There is a lot going on when a golfer steps up to the tees box. They have to think about the course, their shot and what they’re wearing. It all combines together to create an experience for the golfer. So how does the tee factor into that? From a practical standpoint, it helps the ball travel straight and stop quickly. From a design perspective, it matches up with the rest of your golf shirt or pants.
And from a fashion standpoint, you need one because other players will expect you to wear one if they see you in casual clothes outside of golf (or maybe even at golf). Fortunately, there are several details we can focus on that make our tee better:
Match your color scheme
A good tee should match your shirt and pants. If you’re wearing a black shirt, the tee should be black. If you’re wearing khaki pants, the tee should also be khaki (or be designed to look good with khaki pants). This also means you should avoid wearing a tee that’s too contrasting to your other clothes. It’s fine to wear a blue or yellow tee if you’re wearing blue or yellow pants, respectively.
But try to avoid wearing a bright red tee with a blue or black shirt and khaki pants, as the contrast will be too great. Now, obviously there are limitations to this rule, such as if you’re wearing a shirt that happens to come with a red tee, or if you’re wearing black pants and a red tee. But these are the general guidelines to keep in mind.
Match your shirt and pants
If you’re wearing a blue shirt with light blue pants, a navy blue tee would be the best choice. If you’re wearing brown pants with a white shirt, a brown or tan tee would be best. This also means if you’re wearing a collared shirt with a button-up shirt, use a collared tee. If you’re wearing khaki pants with a navy blue shirt, go with a Navy blue tee.
Try to be consistent with this as well. If you’re wearing a striped shirt and pants on one round, use a striped tee the next round. Combine various shirt and pants colors and patterns if you can, but try to stick with a consistent scheme.
Don’t skimp on the print
It’s common for players to use a cheap tee. There are several reasons for this. First, most course don’t require a specific type or brand of tee. Second, many courses allow tee times to start as late as 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. Third, tee times are often plentiful, so you can usually pick a tee time with a tee that’s not the best. But there’s one thing that’s essential in putting a cheap tee to shame: the print.
Cheap tees often have very basic prints. It might just be a solid color or it might be a small pattern. For example, it might just be a solid white square. The thing is, these tees will never look good with a better tee. The print is way too small to make an impact, and the solid color tee won’t match your other clothes. It’s just a poor choice in every way.
Make it stand out
One of the best ways to make your tee better is to make your tee more unique than the other tees on the course. You can do this in a number of ways, including:
A unique brand name or logo- This will make your tee even more noticeable than the other tees. It’s one of the first things people see when they walk onto the course. If your logo isn’t visible from the tee box, it makes no sense.
A unique color- Once again, the best tee is one that’s noticed. If everyone else is using dull colors, you can stand out by using a brighter tee.
A unique pattern- If everyone else is using solid colors, you can stand out by using a pattern.
A unique design- You don’t need to go all out with this one, as it’s more of a backup tee option. But if you see someone teeing up with a design that you like, you can use a similar design.
Don’t forget about golfers with disabilities
While the majority of the population uses a standard tee, there are a few groups of golfers that do not. Disabled golfers do not use standard tees, and they have a few specific needs to consider when choosing a tee. For example, they might need a longer tee. Standard tees are designed to hit a 2 1/2″ target from a distance of 130 yards.
Disabled golfers, however, might need a tee that hits a 3″ target from 125 yards. Or, they might need a tee that’s designed to hit a smaller target. A disabled golfer might also want a tee that’s designed to help with their swing. A standard tee is designed to help the golfer hit their shot straight and hit their ball far. A disabled golfer might want a tee that’s designed to help the golfer hit their shot straight and hit their ball far. This can be a very personal decision, and there are numerous considerations to make it right for a disabled golfer.
Bottom line
A good tee is essential for every golfer, regardless of their skill level. It’s not just a piece of golf equipment; it’s a part of the golf experience. Now, not all tees will be perfect, and you’ll have to compromise somewhere. For example, if you’re wearing a collared shirt, you might have to use a collared tee.
But don’t ever feel bad about using the least-bad tee on the course. What you can do, however, is make the best of what you have. With a little effort and creativity, you can make your cheap tee look better than the other tees on the course.
