Red stakes in jr tournaments

[TroyB123]

A couple tournaments we played this summer have gone to almost all red stakes lining every fairway.   Is this a growing trend?  I know the last big USGA rule change allowed for expanded use of red stakes.   

 

Generally, I tend to like this rule.   But if a lot of tournaments are going this route, it really seems like they should all go this direction.   It reduces the possiblity and stress of taking a big score out of play, and if the rankings are comparing differentials, it is going to make a difference if a course plays like it normally does, or with red stakes on every fairway.

[Tannerbug33]

I have noticed in a few tournaments. I think a lot of tours are doing it to speed up pace of play

[CaddyMomNC]

4 hours ago, TroyB123 said:

A couple tournaments we played this summer have gone to almost all red stakes lining every fairway.   Is this a growing trend?  I know the last big USGA rule change allowed for expanded use of red stakes.   

 

Generally, I tend to like this rule.   But if a lot of tournaments are going this route, it really seems like they should all go this direction.   It reduces the possiblity and stress of taking a big score out of play, and if the rankings are comparing differentials, it is going to make a difference if a course plays like it normally does, or with red stakes on every fairway.

Where have you seen this? I haven't seen it at any of our tournaments here in NC/SC...including the USGA events my son played in.

[TroyB123]

14 hours ago, CaddyMomNC said:

Where have you seen this? I haven't seen it at any of our tournaments here in NC/SC...including the USGA events my son played in.

Both in VA.  One was an ajga 13-15 event where they painted red lines on every hole, and the other was a Hurricane event on a challenging course that had all whispy fescue outlining most fairways that they played the fescue boundaries as red.

[weavej1]

Pace of play…not requiring going back to the original spot.

[tatertot]

Kids are in for rude awakening when they play real golf.

[Pinewood Golfer]

6 hours ago, TroyB123 said:

Both in VA.  One was an ajga 13-15 event where they painted red lines on every hole, and the other was a Hurricane event on a challenging course that had all whispy fescue outlining most fairways that they played the fescue boundaries as red.

It’s all pace of play related

[RmoorePE]

14 hours ago, Pinewood Golfer said:

It’s all pace of play related

100%

 

Daughter was in a tournament 3 weeks ago and it had partially burned out fairways on a course with rolling hills. This lead to so many tee shots landing on the fairway and running into bushes, fescue and even OB where the competitors couldn't see the ball. The RO working were livid with the course for not marking those collection areas red as it slowed down play so much. Kids who usually shot in red numbers were shooting +6 and 7, everyone was mad.

[kekoa]

A few things.  First, I would assume the course being played has everything marked as red already.  Unless you are playing USGA sanctioned events, I doubt the tournament director would have his guys go out on a course and re-mark everything.

 

I personally like to see OB stakes on courses.  I feel like it helps to somewhat level the playing field on certain holes between bombers and shorter hitters who are very accurate.

[TroyB123]

1 hour ago, kekoa said:

A few things.  First, I would assume the course being played has everything marked as red already.  Unless you are playing USGA sanctioned events, I doubt the tournament director would have his guys go out on a course and re-mark everything.

 

I personally like to see OB stakes on courses.  I feel like it helps to somewhat level the playing field on certain holes between bombers and shorter hitters who are very accurate.

The ajga jr all star event I mentioned was done by the tournament team.   We saw them do it the day we got there.  The other one just had a rule that the fescue line is to be played as red stakes, and not normally how the course is played.

Edited August 16, 2023 by TroyB123