Are you allowed to create a small mound on the tee box to hit from?

This came up in my foursome.

Guy walks up to the tee on a par 3, hits his iron into the ground (not crazy hard, just a small thump) creating a little raised bump, sets his ball on that and then plays a shot (which lands about 3 feet from the hole).

Another guy in the group claims this is against the rules and making that little bump on the tee is "changing the golf course". I always thought this was legal and I think I've seen Laura Davies do it on tour.

Anyone know the actual rule? And if you cite the rule # that would help.

Thx

Rule 6-2 (b) (3) says that this is permitted.

(3) **Certain Conditions in Teeing Area May Be Improved**. Before making a stroke, the player may take these actions in the teeing area to improve the conditions affecting the stroke Conditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. (see Rule 8.1b(8)):

- Alter the surface of the ground in the teeing area (such as by making an indentation with a club or foot),

- Move, bend or break grass, weeds and other natural objects that are attached or growing in the ground in the teeing area

- Remove or press down sand and soil in the teeing area, and

- Remove dew, frost and water in the teeing area.

Yes, you may take that action. Rule 6.2

(3) Certain Conditions in Teeing Area May Be Improved. Before making a stroke, the player may take these actions in the teeing area to improve the conditions affecting the stroke (see Rule 8.1b(8)):

• Alter the surface of the ground in the teeing area (such as by making an indentation with a club or foot),

Thank you guys!

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-2019/rules-of-golf/rule-6.html

6.2.

You may have seen Laura Davies. She always does it.

https://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/laura-davies-has-a-very-unusual-way-of-teeing-up-her-ball

> @"Bill Broderick" said:

> Rule 6-2 (b) (3) says that this is permitted.

>

> (3) **Certain Conditions in Teeing Area May Be Improved**. Before making a stroke, the player may take these actions in the teeing area to improve the conditions affecting the stroke Conditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. (see Rule 8.1b(8)):

>

> - Alter the surface of the ground in the teeing area (such as by making an indentation with a club or foot),

>

> - Move, bend or break grass, weeds and other natural objects that are attached or growing in the ground in the teeing area

>

> - Remove or press down sand and soil in the teeing area, and

>

> - Remove dew, frost and water in the teeing area.

Is the part about the area of intended swing new to this year? If I am reading this correctly can we break off tree branches that encroach on the teeing ground and would impede a swing?

Having played with Old Tom there used to be a pile of sand along the tee box. You took a small cup, dipped it into the sand and made a "tee." That's the origin of the tee.

Tell your buddy he can "pound sand". ;)

> @Shilgy said:

> > @"Bill Broderick" said:

> > Rule 6-2 (b) (3) says that this is permitted.

> >

> > (3) **Certain Conditions in Teeing Area May Be Improved**. Before making a stroke, the player may take these actions in the teeing area to improve the conditions affecting the stroke Conditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. (see Rule 8.1b(8)):

> >

> > - Alter the surface of the ground in the teeing area (such as by making an indentation with a club or foot),

> >

> > - Move, bend or break grass, weeds and other natural objects that are attached or growing in the ground in the teeing area

> >

> > - Remove or press down sand and soil in the teeing area, and

> >

> > - Remove dew, frost and water in the teeing area.

>

> Is the part about the area of intended swing new to this year? If I am reading this correctly can we break off tree branches that encroach on the teeing ground and would impede a swing?

I read that you can do that stuff to things that are **attached or growing** in the teeing area. I don't think that includes things that are attached or growing elsewhere, even if they extend over the teeing area.

> @Shilgy said:

> > @"Bill Broderick" said:

> > Rule 6-2 (b) (3) says that this is permitted.

> >

> > (3) **Certain Conditions in Teeing Area May Be Improved**. Before making a stroke, the player may take these actions in the teeing area to improve the conditions affecting the stroke Conditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. (see Rule 8.1b(8)):

> >

> > - Alter the surface of the ground in the teeing area (such as by making an indentation with a club or foot),

> >

> > - Move, bend or break grass, weeds and other natural objects that are attached or growing in the ground in the teeing area

> >

> > - Remove or press down sand and soil in the teeing area, and

> >

> > - Remove dew, frost and water in the teeing area.

