Tee markers
Tee markers are the two marks that delimit the area from which you must play your first stroke on a hole.
The tee markers, often called tee marks, stand to the left and right at the start of each hole. Between them and two club-lengths behind them lies the teeing area from which your ball must start. Your feet may stand outside it, the ball may not. The colors of the marks show who each tee is intended for: yellow and red are common in Germany for men and ladies, often joined by white, blue or green for further positions. Which color applies to you is set out in the course certificate, your handicap or the conditions of the competition.
In practice, the color changes the length of the hole and with it the difficulty. An example: on a par 4 you play 340 meters from the yellow marks, from the white marks at the back it is 385. The same hole feels like a different one. In tournaments, the conditions of competition state which marks are played from. In a friendly game, the agreement in your group applies. When teeing up, make sure you really play from behind the imaginary line between the two marks, not in front of it. On the scorecard you will find the lengths per tee color.
A typical mistake is playing from in front of the marks or from the wrong color. In stroke play this costs two penalty strokes, in match play your opponent can require you to replay the stroke. Another misunderstanding: many believe the line between the marks is the front boundary — in fact you may tee the ball up to two club-lengths behind it. Use this depth when the area between the marks is worn down. The details of how a hole is laid out are explained in the entry on the tee.
FAQ
What do the colors of the tee marks mean?
The colors show which group of players starts from where. In Germany, yellow for men and red for ladies are common, often joined by white, blue or green for positions further back or forward. Each color changes the length of the hole and with it the difficulty — you will find the exact meters per color on the scorecard.
How far behind the marks may I tee the ball up?
Up to two club-lengths behind the imaginary line between the two marks. Many believe the marks are the back boundary — that is not true. This depth is handy when the ground between the marks is worn or uneven.
What happens if I play from in front of the marks?
In stroke play it costs two penalty strokes, and you must replay the stroke. In match play your opponent may require you to replay it, but does not have to. So before every first stroke, briefly check where the marks stand — especially after re-marking, which happens over the course of the season.