Do “Offset” Tees provoke delays to the speed of play?

[John Chilver-Stainer]

Often Tees are placed on the right hand side of a playing corridor.

However, if playing directly to the ideal landing position the margin for error (imagine a trumpet shape form the Tee to the landing area) is much reduced down the right hand side.

The possibility a  miscued shot, particularly from higher handicap players  with a slight slice, will find trouble is quite high  - and the delays begin.

There are multiple reasons why Tees are offset, not only for the strategy but often availabilty of space, safety, agronomical and aesthetic aspects.

Do you know of Tees that have been repositioned because of "Speed of Play" considerations?

[Garland Bayley]

Doesn't the website speed of play expert have an In My Opinion article? I suggest looking there and contacting him.
Or maybe it was a feature interview.

[Ronald Montesano]

If we respond to such minutiae with altered tee positions, we are disposed of too much time and too little thought.  In other words, WHAT THE FRIAR TUCK?

At Country Club of Buffalo, the third hole plays as a slight dogleg right.  it is 430 and quite a challenge.  A solid poke is a must or a hybrid or fairway metal is needed to come into the green.  When playing the championship tees, the ideal play is to aim over the right tee marker for the third set of tees.  In other words, don't rely on sight.

[Greg Chambers]

I'm going to have to say no on this one.

[John Chilver-Stainer]

Garland,

You’ll have to help me out here. There’s a formidable collection of My Opinions and Feature Interviews - what a great Treasure of Literature Golfclubatlas have built up over the years.

Although I’ve read most of them I don’t recall a “Speed of Play” special - who is the expert you’re referring to?



Ronald,

?
Is that sarcasm creeping in there, or is this too OT for you?
Friar Tuck, being a cleric, would have philosophised deeply on the existential benefits or spititual dangers of Offset Tees.

To get it back on subject and to thow in a bit of trivia for you.

If at the Country Club Buffalo on the third hole, Ronald Montesano underhits by 25 yards with a fade/slice of 15 yards is he in the “Friar Tuck”, and would he play a provisional ball or go searching for  5 minutes.
 
If on the other hand the Honorary Club Committee, Greens Section decides to reposition the Tee in a more central position, would the same shot stay on the fairway?


Greg,
I'm going to have to say - I disagree.

[John Chilver-Stainer]

Ronald,

Even better can you tell us a bit about the Country Club Buffalo?

Incorporated in 1889, the course is now credited as a Donald Ross Design from 1926.
What happened in between?  

Feel free to start your own thread and don’t leave out any minutiae (latin)

[Greg Chambers]

Often tees are also placed on the left hand side of the playing corridor.  And if I hit a draw, well, then, same as if the tee were placed on the right and I hit a fade.  Not sure how this all is relative to speed of play.  I'm still going to have to go with "no" until you can argue your point.

[John Chilver-Stainer]

Greg,

The essential difference to your argument and my argument is your assumption that every shot is perfect.

I have a general philosophy on my standard of play, to keep my head in perspective.

I accept that I can never hit 5 out of 5 shots  (not counting putts) perfect,
I’m pleased if I manage 4 out of 5 shots perfect,
and if I only manage 3 out of 5 shots perfect I don’t get upset about it.

So if a non-perfect shot (see thread above referring to Ronald’s shot at Country Club Buffalo) is taken from an offset Tee the chances of it missing the fairway and catching trouble are quite high.

Consequently the provisional play, or searching for the ball leads to delays to the “Speed of Play”.

[Dan King]

John Chilver-Stainer writes:
Consequently the provisional play, or searching for the ball leads to delays to the “Speed of Play”.

Is there a challenge in golf that doesn't slow down play? Wouldn't the game go much faster sans bunkers? Think how fast the game would go if instead of greens we just hit into funnels that fed the ball into the hole.

It goes even faster if you don't face any challenges and stay home.

The idea isn't to eliminate challenges on the course, but to get golfers to handle the challenges quicker.

Cheers,
Dan King

They ought to invoke the same-day rule.
 --Paul Azinger (on the slow play of the Langer/Faldo team at the 1995 Ryder Cup)

[John Chilver-Stainer]

Thanks for your response, Dan - I take it you agree with me.

I don’t think your idea of the funnel greens will catch on though, although the sans bunkers idea is quite good.

Oh now I get you…..

“The idea isn't to eliminate challenges on the course, but to get golfers to handle the challenges quicker. ……They ought to invoke the same-day rule. Paul Azinger (on the slow play of the Langer/Faldo team at the 1995 Ryder Cup)”

Well, now you’ve convinced me -  I do concede it would be a pity to remove all the “challenges” just for the sake of “Speed of Play” .

By the way do you play electric guitar “Blues”?