Best first teeing areas?

[Carl Nichols]

Merion and Olympic Lake for the reasons already stated.

Simsbury Farms (Simsbury, CT):  close to but directly below the clubhouse, in a high traffic area, and in full view of the putting green and driving range, which parallels the first hole.   Plus there's a periscope (or at least there used to be a periscope) to see the landing area.

[Bill Seitz]

How about Riviera?  Just below the balcony, with the big elevation drop to the fairway with the baranca and the huge front bunker in the distance.  One of my favorite memories was at an L.A. Open about 20 years ago standing on that balcony when, at a lull between groups, Byron Nelson (must have been receiving some honor that week) walked out to the first teeing area and everyone spontaneously gave him a big ovation. 

[Sam Morrow]

San Antonio CC open with a shortish par 3 where the box is basically on the patio outside the golf shop and locker room.

[Gary Slatter]

My favourites: 
The Old Course: the whole package makes it special, and who wants to hit the next "Fincher"?
Royal Aberdeen:  hitting from inside the bar is very memorable, more so it you arrived early enough to see others tee off while you are on the other side of the glass
Royal Liverpool:  Hard to take it back as you wonder about the "inside OB" etc., like the first time a dog wears the invisible collar.
Pebble Beach, Muirfield and Dornoch:  you have this "So what's all the fuss about" feel as you look from the first tee the first time.  In Muirfield's case you probably already know what the fuss is about.
Royal Lytham, love the pressure of a mid iron first shot start to a championship experience.
Prestwick and Carnoustie:  great settings for your first shot

My wife's response was something to do with the fact that most (99.9%) courses first tee experiences are quite different for women, although she likes the Old, Aberdeen, Dornoch and Lundin.

[J_ Crisham]

Eastward Ho,  Wannamoisette, Charles River,The Valley Club are all pretty solid

[Jeff Spittel]

Bayonne and Bethpage Black are two where your swing is on full display and the regulars aren't afraid to hand out some smack talk.

[Paul Gray]

Ally,

Since no one seems to be interested in your question, I'll throw in my two pence:

Definitely very happy to have the bar by the 18th green. Conversely, I like my actions on the first tee to be viewed by as few people as possible. 

[Ben Stephens]

Liphook!

It has everything, in front of the clubhouse and by the 18th green

[JMEvensky]

Based on my experience, I'd vote for Greenbrier's Old White over here in the USA (proximity to "spectators" and down and out view), and for Prestwick (proximity to club house, wall and train station) and The Old Course (proximity to "golf") (tied) in the U.K.

+1 on Old White--especially in the fall.

[Brian_Sleeman]

I don't recall seeing Pasatiempo's first tee mentioned so far, but I quite enjoyed that.  Ditto the first at Kapalua's Plantation course.

Here's another not mentioned:



I believe the architect likened it to the beginning of a roller coaster.

[Anders Rytter]

Old Course is obvious but also

Ardglas
Tee shot:


The Setting is just next to the putting green and just behind you (and up) the club restaurant/bar.

Ballyneal, just next to the deck of the Turtle Bar.

Honourably mentioned and cheating. 10th at Crystal Downs!

[David Kelly]

I've always liked how the first and tenth tees blend together at Inverness.   I tend to like big open areas for first tees.

[Joe_Tucholski]

Ally,

Since no one seems to be interested in your question, I'll throw in my two pence:

Definitely very happy to have the bar by the 18th green. Conversely, I like my actions on the first tee to be viewed by as few people as possible. 

I'm with Paul.

[Carson Pilcher]

Guys have discussed tee being near the putting green.  How about actually right ON the putting green!  I love the 1st and 10th tee at Country Club of Columbus in Georgia.  So you are rolling a few putts and then step right up with your driver and hit off the green.  All of the guys are just hanging around and stop putting (or don't) while you swing.  It's fantastic.  Great Ross course to boot!

[Dan Moore]

Crystal Downs 1st Tee (no need to cheat)  




Royal County Down is pretty cool as well with the hotel, sea and mountains as a backdrop.  

[Patrick_Mucci]

Westhampton CC.

I recall sitting in a comfortable chair on the sidewalk just outside the proshop only 10 feet away from the 1st tee. It was magical.

Jeff,

Good call, I had forgotten how neat # 1 at Westhampton is.

I also like Riviera and Merion

Preakness Hills was always pretty neat too

Ridgewood East

Friars Head and Prestwick

[Sean McCue]

Aronimink's 1st is not too shabby....

[Eric Smith]

Guys have discussed tee being near the putting green.  How about actually right ON the putting green! 

Love this! One of the many charms of the Renaissance Club in Scotland is knocking around a few putts before placing your peg in the same green when you're ready to play. Now that the clubhouse is finished I imagine the setting to be even more special.

[K. Krahenbuhl]

Augusta National is pretty noteworthy.

[Brian Colbert]

There is nothing I have ever experienced in golf that compares to the sensation you get on the first tee at Merion. Members are eating on the porch and chatting, and the second you put the peg in the ground, you hear dead silence. At this point you can hear the slight creak of chairs turning so that everyone can get a good view. It's something you have to experience to understand.

PV and Oakmont are also cool

[jim_lewis]

The first tees at Merion and TOC are extraordinary experiences, but I know of no pressure like the first time you tee it up at ANGC.
Jim Lewis

[Mark McKeever]

There is nothing I have ever experienced in golf that compares to the sensation you get on the first tee at Merion. Members are eating on the porch and chatting, and the second you put the peg in the ground, you hear dead silence. At this point you can hear the slight creak of chairs turning so that everyone can get a good view. It's something you have to experience to understand.

PV and Oakmont are also cool

Well put Brian.  The first tee at Merion really is like nothing else.  The fact that your back is to it all makes it that much better (for a righty).

Mark

[Steve Lang]

  The best one is the one I'm on...

TOC was great, Ganton was very cool in front of the ol clubhouse,  but give me these areas, very short steps from 18th at...

corrected, thanks Chris

[Chris_Hufnagel]

The best one is the one I'm on...

TOC was great, Ganton was very cool in front of the ol clubhouse,  but give me these areas, very short steps from 18th at...

The Kingsley Club.

But you forgot the one right next to the practice putting green...it is a different look from there and pretty hard to carry it down the slot...

[Steve_ Shaffer]

The aforementioned first tee at Merion.