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Teeing ground

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Teeing ground
A golfer playing golf from a teeing area, with red and white tee markers visible
Other namesTee, tee box
Characteristics
TypeGolf
EquipmentGolf tee, Golf ball, Golf clubs
VenueGolf course
GlossaryGlossary of golf
Presence
Country or regionWorldwide

The teeing area (also tee, tee box, # tee, or teeing ground ) is the area where play begins in a hole of golf.

The teeing area is a rectangle two golf club lengths deep. Its front edge is defined by an imaginary line between the forward-most points of two tee markers. It is common for golf courses and country clubs to have multiple tee markers that are set at different distances.

History

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Eighteenth century

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The first known written rules of golf are the Thirteen Articles; they were drafted in 1744 by the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith [de] for the first Challenge for the Silver Club at Leith Links in Edinburgh, Scotland.[1][2] John Rattray won, and his signature appears at the end of the Articles, preserved in the minute book of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.[3]

The Articles required that golfers teed within one club's length of the last hole.[4][1] Thus, the teeing area was around the previous hole.[5] Many of these areas were within a circle.[6] Successive ways of teeing was used by Bruntsfield Links (1773[7]), Company of Golfers (1809[8]) St Andrews Links (1777), Crail (1786), Perth (1825) and others variously defined the teeing ground.[9][10] By 1875, teeing areas had expanded to between eight and twelve club-lengths, and that year Old Tom Morris introduced separate teeing areas at Old Course at St Andrews.[6][11] The 1888 rules described a layout similar to that used today.[12]

Nineteenth century

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By the 1890s, golf courses in the United States had begun to construct teeing areas that were level boxes. These boxes were made from wood, stone, or cement, and often filled with sand, soil, dirt, bitumen, cement, and sometimes covered with coir.[12][13] Grass teeing areas were also used and later became common on championship and private clubs.[11] Today most use grass, additionally most of these teeing boxes would go out of fashion.[11]

Terminology

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In a 1636 Latin textbook, David Wedderburn included the phrase "Statumina pilam arena", meaning "Teaz [tee up] your Ball on the sand", in a section on golf wording from the Early Scots.[1]

The 1888 rules of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews referred to the starting place as the "teeing-ground".[14] The term was associated with the Scottish word ''tigh'', meaning "home" and is pronounced tee.[12] The R&A (spun off from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 2004) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) both call it a Teeing Area.[15][16][17][18]

Teeing area markers

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Green teeing area markers on the County Sligo Golf Club, Rosses Point, Ireland.

Tee markers were referenced as early as 1781, when the Aberdeen Journal referred to a “golf stone.”[6][19][20] Modern tee markers are often distinguished by color, although color vary between courses.[21][22] White and blue have traditionally been used with tees furthest from the hole, also known as “medal” or tournament tee.[22] While red has been used for the forward tees.[23] Yellow or gold and sometimes green have been used for intermediate tees.[24][25]

Color Common or traditional association
Blue Longer or back tees
White Longer or back tees
Yellow or gold Intermediate tees
Red Forward tees
Green Varies by course
White marker.

Forward tees were historically sometimes called ladies' tees.[26] This terminology has increasingly been replaced by terms based on distance or tee position.[27] There was also the term of “the boxes.”[22] Chmpionship/Back/Tip Tees and "Tiger" tees are sometimes used for furthest tees on the course.[28][29]

Layout and boundaries

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The teeing area is the start of any golf hole; the hole starts when the player sets their golf ball within the area.[30][31][32][33][34]

The ball may be allowed to be placed on a golf tee or directly on the ground.[16] When making ones swing, a player is allowed to stand outside the teeing area, as long as the ball is within the teeing area.[35][36][37] Playing the ball from outside the teeing area results in a penalty; the type of penalty depends on the format of play.[38][39]

Construction and maintenance

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Teeing areas can use a variety of surfaces, the most common are artificial mats, or grass. On grass tees, sometimes a golfers shots could make a divots. These divots can be repaired with sand, soil, seed, or fertilizer.[40][25] Course-maintenance staff also move tee markers periodically.[41][42]

Course ratings and handicaps

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The choice of teeing area is generally left to the player or determined by the course. Different sets of tees may have separate Course rating and Slope rating values.[43] These values are used in the World Handicap System.[21][22]

At many clubs, the head professional or starter will ask about a golfer's ability and recommend the most suitable set of tees.[22] This is done to improve the pace of play in a given round of golf.[22]

The Course Rating is what represents the expected score of a scratch golfer. The Slope Rating is what the relative difficulty of the golf course for a bogey golfer compared with a scratch golfer.[44] Since the tee markers are at different locations each set of tee markers have its own Course Rating and Slope Rating.[45]

Golf tee

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Oversized golf tee sculptures by Hubert Privé [fr] for the Ryder Cup.
An angry golfer using a mound of sand to tee a golf ball, depicted on the 1903 cover of Puck

