senior tee boxes.

Question
when playing on mostly public courses and normally on week ends with your everyday cronies. without being ragged by them, at what age is it usually proper to tee up in the senior area with out any confusion?

Answer
Hello Malcolm:  There is no set age at which playing from the senior tees is called for.  I would suggest that in order for golf to be enjoyed, it would be reasonable to expect to hit the ball far enough to reach holes in regulation.  Once you can no longer do that, I feel you could move forward without reservations.  You may not be able to end the "ragging" from your cronies so don't hesitate to remind them that handicaps and tees are designed to equalize the playing field.

Good luck Malcolm.

Fairways and Greens,

John
www.golfnutts.com

Malcolm:  Since sending the above, I've read my emails and would like to offer this to you and your "cronies":


  Obama's Golf Czar has announced there will be MAJOR rule changes to the game of golf; this will occur after June 1, 2010. The following is only a preview  as the complete rule book is being rewritten now  and it is expected to be an extensive 3,000 page  rewrite.  Some of the basic changes  include:

Golfers with handicaps:
-  below 10 will have their green fees increased by  35%.
- between 11 and 18 will see no increase  in green fees.
- above 18 will get a check  each time they play.

The dollar amount placed in bets will be as follows-for handicaps below 10, an additional $10 -between 11 and 18, no additional amount.-above 18, you will receive  the total amount in the pot even if you do not  play.

The term "gimme" will be changed to  "entitlement" and will be used as  follows:
-handicaps below 10, no entitlements.
-handicaps from 11 to 17, entitlements for putter length putts.
-handicaps above 18, if your ball is on green, no need to putt, just pick it up.

These entitlements are intended to bring about fairness and, most importantly, equality in scoring.

In addition, a Player will be limited to a maximum of one birdie or six pars in any given round.  Any excess birdies or pars must be given to those fellow players who have not yet scored a birdie or par.  Only after all players have received a birdie or par from the player actually making the birdie or par, can that player begin to count his pars and birdies again.

The current USGA handicap system will be used for the above purposes but the term 'net score' will be available only for scoring those players with handicaps of 18 and above.

This is intended to 'redistribute'  the success of winning by making sure that in  every competition the above 18 handicap players  will post only 'net score' against every other  player's gross score. The President feels that golf is the greatest game in the world and he wants you to help him bring about these changes to the game of golf.

Golf must be about Fairness.  It should have nothing to do with Ability.