Rules of Golf Simplified, Rule 11
Knowing Teeing Ground Rules Will Start a Great Golf Round
We start on the tee-box, or teeing ground, because that's where the game begins. Knowing how to manage the tee can give a player an advantage from the start.
The Rules of Golf, maintained by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A), govern the game and maintain its integrity. Telecasts of professional tournaments could make these golf rules seem archaic and difficult. That couldn't be further from the truth. Although there will always been situations that are up for interpretation, the rules are simple and few in number.
Rule 11: The Teeing Ground
- If a teed ball is accidentally knocked off the tee while the player is addressing the ball, it may be re-teed without a penalty. If, however, a swing is made at the ball, regardless of whether contact is made, the stroke counts but there is not penalty. (11-3)
The good news is that the first-tee, or any tee, jitters that often cause a player to accidentally tap the ball off the tee during address doesn't incur a penalty. Should such a thing happen, simply re-tee the ball and proceed to a good round without penalty. Also, if a stance hasn't been taken and say the player's "waggle" accidentally taps the ball from the tee, there is no penalty and no stroke. Re-tee it.
However, if a swing is made at the teed ball, which either leaves the ball in place or simply causes it to fall off the tee, the stroke counts. For example, if a player has addressed the ball (taken a stance) and makes a swing, it is one stroke, whether the ball travels 300 yards, three inches or doesn't move at all. If it doesn't move at all, play it where it lies, on the tee.
- The teeing ground lies between two tee markers and extends two club-lengths (measured by the longest clubs in the bag, generally the driver) behind them. The ball has to be teed and struck within that boundary; however, the golfer may take a stance outside the boundary in order to make a swing. The ball is not considered to be outside the teeing ground unless the entire ball lies outside the boundary. (11-4)
It seems that not much can be gained from this straightforward rule. That, however, is far from the truth. Where a ball is placed within the boundary can surely give a player an advantage in attacking a hole. Most of the time, players tee there ball at the front of the tee-box, often near the center, with the stance also being inside the boundary. On many holes, the layout of the hole may dictate the best teeing position to be back and left, or back and right. If the hole is a dogleg-right, for example, and the player is a right-hander, she may want to move toward the back left of the teeing ground in order to give her fade the best chance of landing in the fairway.
It should be noted, players need to ensure their ball is teed within the boundary. The penalty for a first violation of the rule is two strokes. Pretty severe, but not overly harsh. If it is repeated on the next hole without correction before the ball is struck, disqualification is the result.
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