Thomas however had done a study which showed the average was under 200-yards so, aside from the potential ego inflation benefits from not being truthful with himself or his fellow linksters, our average weekend warrior sets himself up for several hours of frustration, interminable playing times and possible financial loss. This is presumably why a club professional of my acquaintance says many of his lessons are not so much in swing mechanics but anger management. A few months ago another solon of the game, Barney Adams, suggested one of the ways to attack the no-growth problem golf faces was to make the game more fun. No, not with bikinied caddy girls or windmills on par-3s, but by shortening the time spent and letting the average hacker do his hacking thing but still have a good time. Among Adams suggestions was to have everyone play a shorter course or if you normally play from 7000-yards, move up to say 6700. Adams assumed the average drive was between 205- and 230-yards (different than the Thomas study but the principle is the same) and therefore some 70-yards shorter than elite players such as those on the PGA Tour. This means with 14 non-par-3 holes in a round the average players is giving up at least 70 times 14 or roughly 1000-yards not counting the distance advantage pros have with their iron play.
Put another way it’s like the pros attempting to play an 8000-yard course each week. Ridiculous you say? But, that is what recreational players are doing almost every round. Now in what may be a minor miracle golf’s two premier organizations, the USGA and the PGA of America (who don’t see eye to eye very often), are cooperating in a program named Tee it Forward and pushing for all golfers to try a shorter set of tees based on the distance they drive the ball. The request is only for a limited time, July 5 through July 17, and is meant to serve as an experiment for golfers to usetees more suited for their game and ability. As the press release put it, “With TEE IT FORWARD, golfers can potentially speed up play and have more fun by utilizing tees that provide the greatest playability and enjoyment.”
There’s even a chart showing guidelines for 18-hole yardage:
Driver Distance Recommended 18 Hole Yardages
PGA Tour Pro……7,600 – 7,900
300……………….7,150 – 7,400
275……………….6,700 – 6,900
250……………….6,200 – 6,400
225……………….5,800 – 6,000
200……………….5,200 – 5,400
175……………….4,400 – 4,600
150……………….3,500 – 3,700
125……………….2,800 – 3,000
100……………….2,100 – 2,300
This seems like a neat idea and definitely worth a try. Who knows it might catch on because it makes golf faster and more fun.
Par 3 Courses Near You
Westwoods Golf Club — 7 Westwoods Dr Farmington CT 6032 — (860) 675-2548
Connecticut Golf Land — 95 Hartford Tnpk Vernon CT 6066 — (860) 643-2654
Buena Vista Golf Course – 37 Buena Vista Rd West Hartford CT 6107 — (860) 521-7359
Woodstock Golf Course — 204 Roseland Park Rd Woodstock CT 6281 — (860) 928-4130
Cedar Ridge Golf Course – 34 Drabik Rd East Lyme CT 6333 — (860) 691-4568
Birch Plain Golf Course & Driving Range – 119 High Rock Rd Groton CT 6340 — (860) 445-9918
Miner Hills Golf Course – 80 Miner Hills Dr Middletown CT 6457 — (860) 635-0051
The Orchard’s – 137 Kozlowski Dr Milford CT 6460 — (203) 877-8200
Newtown Country Club – 2 Country Club Rd Newtown CT 6470 — (203) 426-9371
Twin Lakes Golf Course – 241 Twin Lakes Rd North Branford CT 6471 — (203) 481-3776
