While the most common color for the forward tees in golf is red, the real answer is a bit more nuanced and gets to the heart of how you can enjoy the game more. The color of the tee markers is less about gender and more about setting up all golfers for a fun, fair challenge. This guide will walk you through the traditions, the modern shifts in thinking, and most importantly, how to confidently choose the right set of tees for your own game, no matter what color they are.
If you walked onto a golf course 20 years ago and asked, "What color are the ladies' tees?" the answer would have been a quick and simple, "Red." This is the classic, color-coded system that many of a certain generation learned and that many courses still use today. The United States Golf Association (USGA) for a long time promoted a standardized system to help golfers easily identify teeing grounds by difficulty and length, with red representing the forward-most tees.
The system generally looked something like this:
Because women, on average, have slower swing speeds than men, the red tees became widely known as the "ladies' tees." It was a simple shorthand. However, golf has grown and become much more inclusive, and we now understand that matching a player to a tee box based on gender is an outdated and overly simplified approach.
Today, there’s a major shift happening in the way courses and coaches talk about tee boxes. The term "ladies' tee" is being retired in favor of more descriptive and inclusive names like "forward tees." At more progressive clubs, they might even call them "Skill Tees," have names specific to the course ("Creek Tees," "Ridge Tees"), or simply refer to them by their color: "playing from the reds" or "playing from the silvers."
Why the change? Because the best tee box for any golfer is the one that best matches their ability, specifically their hitting distance. Lumping all women into one category and all men into another just doesn't make sense. Consider these golfers:
Which tee box is right for them? For all of them, the logical starting place is the forward (red) tees. Playing from a distance that matches your ability gives you a fair chance to reach fairways, hit greens in a reasonable number of shots, and avoid needlessly difficult forced carries over water or bunkers. The goal of golf is to have fun and be challenged, not to be overwhelmed and demoralized. Choosing the correct tee box is the first step toward achieving that.
The tradition of red tees is strong, but it's not a rule. Golf courses are free to use any color scheme they prefer, which can sometimes cause a bit of confusion if you're not prepared for it.
I’ve seen forward tees colored:
Sometimes, courses invert the entire traditional color system. I’ve played courses where green was the forward tee, red was in the middle, and white was all the way at the back. Other courses use a 5- or 6-tee system with blended or combo tees to offer even more variety.
This is why you have to abandon the old way of thinking. The single most important document for figuring this out is the scorecard. The scorecard is your new best friend. Before you tee off, look at the scorecard. It will clearly list all the tee-box names or colors and, more importantly, list the corresponding yardage for each hole and the total yardage for the round. This information is your ultimate guide, blowing past any traditions or assumptions. The color on the tee marker is just a pointer, the yardage on the scorecard is the fact.
So, we've established that you can't just pick based on gender or the traditional red-white-blue system. How do you actually make the decision when you step up to the first tee? It's all about finding the right length for your game. Here’s a simple, step-by-step process I use with all my students.
Be honest with yourself. This isn't your one "perfect smash" from last summer, this is how far your driver typically carries on a solid, average hit. The number you hit it 6 or 7 times out of 10. This single piece of information is the most powerful starting point for selecting the right set of tees. If you're not sure, take a few drivers to the range or use a launch monitor to get a clear idea. Don't guess.
There are many formulas out there, but let’s keep it simple. Here is a practical chart that connects your driver distance to a recommended total course yardage. Find the row with your driver distance, and look at the recommended total yardage. Then, look at the scorecard for your course and find the set of tees that comes closest to that number.
Average Driver Distance Recommended Total Course Yardage Under 175 yards 4,800-5,400 yards 175-200 yards 5,500-6,000 yards 200-225 yards 6,000-6,400 yards 225-250 yards 6,400-6,800 yards 250+ yards 6,700+ yards
Following this makes the golf course fit your game. You’ll find yourself hitting more short irons and wedges into greens on par 4s, which is exactly what the course architect intended. It's how you get to have fun and make some pars and birdies.
After you choose a potential tee based on yardage, glance at the first few holes on the scorecard. If the second hole is a 140-yard par 3 entirely over water, and you're not confident you can carry your shot 140 yards consistently, moving up one set of tees is a smart play. The goal isn’t to lose three balls on one hole. If your chosen tee box makes the course feel like an impossible series of forced carries over ravines and lakes, don't be a hero. Move up. Your score, wallet, and pace of play will thank you.
Finally, remember that you’re not locked into one set of tees for the rest of your life. Did you just play from the reds and shoot your best score ever? Awesome! Next time, stay there and try to go even lower. Did it feel too easy? Try moving back one set and test your long irons. Are you playing in a casual, fun round with friends who are much shorter hitters? Join them on the forward tees and enjoy a relaxed day. It’s your game, your round, and your decision.
Ultimately, the "ladies' tee" is most frequently red, but that's just a tradition. The modern game is rightly moving toward skill-based tee selection, where golfers choose a course length based on their actual ability. Focusing on yardage, rather than color or outdated labels, gives every golfer - man, woman, junior, or senior - the best opportunity to have a positive and rewarding experience on the course.
This kind of on-course strategy can feel complicated, especially on a new course. That’s why our team designed Caddie AI - to take the guesswork out of these exact situations. When you're unsure which tee box fits your game or how to approach a challenging hole, you can get a smart, simple strategy right on your phone. It delivers the kind of expert advice that helps you play with more confidence and make smarter decisions from the first tee to the final putt.
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