Family Course complements new PGA/USGA Tee it Forward program.
The U.S. Kids Golf Family Course program has received a significant benefit, as the USGA has begun officially rating the Level 2 tees.
The U.S. Kids Golf Family Course program, created in 2002, allows juniors and beginners to play from distance-appropriate yardages. Over 1,000 courses worldwide have installed the Family Course at their facility.
The Level 2 Family Course tees are typically around 3800 yards in length for 18 holes. The recommended yardages are between 75-115 yards for Par 3s, 185-245 yards for Par 4s and 285-345 yards for Par 5s. The level is for more advanced players than Level 1 Family Course tees, which average approximately 2200 yards for 18 holes.
Along with the Family Course news, U.S. Kids Golf announced its support of the new PGA/USGA “Tee It Forward” program, while suggesting further initiatives for the industry to revitalize the game. The program, which encourages golfers to play at tee lengths best suited for their skill level, employs the same philosophy as the Family Course initiative.
U.S. Kids Golf has established three additional recommendations for courses and the industry as follows:
- Encourage the use of shorter tees for any golfer whose enjoyment of the game would be enhanced by more success on the course. U.S. Kids Golf believes that golfers enjoy shooting lower scores and that regardless of distance off the tee, if a golfer cannot average 6 shots per hole (54 for 9 holes), he or she would enjoy the game more by playing from a shorter yardage.
- Emphasize that 9-hole rounds are eligible to be entered for handicapping purposes and should be encouraged due to limited discretionary time available for many people.
- Encourage golf course architects to design as many as seven different teeing areas per hole in order to provide all golfers with tees that match their abilities.
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