Portland West Golf Course – 105 Gospel Ln Portland CT 6480 — (860) 342-6111
Highland Golf Club – 261 Wooster St Shelton CT 6484 — (203) 924-9754
Gainfield Farms Golf Course 225 Old Field Rd Southbury CT 6488 — (203) 262-1100
Short Beach Golf Course – 1 Dorne Drive Stratford CT 6615 — (203) 381-2070
East Mountain Golf Course – 171 E Mountain Rd Waterbury CT 6706 — (203) 753-1425
Highland Greens Golf Course – 122 Cook Rd Prospect CT 6712 — (203) 758-4022
Country Club of Waterbury – 1 Oronoke Rd Waterbury CT 6722 — (203) 753-4171
Pequabuck Golf Club of Bristol – 56 School St Terryville CT 6781 — (860) 583-7307
Candlewood Lake Club – 919 Candlewood Lake Rd Brookfield CT 6804 — (860) 354-4004
Executive at Silvermine Golf Club – 95 N Seir Hill Rd Norwalk CT 6850 — (203) 846-2552
Westport Longshore Golf Club – 260 S Compo Rd Westport CT 6880 — (203) 222-7535
Wyckoff Country Club – 233 Easthampton Rd Holyoke MA 1040 — (413) 536-3602
Quaboag Country Club – 70 Palmer Rd Monson MA 1057 — (413) 267-5294
Forest Park Country Club – 41 Forest Park Ave Adams MA 1220 — (413) 743-3311
Berlin Country Club – 25 Carr Rd Berlin MA 1503 — (978) 838-2733
Par 3 at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club – 284 E Temple St Boylston MA 1505 — (508) 869-9900
Red Farm Golf – 131 Fowler St Upton MA 1568 — (508) 353-0214
Edgewood Golf Club – 757 W Hartford Ave Uxbridge MA 1569 — (508) 278-6027
Millwood Farms Golf Course – 175 Millwood St Framingham MA 1701 — (508) 877-1221
Patriot Golf Course – 200 Springs Rd Bedford MA 1730 — (781) 687-3114
Twin Springs Golf Course — 295 Wilder Rd Bolton MA 1740 (978) 779-5020
Pinecrest Golf Club — 212 Prentice St Holliston MA 1746 (508) 429-9871
Maynard Country Club — 50 Brown St Maynard MA 1754 (978) 897-9885
Milford Country Club — 3A Country Club Ln Milford MA 1757 (508) 478-1250
Rolling Green Golf Course — 311 Lowell St Andover MA 1810 (978) 475-4066
Country Club of Billerica — 51 Baldwin Rd Billerica MA 1821 (978) 667-9121
Chelmsford Country Club — 66 Park Rd Chelmsford MA 1824 (978) 256-1818
Kelley Greens Golf Course — 1 Willow Rd Nahant MA 1908 (781) 581-0840
Bass Rocks Golf Club — 34 Beach Rd Gloucester MA 1930 (978) 283-1866
Candlewood Golf Club — 75 Essex Rd Ipswich MA 1938 (978) 356-5377
Reedy Meadow Golf Course — 195 Summer St Lynnfield MA 1940 (781) 334-9877
Par 3 at Ferncroft Country Club — 10 Village Road Middleton MA 1949 (978) 739-4040
Middleton Golf Course — 105 S Main St Middleton MA 1949 (978) 774-4075
Lakeview Golf Club — 60 Main St Wenham MA 1984 (978) 468-9584
Wenham Country Club — 94 Main St Wenham MA 1984 (978) 468-4714
Willowdale Golf Course — 54 Willow St Mansfield MA 2048 (508) 339-3197
Lost Brook Golf Club — 750 University Ave Norwood MA 2062 (781) 769-2550
Cedar Hill Golf Club — 1137 Park St Stoughton MA 2072 (781) 344-8913
Royal Crest Country Club — 10 Rainbow Pond Dr Walpole MA 2081 (508) 850-0003
Mount Hood Golf Course — 100 Slayton Rd Melrose MA 2176 (781) 665-6656
Stoneham Oaks Golf Course — 101 Montvale Ave Stoneham MA 2180 (781) 438-7888
The Back Nine Club — 17 Heritage Hill Dr Lakeville MA 2347 (508) 947-9991
Strawberry Valley Golf Club — 164 Washington St Abington MA 2351 (781) 347-4877
Plymouth Country Club — 221 Warren Ave Plymouth MA 2360 (508) 746-0476
Squirrel Run Country Club — 32 Elderberry Drive Plymouth MA 2360 (508) 746-5001
