Tee (accessory)
The tee is the small peg you place your ball on at the tee.
The tee is the smallest piece of equipment in the game: a small peg of wood or plastic that lifts the ball a few centimeters off the ground. It is used only on the tee, the only area where teeing up is allowed. There are different lengths: long for the driver with its large head, short for irons and woods on short holes. The color is purely a matter of taste. After the stroke, tees often remain standing — take yours with you or leave it for the next player.
The height of the tee noticeably affects the ball flight. With the driver, half the ball should sit above the top edge of the clubface, because the club strikes the ball with a slightly ascending blow. With an iron from the tee, the ball sits only just above the grass. An example: on a par 3 you tee it low, so the ball is struck as if from the fairway. On a long par 5 you tee it high, for the optimal launch angle with the driver.
A typical mistake is teeing the ball too high with long irons or woods. The ball is then struck near its top and loses distance. Conversely, a drive teed too low costs height and length. The rules allow the tee only within the teeing marks; after that, the ball is played as it lies. On the green a tee is of course off limits — that is where the ball is putted.
FAQ
Which tee length do I need for which club?
For the driver with its large head, use long tees so the ball sits high enough. For irons and woods on short holes, short tees are enough, with the ball only just above the grass. Many players simply break long tees or push them deeper — so a stock of long tees covers everything.
May I also use a tee on the fairway?
No, teeing up is allowed only on the tee. On the fairway, in the rough or in the bunker the rule applies: play the ball as it lies. Anyone who secretly improves the ball's position breaks the rules and takes penalty strokes in stroke play.
Wooden or plastic tees — which makes more sense?
Wooden tees are cheap and biodegradable, but they often break after a single stroke. Plastic tees last many rounds, but as litter on the course they are a nuisance when left lying around. Whatever the material: pick up your tees after your tee shot, especially the intact ones — otherwise they end up as small litter on every teeing area.