Spuzz but only after being unnecessarily punished, and punishing those who only play for fun.
But if you are a recreational player and you don't want to be punished...move up a tee box. Problem solved. Isn't that easier than adding 600 yards to every course that hosts a competition?
If maximum enjoyment is the target here, then recreational golfers should be playing the front tee boxes at all times.
But if you want to play the back tees, but now your 250 yard drive only goes 235, then yeah, you're not going to like golf. If you want to play the back tees and feel like a Pro, well, that takes more than equipment.
Another story from my local muni. #16 is a dogleg left, all hazard left. Maybe 320 on a straight line, but you must carry 260-270. The safe route right is a 220 tee shot short of trees, leaving 200 in. But you can hit a 220 yd shot over a tall tree on the corner and leave 150 in. That shot to 150 was the usual choice and made this hole very playable.
This course was built in the 50s. I never saw anyone try to go straight at the green. Then about 10-15 years ago, that changed. All of a sudden, numerous players started taking the chance. I am sure a few heroic efforts succeeded, but the vast majority failed miserably. And many of those failures went far left into a row of houses. I remember sitting there watching a couple of 20 somethings each try 5 or 6 tee shots to drive that green. 1 may have made it, but I am certain 4 or 5 hit houses.
The homeowners sued, and won. The muni course (that means our tax dollars) had to pay for repairs, AND they had to rebuild the tee box placing large tees left. Not only did that take away the straight line shot, it also took away the 3 wood over the tree. Now you either play a duck hook, or you hit the 220 shot and leave yourself 200 in. If you hit a fade, forget it.
And guess what, the owners of the 60 year old houses left and long of the green have just sued the course, saying that the changes in the tee box have significantly increased the number of balls hitting their homes.
