Split Tees at The Masters

[Michael Morandi]

To the extent that architects intentionally design the first few holes to “introduce” the player to the course, do split tees compromise their effort?  And do shotguns as they use on LIV do the same?

[Jim_Coleman]

  Of course they do. So what?

[Andrew Harvie]

Do players going off the back nine actually play the golf course in a more authentic state considering Mackenzie had the nines flipped?

[Matthew Rose]

With all the stopping, starting, and resuming play in the middle of a round after a suspension, I'd think it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

[Tom_Doak]

It's not ideal, but if you are designing a course for tournament play, it's almost inevitable they will play off two tees at least on the first two days.


Heck, you're lucky if they keep the order of the holes intact.  There are quite a few courses on Tour that they change the order of play for the tournament . . . including The Renaissance Club.  And most of the reason they switch the order is that the tenth hole would be a difficult place to start.

[Wayne_Kozun]

To the extent that architects intentionally design the first few holes to “introduce” the player to the course, do split tees compromise their effort?  And do shotguns as they use on LIV do the same?

But aren't split tees pretty common in events, even in major championships like the US Open and PGA Championship?

[Michael Morandi]

The USGA very reluctantly uses split tees but figures that when they use them in the first two rounds, everybody starts from the first and tenth tees once.

[Michael Morandi]

It's not ideal, but if you are designing a course for tournament play, it's almost inevitable they will play off two tees at least on the first two days.


Heck, you're lucky if they keep the order of the holes intact.  There are quite a few courses on Tour that they change the order of play for the tournament . . . including The Renaissance Club.  And most of the reason they switch the order is that the tenth hole would be a difficult place to start.

Just out of curiosity TD, do you design the first few holes as an “introduction” to the course/round or do you focus first on finding the right hole for the terrain in front of you?  If I had to guess, course  introducing  holes may have played a bigger role when practice ranges were not prevalent eons ago.

[Max Prokopy]

I think #1 is a tad easier than #10 but to be honest, if these guys aren't "ready" to tee off on any hole at Augusta at any time, then when exactly would they be ready?