Bill, Nigel, et. al.,
In reviewing the replies, especially Garland's, it appears that Garland's objective is to maintain a higher handicap rather than strive for a lower one.
It would also appear that Garland has contradicted himself on numerous occasions.
If the goal is to beat your buddies, then, no matter how you slice it, you have to score lower than your buddies.
I always liked to play the back tees, but, two things have convinced me to move forward, and to perhaps keep on moving forward.
1. Courses are getting longer.
2 I'm getting shorter
3 That's not a good combination.