Tee sign
The tee sign is the sign at the tee box that shows you the key data for the hole.
The tee sign stands next to almost every tee and tells you at a glance what lies ahead of you. Typical information includes the hole number, the length in metres per tee colour, the par and the stroke index, that is, the difficulty rating of the hole. Many boards also show a sketch of the hole with dogleg, bunkers and water. At larger facilities the distances to individual hazards are noted. The board replaces a look at the scorecard but is more detailed.
In practice you save strokes if you read the board before you tee off. An example: par 4, 350 metres, the board shows a lake crossing the hole at 220 metres. Your drive carries 210 to 230, so you choose a shorter wood and lay up short of the water. Without a glance at the board the driver would have been the choice, with a high risk. Especially on unfamiliar courses the sketch is worth its weight in gold, because you spot blind hazards that you cannot see from the tee. The combination of length and index also tells you whether the hole invites an attack or a safe play.
The typical mistake is ignoring the board on familiar courses. After re-measuring or changed flag positions the old picture in your head no longer matches. Also popular: confusing the stated lengths with the actual conditions of the day — with wind and soft ground every hole plays differently from what the number suggests. Read the board, compare it with the wind and the condition of the fairway and only then choose the club.
FAQ
What is shown on the tee sign?
The board shows you the hole number, the length in metres per tee colour, the par and the stroke index, that is, the difficulty rating of the hole. Many boards also have a sketch with doglegs, bunkers and water. That makes it a substitute for a look at the scorecard, only more detailed and right at the scene.
Why should I read the tee sign before the shot?
Because from the tee you often cannot see everything that lies ahead. Streams crossing the hole, bunkers behind a rise or the exact distance to the water are on the board — and they decide whether the driver is a good idea. On unfamiliar courses this one glance is regularly worth a stroke.
Do the metre figures on the board always match the way the hole plays?
No. Wind, soft ground after rain or a dry, hard fairway in summer change the effective length considerably. A 350-metre hole into a headwind plays like 380. Take the numbers as a basis but reconcile them with the conditions of the day before you choose the club.