It is a question whose answer can have a big impact on your enjoyment of the game each and every day, at all ages and stages. I am talking about the choice of which tees you play from. Black, blue, white, red, yellow or any other colour.

Many years ago, I set some guidelines for myself that I hoped would maximize my positive experiences as a golfer. One of the most important of those decisions was how I would decide who to play with. I consciously chose to not play with the same people all the time, and I have rarely let talent, age or index influence whether I should play with someone.

I like to say that I play with great people; not necessarily accomplished golfers. And I love watching golfers of all abilities play holes very well, for them.

Which has led to my fascination with the choice of tee markers people make. It has an oversized impact on your enjoyment of a round, but many give it zero thought.

I play quite a bit with 20-plus handicappers, and my typical three rounds per week includes golfers in every decade from 30s to 80s. I see a huge variety of shots, of all lengths and shapes. And I am no longer shy about suggesting the optimal tee deck if I see a big mismatch. I’ve seen the joy that the right choice can bring golfers of all abilities and ages. I’ve witnessed firsthand the improvements it can make in both pace of play, and the quality of the matches you compete in.

Thankfully, many of golf’s governing bodies are starting to weigh in on how we should be selecting the most appropriate tee blocks. Some of these guidelines involve how far you hit certain clubs — like “the 7-iron rule,” where a chart of various distances that a 7-iron travels lines up with a specific tee deck for any course.

Here’s the thinking that guides my recommendations — more complicated than the 7-iron rule, but hopefully helpful just the same:

Shy of saying every golfer deserves to hit a green in regulation regularly, I do believe you should tee off from the deck that with one, two or three shots can get you in the vicinity of the green on a par 3, par 4 or par 5, respectively. I believe a one-putt par or bogey should be on the table for most golfers who hit a couple of crisp shots.

If the first bounce of your drive is not yet at the start of the fairway, then you are playing too far back. Every golfer deserves to hit a line drive stinger that rolls and rolls. Having a drive not be eligible for that first big kick forward is not something any architect intended.

A big part of the joy and satisfaction from golf is playing a variety of shots with a variety of lofts of clubs. If you’re using your wood or hybrid non-stop from tee to green, you’re playing from the wrong deck. Getting the ball in the air is one of golf’s joys, and no one should be denied the chance to hit a lofted club onto a green.

A big part of the camaraderie of golf is walking together to spots on the fairway where your foursome’s balls have congregated. If each golfer’s drive is separated by 75 yards, you’re missing the fun of sharing yardage, watching each other’s swings close up, and learning from the other shots in your group.

Look closely at where your drives and second shots are ending up relative to other golfers in your group, especially the better golfers. You should be playing from a tee that puts your ball consistently in the mix of the drives of your mates.

It’s important to remember that you’ve paid your fees. Your dues. Of course you’ve earned the right to play from wherever you want. For some, that may mean holding on a little too long to the tees you’ve always played from. But mix it up. Experiment. Giving up a couple of shots in a match for the joy and satisfaction of notching a couple more pars might just be worth it. For a wee fee, I’d be happy to suggest a tee colour for you to try.

© Peterborough Examiner