Silver Tee Deck Project
08 DEC 2024
Silver Tee Deck Project
With the initiative to play it forward, grow the game, and encourage pace of play; a strong desire to build permanent silver tee decks has been brought forward by the Women’s Section.
The silver tees were created in 2020 on a trail basis with the goal of designing permanent locations if they were being utilized.
The previous silver tees were not very inviting, sometimes hard to find, and often not on even lies. The work is already underway to build level teeing grounds generally at the beginning of the fairway for all silver tee locations. These areas will be raised roughly six inches off the fairway, to a level service with two silver tee markers indicating the teeing ground.
Three tee decks have already been built on CH2, CH17, and SW17. The goal is to finish CopperHead by the end of 2025 and Sidewinder by the end of 2026 with minimal disruption to play.
Based on the USGA Distance Insights Analysis of Golf Course and Golfer Playing Lengths in 2021, it is evident RattleSnake is ready to adopt permanent silver tee decks.
- The average male plays from 6100-yard tees and the average female plays from 5100-yard tees with playing distance strongly correlated to handicap; on average, better golfers play longer courses.
- It is not until forward tees are offered shorter than 4200 yards that female golfers appear to have the same flexibility of choice that male golfers enjoy on average (>85% of golfers have a tee shorter and longer than they choose to play)
We have identified 6 holes that require silver tee decks to be built between the red tees and the beginning of the fairway. Permanent tee decks located roughly 50 yards before the fairway will be built on SW1, SW11, CH9, CH11, CH16, & CH18. These locations create a silver tee course that can be played fairly amongst players from other sets of tees.
A big round of applause to Bill McAllister and the turf department for all their hard work with this initiative!
Here is a look at what yardages the Red, Red/Silver, and Silver Tee’s will be playing from going forward.
