We are pleased to announce that forward tees at Riverway should be complete and ready for play on July 1!
We’re implementing forward tees to make golf more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Based on recent data, forward tee yardage at many golf courses is still too long for many players. Most forward tees are around 5,000 yards but new data suggests that for those with slower swing speeds and less experience on the course, 4,000 yards is a more appropriate distance. Forward tees not suited to a player's abilities can lead to repetitive and increasingly difficult rounds, resulting in reduced player enjoyment.
In order to remedy this, the TEE IT FORWARD initiative was created by the PGA of America and the United States Golf Association (USGA) and is supported by the Canadian PGA and Golf Canada. This initiative highlights that when people play at the tee best suited to their abilities, it contributes to them having the best possible experience on the golf course. Greens are reached with fewer strokes, pace of play is increased, and a course's playability is greatly improved.
The TEE IT FORWARD initiative notes that a person's tee should be based on average driver distance and created the following guidelines:
| Driver distance | Recommended 18-hole yardages |
| 275 | 6,700-6,900 |
| 250 | 6,200-6,400 |
| 225 | 5,800-6,000 |
| 200 | 5,200-5,400 |
| 175 | 4,400-4,600 |
| 150 | 3,500-3,700 |
| 125 | 2,800-3,000 |
| 100 | 2,100-2,300 |
The initiative also notes that golf courses should consider shortening their forward tees to encourage more people to play.
Here at Golf Burnaby, we want to ensure that all of our guests have the best experience possible. This is why creating appropriate forward tees is so important to us and why we're excited to bring them to you soon. We want to make sure that our courses are open and enjoyable to everyone in our community.
Learn more about the TEE IT FORWARD initiative.
Learn more about Canadian PGA and Golf Canada's support of TEE IT FORWARD.