A golf tee is a small peg with a rounded top. The tee is used to raise the golf ball above the ground for the first stroke of a hole. Under the Rules of Golf, a golf ball can only be teed off at the beginning of a hole.[46] Tees are commonly made of wood or plastic and are available in various lengths.[6] A standard tee is 2+1⁄8 inches (5.4 cm)[47] The tee itself had never been defined until 2004.[48] Under the R&A and USGA Rules of Golf, a tee must be no longer than 4 inches (101.6 mm) and must not be designed to indicate the line of play or influence the movement of the golf ball.[15]

History

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Before the tees that are common now, golfers used sand to raise the ball.[49] Caddies often scooped sand from the bottom of the hole to form a tee, which caused the hole to deteriorate. Thus prompting some courses to provide sand in boxes. Today, those types of boxes now hold sand and grass seed to repair divots.[6] The 1908 rules stated that the ball may be placed on the ground or small mounds of sand.[12]

Patented golf tees
Patent illustration Description
On August 16, 1889, William Bloxsom Secretary and Arthur Douglas, of Scotland, patented a tee with a flat rubber with three prongs or a hollow tube to hold the ball. Their patent GB 12941 was granted in April 1890. This would be the first patented golf tee[6][50]
On February 29, 1892, Percy Ellis, of Wallington, Surrey, patented the "Perfectum" tee. This was the first tee to penetrate the ground. It used a rubber head and metal spike. His patent GB 3916 was granted in 1892.[50]
On September 10, 1895, Glaswegian David Dalziel of Glasgow, Scotland patented a rubber tee combined with an artificial-turf mat (US 567455).[51] This would be the first US patent related to golf tees.
On December 16, 1895, P. L. Senat of Philadelphia, patented a tee made from paper in the shape of a truncated cone (US 570821).[51]
On February 15, 1896, British patent 253, "An Improved Form of Golfing Tee", was granted to William Kirkwood[52]
On June 12, 1897, P. M. Matthews of Scotland patented the "Victor" tee (GB 14292).[50]
On December 12, 1899, Harvard University professor, George Franklin Grant, received US Patent No. 638,920[53][54] This tee was a vertical rubber tube attached at its base of wood. Grant's tee was not widely adopted because he did not market it.[49][51]
William Lowell Sr., U.S. Patent No. 1,670,267.[55]

On May 5, 1922, William Lowell, Sr. filed a patent application for the "Reddy Tee", which was granted patent No. 1,493,687 on May 13, 1924.[56][57] He would paint the wood tees red, formed the Reddy Tee Co. Lowell would hired two professional golfers, Walter Hagen (whom he paid $1500) and Joe Kirkwood Sr., in 1924 as the pair played exhibition matches.[58] The Reddy Tee later fell out of use, and Lowell lost his patent after a legal dispute. In 2005, Rand Jerris, then director of the USGA Museum and Archives (from 2002 to 2011), said, "The transformation happened very quickly," adding that "within a couple years the sand tee disappeared."[59][56]

