How To Get Off The First Tee

A big piece of enjoying your round comes before you even make your first swing. Leave the ego stroking at home and follow a few critical strategic and mechanical tips to give yourself a chance to not only shoot your best possible score but avoid some unnecessary frustration.

What You Need to Know

• Pick the right set of tee markers from which to play. If you’re a beginner -- male or female -- don’t be afraid to play from the most forward tees.

• In general, blue and black tees are for strong players, white tees are the “average” tees for men (and more challenging tees for women), and red tees are for average women players and any players who would benefit from a shorter course.

• The latest generation of drivers are designed to help you launch the ball into the air. Tee the ball up so that some of it is above the face, and hit the shot on a slight upswing.