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Given the amount of time golfers dedicate to practice, there is no such thing as a practice tee that is too big. The issue at many courses is that the practice tee is not large enough to accommodate the total use that takes place during a golf season. Practice tee conditions were certainly a hot topic on Course Consulting Service visits conducted in 2020, especially in the second half of the season. With the 2021 season picking up right where the 2020 season left off, the practice tee is likely to be a focal point of discussions this year as well. How the practice tee is set up and managed can help preserve turf and promote recovery through the season.

Whether the hitting stalls are moved from the back of the tee to the front or vice versa impacts divot recovery. When the stalls are moved from front to back, it is likely divots are only filled once a week because employees cannot fill divots while golfers are practicing. Moving the stalls from the back of the tee to the front creates an opportunity for divots to be filled more frequently.

The number of stalls that are set up daily plays a role in how divots are distributed across the tee. A decision must be made whether it is necessary for stalls to be set up across the entire width of the tee or if it’s possible for the tee to be divided in half or thirds, which allows for more recovery time before a previously used area is put back in play. Of course, less hitting stalls will mean divots are concentrated in a smaller area, so this will have to be considered if a change is going to be made in the number of hitting stalls provided.

If a large quantity of golf balls are offered at each hitting station, it is likely that more divots will be generated. Rather than set up an all-you-can-hit buffet, provide golf balls in smaller quantities to help reduce divoting. Golfers can still hit as many balls as they would like, but if they have to walk to the back of the tee or to the golf shop to acquire more golf balls, divoting can be reduced.

Using the artificial tee more frequently – if one has been installed – can go a long way in preserving the grass tee. If the artificial tee is typically used once a week, adding another day every week will add up to 26 less practice days on the turf if this strategy is implemented from May through October. That can save a lot of divots.

With the practice tee being one of the first areas many golfers visit when arriving at a course, its condition and presentation goes a long way in establishing a positive first impression and setting the tone for a round. A plan must be established for how the tee is set up and managed throughout the golf season to provide the best conditions possible.

Central Region Agronomists:

Paul Jacobs, agronomist – pjacobs@usga.org

Zach Nicoludis, agronomist – znicoludis@usga.org

Information on the USGA’s Course Consulting Service

Contact the Green Section Staff