Since 1976, about 288 patents with “golf tee” in the title have been granted.[56]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "Early moments in Scottish golf". National Library of Scotland. Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  2. ↑ Bisset, Fergus (December 22, 2020). "What Is The Oldest Golf Club In The World?". Golf Monthly. Archived from the original on June 6, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Rules of Golf - 1744 - Scottish Golf History". www.scottishgolfhistory.org. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  4. ↑ USGA (March 1, 2017). "A Brief History of Revisions to the Rules of Golf: 1744 to Present". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on May 11, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  5. ↑ Wallace, Jamie (July 5, 2017). "Rules Throwback: The Game's First Documented Rules". United States Golf Association. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Tee - Scottish Golf History". www.scottishgolfhistory.org. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  7. ↑ "1773 Rules of Golf". www.ruleshistory.com. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  8. ↑ Lockyer, Norman; Rutherford, William (1896) [1809]. The Rules of Golf: Being the St. Andrews Rules for the Game (PDF). New York; London: Macmillan & Co. p. 72. OCLC 1084508951. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  9. ↑ "The History and Evolution of Hitting Distances and Golf Course Lengths Before 1980" (PDF). p. 14. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  10. ↑ "The Teeing Ground". www.ruleshistory.com. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 Sparing, Ty (May 15, 2024). "Evolution of the Teeing Grounds". Montana State Golf Association (MSGA). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 fore (March 4, 2021). "Golf Terms: The Tee Box". Golf Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  13. ↑ Childs, Donald J. "Ottawa's First Golf Course". Golf Histories. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Rushmore Golf Course". Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford. May 2012. Archived from the original on August 8, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  15. 1 2 United States Golf Association; The R&A (January 1, 2019). "The Equipment Rules" (PDF). United States Golf Association. p. 73. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2026. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Starting the Hole (Teeing Area)". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on May 18, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  17. ↑ "What Are the Areas of the Course and How Are They Defined". United States Golf Association. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  18. ↑ Anderson, Arlette. "Golf Course Condition and Playability: Sustainability Guidelines and Support for Clubs" (PDF). The R&A: 10.
  19. ↑ Cormack, Wade (2016). "Sport and Physical Education in the Northern Mainland Burghs of Scotland c. 1600–1800" (PDF). University of Aberdeen. p. 132.
  20. ↑ "Aberdeen golf club's previous courses Golf Club Aberdeen ". www.forgottengreens.com. Aberdeen Journal. February 19, 1781. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  21. 1 2 "Handicapping". BBC Sport. September 16, 2005. Archived from the original on February 21, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bissett, Fergus (March 31, 2022). "What Are Gender Neutral Tees? The traditional notion of men's and ladies' tees is being phased out. Teeing options increasingly reflect playing requirements and ability rather than gender". Golf Monthly. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  23. ↑ Weinman, Sam (June 21, 2024). "How playing forward tees makes you better". Golf Digest. Archived from the original on March 7, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  24. ↑ Bushell, John; Healy, Erica; Zeila, Vikki (August 2021). "USGA GOLFER EXPERIENCE RESEARCH" (PDF). United States Golf Association. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  25. 1 2 USGA Green Section (January 18, 2018). "Tee Marker Rotation — A Balancing Act". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on June 18, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  26. ↑ Hibbitt, James (December 11, 2021). "Golf Courses Abandon Gendered Tee Markers". Golf Monthly. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  27. ↑ Jacob, Paul (February 2, 2020). "Rethinking Forward Tees". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on May 19, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  28. ↑ Rosaforte, Tim (November 2, 2015). "Redesigned Medalist Golf Club to feature new "Tiger Tees"". Golf Digest. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  29. ↑ Kerr-Dineen, Luke (May 24, 2020). "Here's what Medalist Golf Club's maxed-out 'Tiger tees' look like on Google Earth". Golf Magazine. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  30. ↑ Ellwood, Jeremy (November 9, 2022). "Rules of Golf: The Teeing Area". Golf Monthly. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  31. ↑ "The Original 13 Rules of Golf". Professional Golfers Career College. Archived from the original on January 16, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Teeing ground". "Rules of Golf", United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on April 4, 2005. Retrieved April 5, 2005.
  33. ↑ "Rule 6: Playing a Hole". The R&A. Archived from the original on May 19, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Evolution of the rules". Golf Canada. May 25, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Rules of Golf". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on January 5, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  36. ↑ "When ball is in teeing area". The R&A. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  37. ↑ Guy, Rules (August 23, 2023). "Rules Guy: After moving back 2 club-lengths, my tee shot was aligned with the tee behind mine. Is that a penalty?". Golf Magazine. Archived from the original on May 2, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  38. ↑ Kaspriske, Ron (March 21, 2024). "Rules of Golf Review: I'm hitting a 6-iron on a par 3. Can I use my driver to measure the teeing area?". Golf Digest. Archived from the original on January 24, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  39. ↑ Guy, Rules (April 19, 2022). "Rules Guy: Can you still post your score if you play a hole from a different set of tees?". Golf Magazine. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  40. ↑ Dowling, Elliott (September 3, 2021). "Making Tees a Priority". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on April 21, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  41. ↑ Isom, Cory (September 3, 2021). "The Dirt on Divot Mix". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on June 10, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  42. ↑ Nicoludis, Zach (March 1, 2024). "Get Creative With Tee Marker Placement". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on April 19, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  43. ↑ Benjamin, Terry (October 23, 2024). "Course Rating vs. Slope Rating". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on June 10, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  44. ↑ Levins, Keely (November 10, 2025). "What Exactly are Course Rating and Slope Rating?". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on April 21, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  45. ↑ Pierce, David (September 2, 2022). "Tee Options on Golf Courses: Supply, Demand and Opportunities". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on March 7, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Playing a Hole". The R&A. Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Tees (Rule 6.2)". United States Golf Association. Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Rules of Golf 2004". Rules History. Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  49. 1 2 Garabed, Kylie (July 3, 2018). "Dr. George Grant and Evolution of the Golf Tee". United States Golf Association. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  50. 1 2 3 Beach, Adam (October 16, 2008). ""The History Of The Golf Tee"". MyGolfSpy. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  51. 1 2 3 "Who invented the golf tee?". www.blackinventionmyths.com. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  52. ↑ "NIEBLO MFG. CO., INC., V. PRESTON ET AL". CaseMine. February 18, 1929. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  53. ↑ Denny, Heather (July 10, 2023). "George Grant takes his place in history". Harvard Gazette. Archived from the original on May 11, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  54. ↑ Mock, Wanda (February 1, 2015). "Pioneering Dentist Invented the Golf Tee - Dr. George Franklin Grant". www.deardoctor.com. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
  55. ↑ "History of the Golf Tee". golfsportmagazine.com. May 26, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  56. 1 2 3 "Dentist Commercialized the Wooden Golf Tee". NBC Sports. Associated Press. 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  57. ↑ Hyman, Vicki (July 31, 2010). "A look at the man who invented modern golf tees". July 31, 2010. The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on December 27, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  58. ↑ "The Reddy Tee 1924". One of a Kind Antiques. Retrieved August 5, 2005.
  59. ↑ "Dentist Commercialized the Wooden Golf Tee". Golf Channel. August 5, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2026.

Valenta, Irwin R. (1995). A Singular History of the Golf Tee. Greensboro, North Carolina: I. R. Valenta.

See also

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