Why Women and Men Often Experience the Golf Course Differently

Women generally play from the forward tees because women, on average, do not hit the ball as far as men do. The average female golfer drives the ball about 150 yards and hits a 7-iron around 100 yards. The average male golfer drives the ball closer to 215 yards and hits a 7-iron about 140 yards. When you stretch that difference across 18 holes, it changes the entire way the course plays.

A man may hit a driver and then a short iron into a par 4. A woman playing from the proper forward tee should have a similar experience. The goal is for both players to hit roughly the same type of club into the green.  That is why the red tees exist. They are not there to make the game easier. They are there to make the game comparable. The problem is that the red tees are not always placed where they should be.

Some golf courses do a great job with their forward tees. They move them far enough ahead that women can play the hole the way it was intended to be played. Other courses move the tees up just a little and assume that is enough.

Most women have played courses where the red tees still leave them hitting a driver, then a fairway wood, and sometimes another long shot just to reach the green on a par 4. At that point, the course is no longer really designed for the way many women play.  That is why one course may feel fun and fair while another feels frustrating, even when a woman is playing from the forward tees.

There is no exact distance that determines where the red tees should be. The location of the tee boxes is decided by the golf course architect and course management. They are supposed to take into account how far the average golfer hits the ball and how the hole is intended to play. Some courses do this much better than others. The truth is that the best tee box is based on distance, not gender.

There are women who hit the ball far enough that they should play from the white tees. There are men who would enjoy the game more and play faster if they moved up. The right tees are the ones that allow you to reach the green in regulation, keep up with the pace of play, and enjoy the round.

That is also why it can be frustrating when someone assumes every woman belongs on the same set of tees or assumes a woman is a beginner just because she is playing from the reds.

Women and men often approach golf differently, too. Men are often more willing to jump in and play before they feel completely ready. Women are more likely to wait until they know the rules, understand etiquette, and feel confident they can keep up. Many women spend a lot of time worrying about pace of play, whether they belong, and whether they are slowing anyone down. Most men never think about those things at all. The reality is that women do not need a different game. They need a course that fits the way they hit the ball and a golf culture that does not make assumptions.

At DFW Elite Golf League, we encourage people to play from the tees that fit their game and to choose the distance that gives them the best experience. Golf is more fun when everyone feels comfortable, supported, and able to play their own game.

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