Metro St. Louis Seniors Golf

Update of Forward vs Back Tees – Where is the money?

11/17/201811/04/2018 by dlwicks@sbcglobal.net

Dick Jones, our Handicap Chairman, is a master at analyzing data. He just completed his annual analysis of money winnings by Forward / Back Tee Position for 2018.

The results again tell us that our handicap system does a great job of keeping the selection of Forward or Back tees fair and consistent as measured by money winnings.

In 2015 we opened tee selection for Forward or Back to all members (A-D flights). Since then the % of players moving to Forward tees has increased (as we get older?). Is more money won by Forward players? NOPE!

The data for 2015 through 2018 shows almost an identical match of % Forward Players with Money Winnings by Forward Players. This covers 8400 to almost 10,000 rounds of golf each year.

Summary Data from “Move Up Analysis”
by Dick Jones 11-2018

Year	Total Member Rounds Played	Members Playing Forward	Money Won by Forward Players
2015	8404	36.0%	39.7%
2016	8561	53.8%	49.9%
2017	9871	56.0%	53.7%
2018	9716	64.6%	62.4%

The full data includes all flights in all divisions and all courses for all these years. His database goes back to 2013.

The details for division by year show essentially the same range of %Forward, % Money Forward. As the samples get smaller the variation increases. But the trends and relationship is still very strong.

What does this mean???

You can pick Forward or Back without trying to game the system. As long as you follow the rules and report your scores correctly, your Handicap Guide will calculate a fair and virtually equivalent handicap between either of the Forward or Back tees.

Perhaps issues like weather, course conditions, and how you feel may come into play. On a cold or wet day, the ball won’t go as far; Play forward for more fun. If you have a cold, Play Forward. Just remember, your competition will be doing the same, so it is still fair.

In past posts we covered tee selection from other perspectives.

Which Tees – Forward or Back

USGA and PGA Tee It Forward program recommends tee selections by course yardage depending on your AVERAGE driving distance. Note this is not the best drive you ever made, but what you typically see on the course.

Here is a link to the PGA / USGA article. CLICK HERE

Here is some information from 2016

FYI – If you want to see ALL the data, we will be happy to share the data spreadsheet. If you like this kind of stuff, perhaps you could volunteer to analyze some of our burning questions. With 10,000 rounds each year we have a huge data base.

2018 Pace of Play Results – Divisions 1 – 5

11/17/201811/01/2018 by dlwicks@sbcglobal.net

We are not seniors who play golf.

We are good golfers who happen to be seniors.

PACE OF PLAY FOR 2018

This will be a continuing process for many years. There will always be a “slowest” group and a “slowest” round. Our goals are to keep those slowest groups below 4 hours 45 minutes and to have an average pace of play of about 4:30 across all courses, starts, and players.

Tee groups and players playing at 4:30 or less are WONDERFUL!
Tee groups that stay up with the group ahead (10 minutes or less separation) are GREAT!
Tee groups that average 2:15 on each of front and back are ON TRACK!
Tee groups that are running 15 minutes per hole or less are GETTING IT DONE!
Slow groups are over 4:45 Pace AND are 15 minutes or more behind the group ahead (a hole empty ahead).
If every slow group simply played 1 minute faster per hole, everyone would have a faster round, more fun and perhaps better scores!

Ready Golf is mostly eliminating time wasters between your golf shots. Faster travel to the balls, Better cart management. Watching (and remembering) shots to eliminate ball searches. Making your shots as soon as possible and safe – no “honors”, no “order”.

2018 RESULTS
Overall Pace of Play (POP) for 2018 was quite good and still a huge IMPROVEMENT over 2016 and earlier. Our gross averages for all tee groups across all Divisions and courses to date is 4:34, slightly longer than last year (4:30) but still a 15 minute improvement as compared to 2016.

Divisions 2, 3, and 4 were at or very nearly the same POP as 2017. Divisions 1 and 5 slowed down about 5 to 10 minutes on average.

Why are we “slower” than 2017?

Wet and cold weather early in the season hurt times. Path Only conditions slow pace by about 30 minutes. Rain delays also hurt the data, but only a few outings had significant rain delays.
1 or 2 slow groups playing early in a Tee Start
Shotgun starts especially with more than 24 tee groups (lots of B tee groups).
Challenging courses (long, blind shots, deep rough, hilly) especially when coupled with shotgun starts.

2018 detailed data continues to show that an overwhelming majority of our members can and do play at pace between 4 and 4:30. All ages and physical and golf abilities have been playing quickly.

Being ready to play and staying aware are far more important than skill, age or physical capabilities in pace of play.

Only 18% of our events had average play of 4:45 of more and over 1/2 of them were Shotgun starts and difficult courses.

Unfortunately there is still a very small minority of players and groups who are playing slower than our targets. For example, only 8 players in Division 1 made up 50% of the slowest tee groups in 2018. Even they played at acceptable pace for about half of the season.

Continued effort for these members and new members added for 2019 and beyond is planned and will will be needed. Staying at pace requires continuous effort.

Each Division VP is the primary contact for his division’s Pace of Play. If you have issues or complaints especially about a slow group or player, please talk with your VP. In most cases the problems are known and action is already underway.

2019 Pace of Play Efforts

This will be a continuing process for many years. There are several improvements for handling data and reporting.

