Back Tees
Back tees are the set of tee markers positioned farthest from the hole on each teeing ground, making the golf course play its longest. They are also called championship tees or, in slang, “the tips.”
What are back tees?
Back tees are the rearmost starting point on each hole of a golf course. Most courses set out several sets of tee markers at different distances from the green, and the back set stretches every hole to its full length. Add up all 18 back tees, and you have the longest version of the course a player can face.
A golfer describing a course “from the back tees” is quoting its maximum yardage. A layout might measure 6,800 yards from the back tees and only 5,200 from the forward set, the same holes playing differently depending on where a player starts.
The back tees exist to give strong players a real test. Golf courses are built so that people of widely different abilities can enjoy the same holes, and the tee markers are how that happens. The farther back a player begins, the more the course asks of them in distance and control.
What color are the back tees?
Tee colors aren’t standardized. On a course with three sets of tees, the back tees are most often blue. Courses with four or five sets usually push the rearmost markers to black, and sometimes gold.
Because color schemes vary, the scorecard is the reliable guide. It lists every set of tees with its total yardage and its course and slope rating, ordered from longest to shortest. A golfer reads down the card, finds the longest set, and that is the back tee, no matter which color sits beside it.
| Common tee color | Usual position | Typical total yardage |
|---|---|---|
| Black (or gold) | Championship / back | 6,700–7,200+ |
| Blue | Back or middle-back | 6,300–6,700 |
| White | Middle | 5,700–6,200 |
| Gold / yellow | Senior / forward-middle | 5,200–5,700 |
| Red | Forward | 4,500–5,300 |
Yardages shift from course to course, and some layouts add extra colors like green or silver between the standard sets. A few resort courses even reverse the usual order, which is exactly why the scorecard matters more than the color printed on the marker.
Who plays from the back tees?
The back tees are built for the strongest players on the course. Low-handicap golfers and long hitters play from here, along with professionals and strong collegiate amateurs. The rough benchmark is a scratch or single-digit handicap paired with a driver that carries well past 250 yards. A golfer who keeps hitting long irons or hybrids into par 4s from the back set is playing a course that is too long for their game.
The numbers show how rarely amateurs belong that far back. According to the USGA’s Green Section Record, male golfers use the back tee less than 10% of the time on courses longer than 6,600 yards, and only about 3% of the time on courses over 7,000 yards. The same research puts the median back-tee length for 18-hole U.S. courses at 6,518 yards, while the average length male golfers actually choose to play is 6,089 yards.
Playing too far back slows everyone down. The USGA and the PGA of America promote a “Tee It Forward” campaign that encourages players to pick tees matching their driving distance, since shorter yardage usually means better scores and fewer lost balls.
One rule worth knowing: in stroke play, teeing off from the wrong tee brings a two-stroke penalty under Rule 6.1b, and the player must replay from the correct teeing area. Failing to fix the error before the next hole means disqualification.
Back tees vs. forward and middle tees
Every set of tees plays the same holes from a different distance. Forward tees sit closest to the green and give the shortest, most forgiving version of the course. Middle tees, commonly white, are the default for most recreational players. Back tees stretch everything to full length.
| Forward tees | Middle tees | Back tees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Closest to green | Between the two | Farthest from green |
| Typical color | Red (varies) | White (varies) | Blue or black (varies) |
| Best suited to | Beginners, juniors, shorter hitters | Average recreational players | Low-handicap and long hitters |
| Course length | Shortest | Moderate | Longest |
The holes stay the same; only the length changes. Moving back adds yardage to every hole. It also brings more fairway hazards into range off the tee and stretches the approach shots into the greens, which is what makes the back tees the hardest way to play a given course.
Are back tees the same as championship tees?
For most purposes, yes. “Championship tees” and “back tees” describe the same rearmost markers, and golfers use the terms interchangeably. The championship label comes from tournament play, since club championships and other competitions are usually contested from the longest set.
Those same tees pick up nicknames too. “The tips” is the most common, as in “playing from the tips,” and some golfers call them the “Tiger tees” after Tiger Woods. On courses that list five or more sets, a subtle distinction sometimes appears: the absolute farthest markers may be labeled championship or tournament tees and kept separate from a slightly shorter back set used for everyday low-handicap play. On a typical three-tee course, though, back and championship mean the same thing.
Related Golf Terms
- Swing trigger — A small motion used to start the swing smoothly.
- Forward tees — The shortest tee positions, offering an easier overall length.
- Teeing area — The defined starting space on each hole where players tee off.
- Release point — The moment the wrists unhinge and the clubhead is delivered to the ball.
- Pronation — Forearm rotation through impact that helps square the face edges of the teeing area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What handicap do you need to play the back tees?
There is no formal requirement, but the back tees generally suit scratch and single-digit handicaps. Most amateurs score better and play faster from a shorter set.
How long is a golf course from the back tees?
It varies widely. The median back-tee length for 18-hole U.S. courses is about 6,518 yards, according to the USGA, though some championship layouts push past 7,500 yards.
What are “the tips” in golf?
“The tips” is slang for the back tees, the farthest markers on each hole. Playing “from the tips” means taking on the course at its maximum length.
Are back tees always black?
No. On many courses, the back tees are blue, while on others they are black or gold. Color schemes are not standardized, so the scorecard is the reliable reference.
Sources
- USGA Green Section Record. “Tee Options on Golf Courses: Supply, Demand and Opportunities.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/60/16/tee-options-on-golf-courses.html - USGA. “Rules of Golf: Starting the Hole (Teeing Area), Rule 6.1.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/topics/teeing-area.html - USGA / PGA of America. “Tee It Forward.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2011/05/tee-it-forward-to-increase-enjoyment-of-the-game-2147497765.html - USGA. “National Course Rating and Slope Database.” Accessed July 2026.
https://ncrdb.usga.org/
