Golf forum

The comment below is from Dave Doncaster's Blog, I thought I'd copy it here to bring it to the forum table for all to comment

Dear All,

I wish to start a topic on the conditions of Tees at most golf courses in this country.

I for one, am continually getting frustrated that most courses seem to disregard the condition of their tees. They either slope away from you or too you. I want to see the conditions of tees improved. It is okay for low handicappers to identify what the slope in your stance is going to do for your shot, but us high handicappers struggle with this.

I would like to see flat tees on every hole and would like people to add in their course reviews wether the courses achieve this. This is a major part of a golfers round. After all, you hit off them 18 times in every round!

Please help me to improve the state of play for all of us and add this concern into your reviews. I would not wish to play a course that has sloping tees any more and if they do, I will make sure I never return.

All of you out there, let me know if this a concern of yours aswell. If you think, you hit 18 balls off of tees, that equates to 1/4 of your shots for the round. Dependent on where it lands, depends on how much you add to your round. Please let me know your thoughts.

No he doesn't, he's said that in the original forum post he made a few days ago. All he is saying is that a tee should be flat, not sloping or ridged. This is from the golf wiki:

The very first section of every hole consists of what is known as the teeing area or tee-box. There is usually more than one available box for a player to place their ball, each one a different distance from the hole. They are generally as level as feasible, and most are slightly raised from the surrounding fairway.

Tees that look like England just played a rugby match on it, and wouldn't look out of place on the side of Everest are somethign I think Dave is saying shouldn't exist on any golf course, and I happen to agree with his statement. Afterall, a teeing area is "usually" completely manmade, whereas the fairway should (in the main) use the natural contours of the land. No-one expects a fairway to be flat, but it makes sense to keep the tee flat, unless ofc the course designer or greenkeeper's spirit level is broken!!

This sloping tee bit, amazes me.  

Are the people that complain about tee's, aware that you are allowed to tee the ball up to 2 club lengths behind the tee markers.  Most tee markers are at least 12' apart, this gives you a large area to choose where to tee the ball up. Then, also, add into the equation that you can stand outside of the teeing area, provided the ball is within it and you should have no problems.

Perhaps he ought to think about paying a bit more green fee and playing better courses???

I've not experienced any problems like that at the courses I play, have I just been lucky Jon

Not found any problems myself with tee areas - I just have a good look around to assess my best footing etc..

Like I said in the original post that Dave made, my old club rebuilt the 2nd tee because it became ridged due to the foundation collapsing. It was also wedge shaped, the same as the 6th tee, with bushes lining one side and the back of the tee and a field lining the other side. The 2 club length rule is what I always use on shitty tees, and I often stand outside the markers (ball inside ofc), to find the best stance possible, but on these 2 tees in particular going 2 club lengths back when playing off the whites was impossible.

Every course is different, they all charge different prices, some are members clubs and some aren't, but all courses should take pride in the tees and ensure they were as flat as possible when the course was designed, then take care of both the grass and surface throughout their lives. I've played at a muni with better tees than most member's clubs, so paying more to play doesn't always solve the problem.

Edit: typo

Dear All,

First of all, thank you Wayne for bringing this into here.

I have played a multitude of courses throughout this country. I have paid prices ranging from £6 to £145 per round. Wether you pay the high or low price, a golf course should be a golf course. A Tee should be as flat as is possible. This I have to say, is not the case.

As for the comment of 12 feet between markers on the tee and can go back 2 club lengths, thanx for informing me of the rules. I am aware of this and have been for the 15 years I have been playing golf.

This is where my problem lies, even with that vast expanse that you can use.....the Tee does still have a flat surface. This is not down to the wear and tear from the golfers, this is solely down to bad course management and lack of attention.

We would all moan loader if the hole on the green was less width than it should be. The fact is the hole on the green is a standard width. Fairways can be exactly how they are, that is the fun of playing different courses. What I am trying to state is that Tees should also be standard. One standard...FLAT.

I am going to be marking courses down for the condition of their tees from now and I urge others to do the same. That is all that I ask. That we as paying players, ask for a bit more consideration on the Tee.

How many of you like standing on the 1st with others standing around you watching?? Not many, I bet. Well wouldn't it be better if you were at least given a fighting chance to show the best you could possibly do. This would be better achieved with a flat tee.

