You’ve heard the phrase whispered with a mix of reverence and intimidation: They’re playing from the tips today. Standing on the tee box, seeing that those markers are set way, way back can feel like a totally different experience. This article will break down exactly what it means to play from the tips, who should be taking on the challenge, and how to prepare your game for this ultimate test of golf.
In the simplest terms, “playing from the tips” means playing a golf course from its absolute longest set of tee markers. These are the tees positioned farthest back on every single hole, stretching the course to its maximum yardage and difficulty.
Most golf courses have a color-coded system of tee boxes to accommodate golfers of all skill levels. While the colors can vary from course to course, a common setup might look like this:
When someone says they’re “playing from the tips,” they are taking on the golf course as its designers intended for its most severe test. They’re facing the full, unabridged version of every hole - every hazard, every tricky angle, and every single yard.
Here’s a mistake a lot of golfers make: they think the only difference between the white tees and the black tees is distance. They believe that if they can hit their driver far enough, they can handle it. The reality is much more complicated. Course architects are strategic artists, and a golf hole's entire character can change based on the tee you play from.
Playing from the tips introduces challenges that simply don't exist from the forward or middle tees.
From the middle tees, that small creek or patch of rough in front of the fairway might be an afterthought. From the tips, it can become a legitimate forced carry - a hazard you have no choice but to fly your tee shot over. A 180-yard carry isn't a problem for a tour pro, but for an amateur, that's a huge ask. That ravine, pond, or massive bunker suddenly becomes the primary obstacle on your tee shot, putting immense pressure on your first swing of the hole.
This is probably the most overlooked aspect of playing from farther back. Course designers use the back tees to change the entire angle of the hole. From the white tees, you might have a wide-open fairway. But from the tips, you might be forced to hit a specific shot shape just to find the short grass.
This has a massive cascading effect on your entire hole. A well-struck drive from the tips might leave you with a 5-iron into a green, while from the white tees, you’d be hitting a short iron. Hitting a 5-iron into a green versus hitting a 9-iron is a completely different game.
Greens are designed to receive shots from specific distances and trajectories. A well-designed green might have a small, tiered section that’s only accessible with the high, soft landing of a wedge. Trying to land a 5-iron on that same shelf is nearly impossible. Suddenly, you're not just aiming for the green, you're praying you can hold it.
Playing from the tips can be an incredible challenge and a lot of fun, if you’re ready for it. If you're not, it can be a frustrating, score-crushing, and pace-of-play-destroying slog. Ego has no place on the tee box. Before you take that long walk back, ask yourself the following questions honestly.
This is the most straightforward starting point. While not a perfect rule, it’s a great guideline. If you don't carry an official handicap, be honest about what you typically shoot.
I’m not talking about that one time you crushed it downhill, downwind. I’m talking about your consistent, on-course carry distance. If the course from the tips is over 7,000 yards, and you don’t consistently carry your driver at least 250-260 yards, you will be left with impossibly long approach shots all day long. You’ll be wearing out your hybrids just trying to get to the greens in regulation. A good rule of thumb created by the PGA is to multiply your 5-iron carry distance by 36 to find a good total course yardage for your game.
This goes back to the point about approach shots. Teeing off from the tips isn't about getting to hit your driver more. It's about being prepared to hit more 4-irons, 5-irons, and hybrids into greens. If you dread pulling out anything longer than a 7-iron, the tips will quickly expose that weakness.
This is about respect for every other golfer on the course. If there are groups behind you, and you're constantly waiting for your playing partners after hitting your tee shot, you’re playing the wrong tees. Golf is more fun for everyone when the pace is steady. If moving up a set of tees helps you keep up, it’s the right and polite thing to do.
Is this a casual Saturday round with friends? A competitive match? Or a personal challenge to see what you’re made of on a quiet afternoon? If the goal is just to have a relaxed, fun day, making the course harder on purpose might be counterproductive. If you're testing yourself and the course is empty, go for it!
So, you’ve done the assessment and believe you’re ready to take on the tips. Great! To give yourself a real shot at success, you have to prepare for the specific challenges you'll face.
Your driving range sessions need to change. Stop pounding 7 - and 8-irons. Your new best friends are your 4-iron, 5-iron, and your hybrids. Spend at least half your range time working on these clubs. Focus on hitting solid, consistent shots, not just trying to kill the ball. Practice different trajectories - a low, piercing flight for windy conditions and a high, soft flight for attacking greens.
You can’t just "grip it and rip it" from the tips. You need a game plan for every hole. Before your round, look at the scorecard or a course map. Identify where the real trouble is on each hole from the back tees. The "smart miss" becomes your most valuable tool. Knowing that short-siding yourself in the left bunker is a guaranteed bogey helps you commit to aiming for the right side of the green.
No matter how well you play, you are going to miss more greens playing from the tips. It’s inevitable. Your ability to get up and down for par will be the difference between shooting a respectable 78 and a frustrating 85. Spend extra time on bunker shots and chipping from 10-30 yards off the green. Being a great scrambler can save your round.
Walk to that first tee with the right expectations. Accept that you are going to make bogeys. The goal is to avoid the doubles, triples, and the dreaded "other." When you hit a bad shot, don't press. Take your medicine - punch out of the trees, aim for the fat part of the green, and trust your short game. Staying patient and limiting the damage is how you post a good score from the back tees.
Playing from the tips is the ultimate examination of a golfer's ability, testing not just distance but strategy, shot-making, and mental toughness. Tackling this challenge requires an honest look at your game and a genuine respect for the course architect's design and your fellow golfers.
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