Tee boxes - The "Tips"

[Frank Pasquale]

Does anyone have a clear definition of what the "tips" are?

Are the tips the back edge of every tee on the course (the longest possible yardage a course can play)?

or

Where the back tee markers are on any given day?

or

some other definition I may be overlooking?

[Michael Moore]

The tips are the back tee boxes.

The "tippy tips" are the back of those.

[Matt_Cohn]

I've never heard of tippy tips but it makes sense. To me the tips are the furthest back you can reasonably play each hole - at the back of the back tee box. Although, what happens if the black marker from the local golf association is at the front of a 15 yard long tee box - where are the "tips"? I'd say the back of the tee box.

What is it called when you don't even play from the tee box? On #6 at Presidio I found a flat spot 40 yards behind the tee next to the snack shop. It's a good hole from there. What is that called?

[Glenn Spencer]

2 Steps in from the back of the last tee.

[Scott Cannon]

In TX, you would be playing the tips if you play from where the tee markers are located. you would be playing the hedges if you are playing from the back of the tee box.

[Jim Sweeney]

Many, if not most, golf courses are measured contrary USGA recommendations.

ONe frequently sees courses that are measured from the back fringe of the teeing grounds. This practice could be described as vanity on the part of the course, making it appear longer than it actually is, since noone ever playes from that exact spot.

Matt Cohn mentions above a course where the markersa re at the front of each teeing ground. Interesting.

The USGA suggests that a course be measured from the middle of each teeing ground. This practice creates two outcomes: 1) if all courses were measured this way, slope ratings would be more consistent; 2) the tees could be moved somewhat forward or back without egregeously affecting the effective distance of the hole. For example, I have played courses where the yardage marker was at the very back of the tee, and the tee markers were twenty yards ahead of it. Had the yardage marker been in the middle of the tee, the tee markers could be placed ten yards either side of it and the relevant distances (carry, to obstacles, etc.) could be easily converted. This is the procedure, BTW, that the USGA and other savvy tournament organizations use to set up courses for competition.

To the point, however; I have always considered the "tips" to be as far back as one could play and have a teeing ground which is on the area prepared as a "tee" (i.e. not standing with one's back foot ofr the constructed tee or in any rough) and conforms to the rules of golf; that is, an area not less that two club lengths in depth when measured from the forward edge of the tee markers.

[tonyt]

Surely, the "tips' should allow a player to tee their ball anywhere within the zone permitted from the markers, and take an unimpeded swing. Depending on tee box design, mowing and whatever else is there, this would require a minimum of three paces from the back cut of the tee.

I also wonder why so many courses insist (other than for vanity) in measuring from this back point instead of middle or two thirds of the way back along the tee box which would be more commonly usable.

[Mike_Young]

I believe the rules say the markers must be atleast two paces from the back edge.

[Patrick_Mucci_Jr]

The "tips" are two club lengths from the rear of the back tee.

[JohnH]

Just a side note, when friends and I play the "tips" we play with our back foot in the rough just off the back of the longest tee.  Makes for an interesting game.

[Tom Jefferson]

The tips was always the place where you could get the peg in the turf and assume a reasonable stance.  It had nothing to do with where the markers were or where the measurements were taken.

The rumor here at Bandon has Watson going to the tips, in a summer wind, and returning 77 at Bandon and 75 at Pac.
Think of the tips at Bandon in a summer wind.  7400 yards.

Tom

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Although, what happens if the black marker from the local golf association is at the front of a 15 yard long tee box - where are the "tips"? I'd say the back of the tee box.

I'd say that on that given day that spot is the "Tips".  Playing from any spot other than the two club lengths allowed behind those markers is "Playing from the wrong spot" and is called a penalty.

[Sean_A]

I recall following Lee Trevino around the Senior PGA in Dearborn maybe 15 years ago.  On one hole Lee remarked "Jack has the tees so far back that my pockets are getting picked!"  He then did rabbit ears as evidence and banged his low cutter with the ears still out.

Ciao

Sean

[TEPaul]

FrankP:

Since we just went through this excercise (with the regional golf association that rates courses) I'll tell you what the "tips" and the "Tippy tips" can realistically be. The tips are the back tees and the official markers or "monuments" from which the holes back tee yardage is measured can be placed almost anywhere within that tee box. The official monument however should not be placed any farther back on the tee box than two steps from the back of the tee. This is so because the player under the Rules of Golf is allowed to tee off within two club lengths of the tee markers.

On my course we placed all the official back tee markers or back tee "monuments" just outside of two steps from the back of the tee box. That essentially picks up between 100 and 150 yards on the card which is essentially artificial or meaningless other than it looks good on the scorecard.  

A golf association would not rate yardage closer than two steps or club lengths from the back of the tee box.

[archie_struthers]

 

    I'm with that fellow Sweeney's definiton on the tips.


p.s to JS   loved to start out with the other band (Ocean)
               early at the "bongo room" and build to a  big    
               finish,  in GCA terms

[Doug Siebert]

The USGA suggests that a course be measured from the middle of each teeing ground. This practice creates two outcomes: 1) if all courses were measured this way, slope ratings would be more consistent; 2) the tees could be moved somewhat forward or back without egregeously affecting the effective distance of the hole. For example, I have played courses where the yardage marker was at the very back of the tee, and the tee markers were twenty yards ahead of it. Had the yardage marker been in the middle of the tee, the tee markers could be placed ten yards either side of it and the relevant distances (carry, to obstacles, etc.) could be easily converted. This is the procedure, BTW, that the USGA and other savvy tournament organizations use to set up courses for competition.

How do you measure from the middle of a teeing ground for larger teeboxes that accomodate 2 or more tee markers?  If there are two do you count one as 1/4 of the way back and the other as 3/4 of the way?

I prefer courses with markers on the teebox somewhere to indicate where it is measured from.  At least for those holes where it matters....it doesn't really matter to me if a 400 yard hole is +/- 20 yards from the indicated distance unless there is some feature to which I have the distance and I want to know what is required to carry it or stay short of it.