Challenger at Waverly Oaks Golf Club — 444 Long Pond Rd Plymouth MA 2360 (508) 224-6700
White Cliffs Country Club — 1 E Cliff Dr Plymouth MA 2360 (508) 888-8701
Rockland Golf Course — 276 Plain St Rockland MA 2370 (781) 878-5836
Pine Oaks Golf Club — 68 Prospect St South Easton MA 2375 (508) 238-2320
Brae Burn Country Club — 326 Fuller St Newton MA 2465 (617) 244-4411
Paul Harney Golf Club — 74 Club Valley Dr East Falmouth MA 2536 (508) 563-3454
Woodbriar Golf Club — 339 Gifford St Falmouth MA 2540 (508) 495-5500
Holly Ridge Golf Club — 121 Country Club Rd Sandwich MA 2563 (508) 428-5577
Little Harbor Country Club — 1 Little Harbor Rd Wareham MA 2571 (508) 295-2617
Twin Brooks Golf Course — 35 Scudder Ave Hyannis MA 2601 (508) 775-7775
Chatham Seaside Links — 209 Seaview St Chatham MA 2633 (508) 945-4774
Cotuit Highground Country Club — 31 Crockers Neck Rd Cotuit MA 2635 (508) 428-9863
Harwich Port Golf Club — 51 South Street Harwich Port MA 2646 (508) 432-0250
Blue Rock Golf Course — 48 Todd Rd South Yarmouth MA 2664 (508) 398-9295
Kings Way Golf Club — 64 Kings Circuit Yarmouth Port MA 2675 (508) 362-8870
Marion Golf Club — 10 South Dr Marion MA 2738 (508) 748-0199
Reservation Golf Club — 10 Reservation Rd Mattapoisett MA 2739 (508) 758-3792
Chemawa Golf Course — 350 Cushman Rd North Attleboro MA 2760 (508) 399-7330
MGA Links at Mamantapett — 300 W Main St Norton MA 2766 (508) 222-0555
Rochester Golf Club — 323 Rounseville Rd Rochester MA 2770 (508) 763-5155
Firefly Golf Course — 320 Fall River Ave Seekonk MA 2771 (508) 336-6622
Swansea Country Club, Par-3 — 299 Market St Swansea MA 2777 (508) 379-9886
Great Chebeague Golf Club — 16 Stone Wharf Rd Chebeague Island ME 4017 (207) 846-9478
Acadia Birches — Route 1 & Thorsen Road Ellsworth ME 4017 (207) 667-3621
Cape Arundel Golf Club — 19 River Rd Kennebunkport ME 4046 (207) 967-3494
Merriland Farm Par 3 — 545 Coles Hill Rd Wells ME 4090 (207) 646-0508
Twin Falls Golf Club — 364 Spring St Westbrook ME 4106 (207) 854-5397
Paris Hill Country Club — 455 Paris Hill Rd Paris ME 4271 (207) 743-2371
Country Fareways — 1549 Augusta Rd Bowdoin ME 4287 (207) 666-5603
South Portland Municipal Golf Course — 155 Wescott Road South Portland ME 4350 (207) 775-0005
Blue Hill Country Club — Parker Lane Blue Hill ME 4350 (207) 374-2271
Island Country Club — 442 Sunset Road Sunset ME 4350 (207) 348-2379
Carmel Valley Golf Club — Route 2 Carmel ME 4419 (207) 848-2217
Todd Valley Golf Club — 282 Bacon Rd Charleston ME 4422 (207) 285-7725
Island Green Golf Center — One Main Rd Holden ME 4429 (207) 989-9909
Kenduskeag Valley Golf Club — 947 Grant Road Kenduskeag ME 4450 (207) 884-7330
Sandy River Golf Course — 154 George Thomas Rd Farmington Falls ME 4462 (207) 778-2492
The Meadows Golf Club — 495 Huntington Hill Rd Litchfield ME 4462 (207) 268-3000
Hillcrest Golf Club — 59 Grove St Millinocket ME 4462 (207) 723-8410
Westerly Winds Golf Course — 771 Cumberland St Westbrook ME 4614 (207) 854-9463
Cobbossee Colony Golf — 885 Cobbossee Colony Ave Monmouth ME 4654 (207) 268-4182
Great Cove Golf Course — 387 Great Cove Rd Roque Bluffs ME 4654 (207) 434-7200
Causeway Club — 10 Fernald Point Rd Southwest Harbor ME 4679 (207) 244-3780
Pine Ridge Municipal Golf Center — 97 West River Rd Waterville ME 4901 (207) 873-0474
Orchard View Golf Course — 114 Golf Course Rd Newport ME 4953 (207) 368-5600