For more details by course, division, start type and more see below.

Download (PDF, 44KB)

Personnel Changes for 2019

11/17/201809/29/2018 by dlwicks@sbcglobal.net

With only 1 week of play left, the 2018 18 hole season is almost in the books.

The Board of Governors and our Committees are already looking into the future for 2019. New schedules, perhaps some new courses, new opportunities, and some changes in people on the Board, Committees and in our executive positions.

Special Events Committee

Frank Mantia Retires From Special Events

Frank Mantia, Chair of Special Events for several years, has decided to leave the Chair for new opportunities, see below. With Frank in the lead, Special Events have continued to thrive and increase in quality. The Special Events Committee had developed into a strong team. We all owe Frank a big THANK YOU for his efforts.

Frank joined Division 2 in 2011 and is a member of Division 2 and also Division 5.

Frank McLaughlin New Special Events Chair

Frank McLaughin has been appointed as our new Chairman of Special Events. Frank is already getting Special Events organized for 2019. SE will continue to offer high quality outing at great courses with a focus on team play and mixing players from all divisions.

Frank joined Metro Seniors in 2013 and plays in Division 5.

The first Special Events Committee meeting for 2019 will be next week. Interested in volunteering to help a great team, contact Frank McLaughlin immediately.

Division 2 Vice President

Tom Stiern Retires

Tom Stiern, our VP of Division 2, has decided to retire as VP at the end of the 2018 season. Since 2015, Division 2 has thrived under Tom. Division 2 statistics for participation are exceptional – 70% of members are playing every week. Handicaps and net scores are the best of all divisions. Tom led the Pace of Play initiative for Division 2 getting to 4:30 in 2017 and 4:34 for 2018. Tom’s team of Starters and Scorers and his trusty assistant, Al Clarke made it all work quite well.

Tom joined Metro Seniors in 2013.

Thank You, Tom Stiern for a job well done.

Frank Mantia New VP of Division 2

Frank Mantia, quickly volunteered to take on the VP, Division 2 role. Frank will be involved immediately as part of the Tournament Committee to help guide course selections for 2019. The Tournament Committee will also guide improvements to weekly operations, including Starter/Scorer duties.

Which Tees – Forward or Back

11/17/201809/09/2018 by dlwicks@sbcglobal.net

Which tees do you chose for weekly tournaments? Does it make a difference in winning flight prizes?

Overall Metro Seniors Members have mostly chosen the FORWARD tees. 63% of rounds to date in Division 1 through 5 have been recorded from the Forward Tees.

But how did the flights choose? Summary for all Divisions:

A Flight – 33% Forward
B Flight – 60% Forward
C Flight – 75% Forward
D Flight – 87% Forward

Apparently many of you understand that FORWARD can be more fun. Compared to 2016 data, we have as much as 50% MORE members playing FORWARD in all flights. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2016 DATA

How about the Divisions?

Most Divisions match up closely to the overall data. The major exception – Division 2 has fewer playing forwards only 48%, Division 4 has slightly more playing forward at 71%.

If I play FORWARD, will I win more flight prizes?

NOPE! The data for prize money totals for FORWARD tees matches fairly closely to the total money distribution for each flight in each Division.

Why are prizes and net scores for Forward and Back tees so close?

The Handicap System levels the playing field. Forward Gross Scores are slightly lower as would be expected. But the Handicap is also lower.

Average Net Scores for B, C, and D Flights for Forward rounds are within 0.1 of the averages for all rounds.

Average Net Scores for A flight Forward Tees are about 0.5 more (72.8 vs 72.3). So may be a slight scoring advantage for A Flight to play from the BACK tees. This is probably due to the wider range of handicap range for A Flight (4 to 15). Significantly more 10 to 15 handicap A’s play Forward and will have higher gross and net scores.

Which Tees should I use?

Which tees make your game more fun? Which tees give you a regular opportunity for you approach shot to give you a green in regulation?

We STRONGLY recommend that all players in the C and D flights play from the FORWARD tees. You will still be competitive. You will lose fewer balls. You will have much shorter approach shots. You will have fewer trouble shots, You will play faster and feel better about your game. Is you typical drive from the tee less than 200 yards? FORWARD tees.

More FUN makes a happy player and better FELLOWSHIP!

Here is a link to the PGA / USGA article. CLICK HERE

Download (PDF, 85KB)

Gateway National Golf Course
09/04/18
Flight	Position	ID	Name	Tee	Gross	Net Score
A	1	4920	Bob Ernst	Yellow	75	68.64
A	2	3074	Gary Brown	Yellow	77	68.93
A	3	4791	John Schroeder	Yellow	81	70.91
B	1	3721	James Davies	Yellow	89	68.02
B	2	3223	Steve Schwartz	Red Forward	85	68.95
B	3	2705	Ron Boden	Yellow	91	70.12
C	1	4697	Jim Luebbert	Red Forward	90	69.07
C	2	3640	Terry Heathman	Red Forward	91	69.51
C	3	1120	Bob DeBroeck	Red Forward	92	71.64
D	1	1766	Jack Hipolito	Red Forward	94	68.48
D	2	2430	Charles Page	Red Forward	98	69.1
D	3	3596	Ed Gauthier	Red Forward	99	70.76