The first tee is one of the most important operational points on a golf course.

It is where the tee sheet becomes an actual flow of golfers onto the course.

The starter is responsible for helping make that transition orderly, welcoming and on time.

A good starter does much more than announce who is next.

The Starter Sets the Tone

For many customers, the starter is one of their first meaningful interactions with golf-course operations on the day of play.

That interaction establishes expectations.

Golfers should know when they are expected to tee off, where they need to be, any important course-specific information and what pace of play the facility expects.

The objective isn't to deliver a speech before every round. It is to communicate the right information clearly and efficiently.

Protect the Tee Sheet

A golf course can have carefully spaced tee times on paper and still experience problems if groups don't leave the first tee in an orderly fashion.

The starter serves as the operational gatekeeper.

That means understanding the tee sheet, knowing which groups are ready, communicating with the golf shop when something is wrong and avoiding unnecessary compression between groups.

Sending groups too early can be just as problematic as sending them late.

Proper spacing at the beginning gives the rest of the operation a better chance of maintaining orderly play.

Establish Pace Expectations Before There Is a Problem

The easiest pace-of-play conversation may be the one that happens before anyone is behind.

A brief, courteous explanation of the course's expected pace establishes the standard before the round begins.

Golfers then know what the facility expects, and marshals have a foundation for later conversations if a group begins falling significantly behind.

The starter and marshal therefore operate as parts of the same system.

One establishes the expectation. The other helps maintain it.

Communication Should Be Consistent

Different starters should not provide completely different experiences.

Management should determine the essential information golfers need and train starters to communicate it consistently.

Depending on the facility, that may include:

  • Tee-time and starting procedures
  • Pace-of-play expectations
  • Cart rules
  • Course conditions
  • Restricted areas
  • Safety considerations
  • Course-specific policies

The details will vary from course to course. The need for consistency does not.

A Starter Must Also Know When to Ask for Help

A crowded first tee can create pressure quickly.

Late groups, missing players, cart issues and disagreements about starting order can all occur at once.

Training should make clear which situations a starter can resolve and which should be referred to golf-shop personnel or management.

The starter should not have to invent policy while golfers are waiting.

Starters and Marshals Should Work Together

The starter sees the beginning of every round.

That information can be extremely useful later.

When starter and marshal operations are coordinated, the course has a clearer picture of when groups actually began and whether they are maintaining the expected pace.

Pathway Golf Institute's SimplePace™ was built around this basic operational relationship: establish the group's starting information and give marshals an objective way to understand where that group should be as the round progresses.

Technology, however, doesn't replace good starter training.

It makes trained staff more effective.

The First Tee Deserves Professional Standards

Golf facilities invest heavily in course conditions, equipment, food and beverage, golf shops and customer acquisition.

The person controlling the transition from clubhouse to golf course deserves appropriate preparation as well.

Professional starter training doesn't need to be complicated.

It needs to be clear, practical and consistent.

A well-trained starter gets groups underway, communicates expectations and sends golfers onto the course feeling that the operation is organized and ready for them.

That's a small part of the overall round — but an important part of the golfer's experience.