When playing a ball from the teeing area, a player may place a ball on a tee for the stroke,
but there is no compulsion to actually use a tee. The rules do not specify that the “tee”
must be either wooden or plastic either. The definition simply refers to “an object” used
to raise the ball above the ground. Presumably it could be metal, but that would probably
cause unnecessary damage to the club during the stroke. It can also simply be a raised
indentation made with a club or foot, which Laura Davies does when teeing off.
However, the rules specify that the tee must not:
• be longer than 101.6mm ( 4 inches)
• be designed or manufactured in such a way that it could indicate the line of play
• unduly influence movement of the ball, or
• otherwise assist the player in making a stroke
Tees may be tethered together, or to an anchor ( such as a pitch repairer) provided that
nothing is used to help with line or making the stroke.
Although a tee may only be used in the teeing area, there may be occasions when the tee is
subsequently used for the 2nd or 3rd stroke on that hole e.g.
• playing a ball after taking the stroke and distance penalty ( whether voluntarily or
compulsorily)
• playing a stroke after the first tee shot, when the ball has either not left the
teeing area at all e.g. an air shot; a very short one, or has ricocheted back into the
teeing area and is now at rest.
In any of these scenarios there is no penalty for moving the ball, putting it back on a tee,
or moving it to another part of the teeing area.
