Forward Tees
Forward tees are the set of tee markers positioned closest to the green, giving a golf hole its shortest playing length. Marked red on most courses, they suit players who hit the ball shorter distances, including beginners and others with slower swing speeds.
What are forward tees?
Every hole on a golf course has more than one place to tee off. These teeing areas sit at different distances from the green, and each set is marked by its own colored markers. The forward tees are the set nearest the green, so a round played from them covers the shortest total yardage on the scorecard.
The point of having several tee sets is to let golfers of different abilities play the same course at a length that fits their game. A player who carries the ball 180 yards off the tee is left with a lot more ground to cover than someone who carries it 260. Forward tees close that gap. From the right set, a shorter hitter can reach greens in a similar number of shots as a long hitter playing from the back, which keeps the hole fair and the round enjoyable.
One point causes more confusion than any other: the correct tee depends on how far a golfer hits the ball and how fast they swing, rather than on gender. The USGA states plainly that tee color, location, and design do not decide whether a set is for men or women. A forward tee is simply the shortest option, and any golfer whose distance suits it can play from there.
Yardage varies by course, but forward tees on many U.S. courses measure roughly 4,800 to 5,300 yards over 18 holes. USGA research has argued that this is still too long for a lot of the players using them, and that a forward set closer to 4,000 yards than 5,000 would fit far more golfers, including the average female player and others with slower swing speeds.
What color are forward tees?
Red is the color most courses use for their forward tees. It is not a rule, though. The USGA does not require any particular color scheme, so a course is free to mark its tees however it likes.
Some courses add an even shorter set, often colored green or gold, for juniors, beginners, or players with the slowest swing speeds. Others have moved away from color entirely, using numbers or shapes on the markers and scorecard instead. Part of the reason is history: for decades, red tees were labeled the “ladies’ tees,” and dropping the color helps remove that outdated association.
Who plays from forward tees?
Forward tees suit golfers with shorter hitting distances. That group includes beginners still learning the game, junior golfers, seniors whose swing speed has dropped over the years, and many women. It also takes in any player, of any age or gender, who does not hit the ball far enough to enjoy a longer course.
Beginners and juniors make up a large and growing share of this population. National Golf Foundation data reported by the USGA shows that 3.2 million golfers played on a course for the first time in 2021, and 3.1 million juniors played that year, with girls making up 36% of them, a proportion that has more than doubled since 2000.
The PGA of America and the USGA run a program called Tee It Forward that helps golfers match their driving distance to the right tee set. As a rough guide, a player whose average drive travels less than about 200 yards is usually better off on the forward tees. The aim is a course that rewards a good shot instead of punishing every drive that falls short.
Forward tees compared with other tee boxes
Most courses offer three to five tee sets. Reading them from shortest to longest shows where the forward tees sit and how they differ from the sets golfers often confuse them with.
| Tee set | Common color | Typical 18-hole yardage | Who it generally suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward tees | Red (sometimes green or gold) | 4,800–5,300 | Beginners, juniors, seniors, shorter hitters, many women |
| Senior tees | Gold or yellow | 5,200–5,800 | Older players and shorter-hitting men |
| Middle tees | White | 5,700–6,200 | Average recreational players, mid-handicap men |
| Back tees | Blue | 6,200–6,600 | Low-handicap and longer-hitting players |
| Championship tees | Black (sometimes gold) | 6,600–7,000+ | Scratch golfers, elite amateurs, professionals |
Yardages are typical ranges and vary from course to course.
Two sets get mixed up with the forward tees most often. Senior tees are usually a separate, slightly longer set placed between the forward and middle tees, so they are not the same thing, even though both shorten the course. And the “ladies’ tees” label attached to red markers is a nickname, not a category; the set it refers to is just the forward tees under an old name.
Related Golf Terms
- 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.
- Tee markers — Colored markers that define the front edges of the teeing area.
- Swing trigger — A small motion used to start the swing smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are forward tees the same as ladies’ tees?
No. “Ladies’ tees” is an outdated nickname for the red markers usually used for the forward set. The tees themselves are defined by distance, and golfers of any gender can play them.
What yardage are forward tees?
On many U.S. courses, they run about 4,800 to 5,300 yards over 18 holes, though the exact figure depends on the course. The USGA has suggested many forward sets should be shorter to better fit the players using them.
Can men play from the forward tees?
Yes. Tee choice is based on how far a golfer hits the ball, not on gender. A shorter-hitting man will often score better and enjoy the round more from the forward tees.
What is the difference between forward tees and senior tees?
Forward tees are the shortest set on the course. Senior tees, where a course has them, are usually a separate set positioned a little farther back, between the forward and middle tees.
Sources
- USGA Green Section Record. “Rethinking Forward Tees.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/58/3/rethinking-forward-tees.html - USGA Green Section Record. “Forward Tees for the Future.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/61/issue-06/forward-tees-for-the-future.html - USGA Green Section Record. “Forward Tees – Location, Location, Location.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/59/02/forward-tees—location–location–location-.html - PGA of America and USGA. “Tee It Forward Guidelines.” Accessed July 2026.
https://pdf.pgalinks.com/p-g-a/Tee_It_Forward_Guidelines.pdf - National Golf Foundation participation data, reported by the USGA in “Forward Tees for the Future.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/61/issue-06/forward-tees-for-the-future.html
