Seeing the black tee markers sitting way back at the end of the tee box, often seeming miles away from the fairway, can be an intimidating sight. They represent the ultimate challenge a golf course has to offer. This article will show you exactly what the black tees are, who should (and shouldn't) be playing from them, and most importantly, how to choose the right set of tees for your game so you have more fun and shoot lower scores.
The black tees, often called the "championship tees" or simply "the tips," are the longest and most difficult set of tee markers on a golf course. From this position, each hole is played at its maximum length. The extra distance not only makes the holes longer but often fundamentally changes how they are played. Fairway bunkers that are easily carried from the forward tees become serious hazards, doglegs are harder to cut, and forced carries over water or ravines require much more powerful and precise shots.
Think of them as the "expert" difficulty setting for the golf course. They are specifically placed to test the skill, power, and strategy of the very best players. While black is the most common color for the championship tees, you might occasionally see them marked with gold or another color, but the principle remains the same: it's the tee box furthest from the hole.
To fully grasp the role of the black tees, it helps to understand why golf courses have multiple tee boxes in the first place. You’ll typically see at least three, and often five or more, sets of tees, each with a different color and yardage.
This tiered system is brilliant because it allows a single golf course to be enjoyed by people of vastly different abilities. The idea, often promoted by the PGA and other golf organizations through initiatives like "Tee It Forward," is for golfers to choose a set of tees that matches their ability, specifically their driving distance. When you play from the right tees, you're more likely to have reasonable approach shots into the greens, use a wider variety of clubs in your bag, maintain a good pace of play, and ultimately, have a much better time.
This is the most important question to answer honestly, and the answer is: very few golfers. Playing from the tips is not a right of passage or something you do just because you're playing with "the guys." Choosing to play from the black tees should be a decision based on ability, not ego. It is about setting yourself up for success and enjoyment, not punishment.
Here are some straightforward guidelines to help you decide if the black tees are right for you:
This is the number one factor. And it’s not about that one time you crushed a drive 300 yards downwind on a firm fairway. It’s about your consistent carry distance with your driver on a normal day. If you cannot consistently carry your driver at least 260-275 yards, the black tees are likely not for you. Without that level of power, you’ll constantly be short on par-4s and struggling to reach par-5s in three shots, let alone two.
Generally, the black tees are intended for golfers who are scratch (a 0 handicap) or have a low single-digit handicap (typically 5 or below). A lower handicap indicates that a player not only has distance but also possesses the consistency, accuracy with irons, and short-game skill needed to score well from those longer yardages.
Power off the tee is only part of the equation. Are you comfortable and proficient with your long irons? From the black tees, what used to be a 7-iron approach from the white tees might now be a 4-iron or even a hybrid. If the course forces you to hit a 200-yard shot into a par-4 green protected by water and sand, do you have a club and the skill to execute that shot with confidence? If the answer is no, playing from a more forward tee will allow you to hit clubs you're more comfortable with, leading to better shots and lower scores.
Playing from the tips before you're ready does more than just hurt your score, it negatively impacts the experience for you and everyone else on the course. As a coach, this is one of the biggest and most common mistakes I see amateurs make.
Alright, so we are all agreeing to check the ego at the clubhouse door. How do you make the smart choice? It's simple.
Be brutally honest with yourself. Get a real number for your typical drive on a calm day. Not your best, not your worst - your average.
Every scorecard lists the total yardage from each set of tees. Many modern scorecards even provide a recommended tee for a given driving distance. This is your best guide!
A great rule of thumb recommended by many golf professionals is to take your average driver distance and multiply it by 25 to 28. The a number you get is a great target Couse yardage for you.
For this player, a course playing between 5,500 and 6,160 yards would be an ideal fit. They can find the set of tees on the scorecard that falls within that range and know they're in the right spot.
Beyond yardage, think about the day. Is it cold and windy? Is the course soft and playing long? On a tough day, there is no shame in moving up one set of tees to give yourself a better chance and keep the game fun.
The black tees represent golf at its most demanding, a fantastic test for the small percentage of golfers with the power and skill to handle them. For everyone else, the key to truly enjoying the game and shooting your best scores is to select the tee box that aligns with your actual ability. Playing the proper tees is the smartest decision you can make before you even hit your first shot.
Standing on the first tee and trying to weigh all these factors can still feel like guesswork, especially on a new course. That's a huge reason we built Caddie AI. Our app can act as your personal course strategist, helping you analyze the layout and even suggest the right tee box based on yardage and playing conditions. You get an expert, data-driven opinion right in your pocket, removing the uncertainty and letting you start your round with the confidence that you're playing the course from the right distance for you.
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