In conclusion, I believed I was voicing the concern of fellow players. I am man enought to stand up and admit I am wrong. This is my opinion and it has also been relayed to me from my playing partners over 15 years. I thought this site gave you the avenue to voice your concern and raise awareness to others. One voice sounds like a whinge, a multitude get heard. I presume you are mostly stating that I have become a whinger then. I apologise to those of you that think that.

I love playing golf and I have had the fortune to play with some fantastic friends and people. I wish this to continue in the relax manner to which I have been accustomed too and not continue to feel that I should be banging my club down on the Tee because the greenkeepers have let me down by forcing me to play off the slope of Mount Everest!!

Hear endeth the lesson and I value your opinions.

Sorted now Dave thanks

Your comments duly noted Dave, I don't class you as a moaner or otherwise, but I have to say after playing for more than 15 yrs myself I haven't experienced the same issues as you.

Don't hold back on comments either this forum is great and friendly (for the most part ).

Okay, enough is enough!

My mouth is now sealed as certain individuals on here feel they are as mighty as the sword.

I shall refrain from participating in further discussions for fear of being alienated to the lower scale of the golfing fraternity.

Don't do that Dave, it will go against the ethos of "Freedom of Speech" mate, I'm not knocking you, I just can't add anymore to the discussion because I've not experienced the same problem.

Don't fold too early you stick to your guns

No point Wayne!

Was gonna ask anyone off here if they wanted a round this weekend but don't want to be seen as a player that can't play off sloping tees.

Guess I will play on me own and then have or hear no moaning :-)

No point Wayne!

Was gonna ask anyone off here if they wanted a round this weekend but don't want to be seen as a player that can't play off sloping tees.

Guess I will play on me own and then have or hear no moaning :-)

No point Wayne!

Was gonna ask anyone off here if they wanted a round this weekend but don't want to be seen as a player that can't play off sloping tees.

Guess I will play on me own and then have or hear no moaning :-)

Join me at Garstang Golf & Country Club, postcode PR3 1YE.

Teeing off at 10:10 Sunday 18th

Wayne,

Thanx for the invite, if it was genuine.

I wouldn't want to ruin your golfing round with my spirit level to test the level of the tees!!!   :-)

Why post, what is considered in your view, a valid and worthy discussion only to back down after a view replies?

I have played on sloping, uneven, bumpy tee's before, only on 1 certain course, which judging the area that the course is situated, doesn't suprise me in the least.  Local yobs can access the course very easily, therefore causing all sorts of damage to the course.  I can understand a club like that not wanting to make any improvements.  It's only 8 quid a round so don't expect anything flashy!

In my 2 and a bit years of playing, my experience tells me you get what you pay for.  I can't personally say its a huge problem.

On the matter of it, I can't imagine many golf clubs will see the reviews and therefore won't change anything.  You'd be better off putting a letter of complaint in with the club directly.  You may just notice some changes if enough people moan.

Please don't feel you need to back off, as Wayne said, stick to your guns, if you read through some of the forum posts you'll notice that it gets worse!!

Happy golfing Dave!

I don't think anyone should back down on their views either Dave. This is an open forum, and there's always gonna be folk on here who don't agree. Unless you change your view, and report here to say so, stick to your guns. I for one agree with you, so you aint on ur own on this one mate

Edit - smilie mispelled, grrrr!!

Totally 100% agree with Lee's reply....

If you have a problem with the way the course has the tee set up, then complain to the head green keeper. Then complain to the course manager, then the club secretary. Then get support from other members and make an issue of it....

If nobody does anything, then nothing will be done.    I know it is the British way to complain under your breath...But I always go in all guns blazing if something upsets me, even if I am wrong in that approach. Probably why I am a Billy No Mates. 

I have complained in the past and got free rounds because of it. One at Slaley Hall, which shows it is not due to the price paid! as this is a european tour venue.

I also stated in my reviews from this weekend that I had the same problem at both course, which I paid £40 each to play.

I always have happy golfing but felt it was about I shared this with others to see if they had the same concerns. Due to some of the replies, it must surely be down to me playing cheap courses, another stated its never happened in his 55 years of playing (hardly believe that).

This will be my last post. All enjoy your golf.

**Due to some of the replies, it must surely be down to me playing cheap courses**

I mearly commented on my own experiences, which is you get what you pay for.  I never suggested you play cheap courses, who cares how much a green fee is so long as you enjoy yourself??

Barring that one course I mentioned, I haven't experienced the tees as an issue.  I play courses whose green fees meet my budget, I don't play £100 green fee courses where I would expect the tees to be perfect.

