards of water to get across while from my shorter tees the water is either a minimal carry or is replaced by a "waste area" hazard instead. Given how playable the through-the-green sand areas are at the Ocean Course that's a very workable substitute, although there are a couple of of holes with 100-150 yard carries over water from the up tees as well.

Brent, don't you find the same experience at a place such as TPC Stadium, with the angles of the various tees designed to afford differing levels of players an opportunity to experience the course without it becoming a slog of hitting a drive over an uncarryable hazard, and then having to drop one's Top Flite ball? Part of the Pete Dye genius perhaps?

[Brent Hutto]

Unfortunately, I've not experienced a wide range of Pete Dye courses. But I have wondered from what I've seen on TV if the Stadium course might offer similar tee-shot goodness as you describe. I have no doubt there are many other courses and/or architects who have that sort of thing in their bag. But I doubt any of them do it any better than the Ocean Course.

P.S. I live about a 2-1/2 hour drive from Kiawah which is a big reason why I'm so familiar with the Ocean Course!

[Ulrich Mayring]

There should not be any forced carries over 50 yards. Instead of having one 150 yard pond or gully, there could be one of 50 yards, then 60 yards of fairway and another pond or gully of 40 yards width behind hat. And then another ditch at maybe 180 yards. That way there would be a challenging carry off every tee and it would still be playable as well as interesting for the beginner.

Ulrich

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()