Buckmeadow Golf Club — 32 State Route 101A Amherst NH 3031 (603) 673-7077
Ponemah Green — 55 Ponemah Rd Amherst NH 3031 (603) 672-4732
Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park — 81 Damren Rd Derry NH 3038 603-887-7888
Londonderry Country Club — 56 Kimball Rd Londonderry NH 3053 (603) 432-9789
Applewood Golf Links — 55 Range Rd Windham NH 3087 (603) 890-1015
Waterville Valley Golf Club — 44 Valley Rd Waterville Valley NH 3215 (603) 236-4805
Duston Country Club — 40 Country Club Rd Hopkinton NH 3229 (603) 746-4234
Angus Lea Golf Course — 126 W Main St Hillsboro NH 3244 (603) 464-5404
Highland Links Golf Club — 339 Mount Prospect Rd Holderness NH 3245 (603) 536-3452
Bolduc Park Par Three Golf — 282 Gilford Ave Gilford NH 3246 (603) 524-1370
Oak Hill Golf Course — 159 Pease Rd Meredith NH 3253 (603) 279-4438
Kona Mansion Inn — Moultonborough Neck Rd Mountonborough NH 3254 (603) 253-4900
Twin Lake Village Par 3 Golf Course — 164 Twin Lake Villa Rd New London NH 3257 (603) 526-2034
Monadnock Country Club — 49 High St Peterborough NH 3458 (603) 924-7769
The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel — 1000 Cold Spring Road Dixville Notch NH 3576 (800) 255-0600
Sunset Hill Golf Course — 234 Sunset Hill Rd Sugar Hill NH 3585 (603) 823-7244
Claremont Country Club — 2 Maple Ave Claremont NH 3743 (603) 542-9550
Fore-U Golf Center — 298 Plainfield Rd West Lebanon NH 3784 (603) 298-9702
Applehill Golf Club — 69 East Rd East Kingston NH 3827 (603) 642-4414
Eagle Mountain House & Golf Club — 179 Carter Notch Road Jackson NH 3846 (603) 383-9111
Bristol Golf Club — 95 Tupelo St Bristol RI 2809 (401) 253-9844
Par 3 at Shelter Harbor Golf Club — 1 Golf Club Dr Charlestown RI 2813 (401) 322-0600
Coventry Pines Public Golf Course — 1065 Harkney Hill Rd Coventry RI 2816 (401) 397-9482
Executive Golf Club at Lindhbrook — 299 Woodville Alton Rd Hope Valley RI 2832 (401) 539-8700
Sakonnet Golf Club — 79 Sakonnet Point Rd Little Compton RI 2837 (401) 635-4706
Fairlawn Golf Course — 3 Sherman Ave Lincoln RI 2865 (401) 334-3937
Warwick Country Club — 394 Narragansett Bay Ave Warwick RI 2889 (401) 739-0550
Misquamicut Club — 60 Ocean View Hwy Watch Hill RI 2891 (401) 348-8213
Silver Spring Golf Course — 3303 Pawtucket Ave East Providence RI 2915 (401) 434-9697
Wannamoisett Country Club — 96 Hoyt Ave Rumford RI 2916 (401) 434-9899
Bradford Golf Club — 150 Memorial Field Bradford VT 5033 (802) 222-5207
Someday — 12 Someday Road East Dover VT 5341 (802) 464-2655
Sitzmark Lodge — 54 E Dover Rd Wilmington VT 5363 (802) 464-3384
Wilcox Cove Cottages & Golf Course — 3 Camp Vermont Ct Grand Isle VT 5458 (802) 372-8343
Arrowhead Golf Course — 350 Murray Ave Milton VT 5468 (802) 893-0234
Williston Golf Club — 424 Golf Course Rd Williston VT 5495 (802) 878-3747
Blush Hill Country Club — 141 Lonesome Trl Waterbury VT 5676 (802) 244-8974
Stonehedge Golf Course — 216 Squire Road North Clarendon VT 5759 (802) 773-2666
White River Golf Club — 3070 VT Route 100 S Rochester VT 5767 (802) 767-4653
List provided by the Par 3 Executive Golf Association – Par3.org
About Ed Travis
Related posts:
- Chip shots: Golf news and notes from around New England
- Chip shots: Golf news and notes from around New England (off-season edition)
- What I'm looking forward to on the PGA Tour in 2011
- PGA, USGA want golfers to Tee it Forward
- Golf Fashion Forward