If I were a member of a golf club paying £700+ a year then it would bother me no end.  But seeing as I choose to play pay & play courses I can't expect the whole course to be in tip top condition anyway.

After reading some of the replies it just seems as though you've been really unlucky in finding the sloping tees.

Dave, don't let them get to you mate! Everyone gets slagged off on here!!

Although i agree in some respect to what your saying, i reckon if you'd said "Un-Even" tee boxes all the dis-agreeing would've been minimal (though you'd still get the Black is White Brigade having a go?!)

I must admit, it is one of my pet hates on a golf course to get onto the Tee box only to find your feet an inch below or above the ball and whilst every endevour is sought trying to find a flat piece of ground with-in the 2 club lenght rule, its sometimes impossible to do so!

So head up Dave-Lad and don't let them get you down!

You  can believe what you like Mr Doncaster but I still maintain that I have never found teeing grounds to be a problem, no matter where I have played, which in fifty odd years is pretty extensive.

It is greens that are the most important part of the course, as it is their condition that helps or hinders your score.

I would suggest that you avoid at all costs the many fine links we have dotted around our coast, as the lie on the fairways will not be to your liking.

I have witnessed uneven tee boxes before but didnt feel at the time that it was an issue for me. Mental note, remeber to blame uneven tee boxes in future when having a bad round .

I have however witnessed some of the most appaling winter tees both on grass and off mats. Some of the courses near me use mats that even i find too small at only 5'7" and even worse that dont even face the line of play.

I would complain if i found anything on the course to be an issue and recently did after walking off on the 6th after playing 6 holes on off camber winter tees that had not been mown, where thick with mud and half way down the fairway. To top it off they were using winter greens that had been placed practicaly in the rough, were off camber and also hadnt been mown. The greens were just over 2 meters in diameter and one of the par threes was only 40 yards from winter tee to winter green.

I demanded my money back which i got eventually and went to another course nearby played off proper tee boxes on proper greens and had the round of my life.

The first club thought they had justified the bad condition by placing signs stating that they were on winter tees and greens by the clubhouse. My argument was that drawing a white circle on the fairway does not constitute a temporary green even if they were only charging a tenner. My time is more precious than my money and in my opnion they were wasting my afternoon.

Wayne, your gonna have a field day with the spelling in my post above. Im just gonna leave it to give you something to compalin about

Once again John, you are the reason so many golfers get called names.

I can understand now why people think what they do.

I will continue to play my golf wherever I choose and I hope that one day people like yourself will stand reason and actually listen to what is being said.

Thank you to all of you who have given worthwhile comments. Shame, as usual, so much is ruined by so few.

Dave....If you actually met John Pettitt, you would find that he is one of the nicest, friendliest, and most knowledgeable person you could possibly meet.

He has helped numerous people on this site, with his wisdom. 

David,

I don't doubt what you say. We all have our opinions and we only get one chance to make a first impression. As I am new on here, I'd have thought sarcasm would have been reserved for a while.

By the way, anyone in the Manchester area fancy joining up for a game?

Mr Doncaster, yoiu started this with one line that showed that you are a bitter and twisted person who knows very little about the game or the courses on which it is played. I repeat it here for you to digest.

 I wish to start a topic on the conditions of Tees at most golf courses in this country.

I have emboldened the word that told me where you were coming from, and I was not the only one to pick up on this, unfortunately for you I am not like the others who are prepared to change their attitude after you have realised that you made a pretty bold statement by saying that most of the courses in this country have bad tees when in actual fact very few suffer with this complaint in comparison.

Please don't worry about me, as I have been able to carry myself correctly at any course I have played at.

Personally I am not interested in whether or not my views coincide with yours, you are entitled to them, as I am to mine, but if you continue to post what I consider drivel, then you will have to be prepared to read responses that will not sit too well with you, as it is obvious you are a little thin skinned.

I like the Mr  :-)

Thank you Mr Pettitt for answering my Chipper question.

Subject closed.

See....Told you he was knowledgeable.

Now shake hands and be friends 

David,

I'm everyones friend :-)

All i heard was white noise :-(

Wayne,

I've only got the afternoon off on Friday at the moment and was going to play at Brookdale cos it's close. Wife needs car for school run, so limited with where to go.

Sorry but I am going to have to decline :-(

No Problem Dave, I can't do too late in the afternoon need to pack as we're away the weekend.

you have my number anytime your available give us a shout mate.

Wayne,

Excuse my newbeeness, but where do I find your number?