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By Design
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n 2011, golf course architect Jan
Bel Jan, ASGCA, inaugurated the
concept of ‘scoring tees’ for Green
Valley Country Club in Greenville,
South Carolina. The concept opens
the game to a much wider group of
participants by creating age, gender
and skill neutral tees. In 2015, Bel Jan
expanded the concept at Pelican’s
Nest Golf Club in Bonita Springs,
Florida, by using on-site fill generated
during the renovation of the club’s
Hurricane Course to add scoring tees.
She now finds herself with a growing
list of golf club clients wanting to
adopt this successful concept. We
spoke with Jan to find out more.
Tell us about ‘scoring tees’
Everybody wants to score better—
that’s how I came up with the name
‘scoring tees.’
When a new golf course is designed,
it’s usually done with the excellent
player in mind, players who have
faster swing speed and thus can hit
the ball farther. Such designs begin
with the back or tournament tees
and continue with other tees farther
forward to accommodate golfers with
moderate to average swing speeds,
including men and women.
In addition to designing better
courses for these traditional classes of
golfers, I wondered why we couldn’t
do something more for players with
slower clubhead speeds. There have
been calls for the usual modified golf
courses—whether they be three holes,
six holes, nine holes, etc.—to keep
people in the game and as a way to
introduce new players. Few clubs have
the resources to build such stand-
alone courses; however, many clubs
can afford to introduce ‘scoring tees’
to give themselves a more playable
‘course within a course.’
What are the principle purposes of
scoring tees?
First, to provide golf holes and a
golf course that golfers with slower
swing speeds can play and enjoy. To
accomplish this, we locate scoring tees
forward of existing tees and in such
a way that penal hazards are either
eliminated or can be managed more
easily. Immediate advantages of using
scoring tees are that golfers will have
more fun and enjoy faster play. If we
can make it possible for players with
slower clubhead speeds to have more
success getting on greens in regulation,
we have the opportunity to keep them
in the game, and this, in turn, will keep
members and memberships healthy.
Chris Sheehan, director of golf at
Pelican’s Nest, tells a story about when
he worked with Craig Harmon, son
of the legendary Claude Harmon. His
sons all teed up at the tips and then
Claude marched farther forward. They
protested “What are you doing, Dad?
We’re all playing from back here,” and
he said: “Boys, I’ve hit fairways and
greens my whole life.
This is my tee
. This
is where I play from today.” Claude
Harmon won the Masters Tournament
in 1948 and his short game was still
world-class. He was not too proud,
however, to advance to a forward tee
when playing against his long-hitting
sons. Neither should you be.
Second, scoring tees can also be used
profitably by even the best players
in the club. If you look at collegiate
golf, many coaches have their teams
play from the most forward set of
markers at least once a week. Why?
Because it helps team members learn
better course management and how to
hone a better short game as well as to
gain confidence in scoring low. On a
shorter hole where low handicappers
will not need to hit a driver, they must
think about which club to use from the
Interview
|
Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA
Scoring for all
SCORING TEES
By Design
speaks with the newest member of the ASGCA Executive
Committee, Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA, to find out more about her scoring tees
concept and how it can benefit all golfers—from novice to professional
If we can make it possible for players with slower clubhead
speeds to
have more success
getting on greens in
regulation, we have the opportunity to keep them in the game