Golf Tees: the correct rules behind using them on the course

Golf tees come in all different shapes and sizes, but how much do you really know about them? Blakey from Golf Rules Questions takes a closer look at how to use them for starting a hole, their dimensions and what else they can be used for...

What are they?

Artificial devices that you tee your ball on top of within the teeing area, when starting play of a hole.

Do you have to use a tee when you start play of a hole?

No, you can place your ball on the surface of the ground. The surface of the ground includes the turf, whether you might have raised it up by creating a little divot, or you may have placed a small pile of sand on the ground so you can tee your ball up.

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What are their dimensions? 

A tee must not be longer than 4 inches (101.6 mm); that includes if you join two tees together, their combined length must be longer than 4 inches.

You are permitted to tether your tee to an anchor (to reduce the chance of losing your tee) but the tees and anchor are not permitted to be used to assist the player in making a stroke, such as indicating the line of play.

Are all tees created equal?

All tees are created equal, unless you believe the marketing spin that the manufacturers put on their product. This is because tees must not be designed to influence the movement of the ball or assist the player in making a stroke.

What else can you use a tee for? 

You can also use a tee to mark your ball, such as when lifting the ball to identify it, or when your ball is on the putting green. They can also be handy to clean the grooves of your irons with.