>

> Is the part about the area of intended swing new to this year? If I am reading this correctly can we break off tree branches that encroach on the teeing ground and would impede a swing?

This Rule simply refers to Conditions Affecting the Stroke. Later in the same Rule it is listed which actions you may take and improving the area of intended stance is limited to what Dave said, i.e. attached or growing in the Teeing Area. So to answer your question: no, you are not allowed to break branches growing outside the Teeing Area. This has not changed.

> @"Mr. Bean" said:

> > @Shilgy said:

> > > @"Bill Broderick" said:

> > > Rule 6-2 (b) (3) says that this is permitted.

> > >

> > > (3) **Certain Conditions in Teeing Area May Be Improved**. Before making a stroke, the player may take these actions in the teeing area to improve the conditions affecting the stroke Conditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. (see Rule 8.1b(8)):

> > >

> > > - Alter the surface of the ground in the teeing area (such as by making an indentation with a club or foot),

> > >

> > > - Move, bend or break grass, weeds and other natural objects that are attached or growing in the ground in the teeing area

> > >

> > > - Remove or press down sand and soil in the teeing area, and

> > >

> > > - Remove dew, frost and water in the teeing area.

> >

> > Is the part about the area of intended swing new to this year? If I am reading this correctly can we break off tree branches that encroach on the teeing ground and would impede a swing?

>

> This Rule simply lists what are the Conditions Affecting the Stroke. Later in the same Rule it is listed which actions you may take and improving the area of intended stance is limited to what Dave said, i.e. attached or growing in the Teeing Area. So to answer your question: no, you are not allowed to break branches outside the Teeing Area. This has not changed.

Thank you that is what I thought but read the “area of intended swing” part and wanted to be certain.

> @davep043 said:

> > @Shilgy said:

> > > @"Bill Broderick" said:

> > > Rule 6-2 (b) (3) says that this is permitted.

> > >

> > > (3) **Certain Conditions in Teeing Area May Be Improved**. Before making a stroke, the player may take these actions in the teeing area to improve the conditions affecting the stroke Conditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. (see Rule 8.1b(8)):

> > >

> > > - Alter the surface of the ground in the teeing area (such as by making an indentation with a club or foot),

> > >

> > > - Move, bend or break grass, weeds and other natural objects that are attached or growing in the ground in the teeing area

> > >

> > > - Remove or press down sand and soil in the teeing area, and

> > >

> > > - Remove dew, frost and water in the teeing area.

> >

> > Is the part about the area of intended swing new to this year? If I am reading this correctly can we break off tree branches that encroach on the teeing ground and would impede a swing?

>

> I read that you can do that stuff to things that are **attached or growing** in the teeing area. I don't think that includes things that are attached or growing elsewhere, even if they extend over the teeing area.

Precisely. There was a well publicised Phil Michelson penalty in 2018 for pressing down long grass immediately in front of the teeing area - with detailed coverage in the bottom half of this Barry Rhodes blog link at http://www.barryrhodes.com/2018/07/phil-mickelson-and-rules.html This issue is unchanged in the 2019 Rules.

Yeah it's called a "turf tee". I do it sometimes when teeing off with a hybrid or long iron. My buddy in college used to do it with driver to hit stingers

> @Shilgy said:

> > @"Bill Broderick" said:

> > Rule 6-2 (b) (3) says that this is permitted.

> >

> > (3) **Certain Conditions in Teeing Area May Be Improved**. Before making a stroke, the player may take these actions in the teeing area to improve the conditions affecting the stroke Conditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. (see Rule 8.1b(8)):

> >

> > - Alter the surface of the ground in the teeing area (such as by making an indentation with a club or foot),

> >

> > - Move, bend or break grass, weeds and other natural objects that are attached or growing in the ground in the teeing area

> >

> > - Remove or press down sand and soil in the teeing area, and

> >

> > - Remove dew, frost and water in the teeing area.

>

> Is the part about the area of intended swing new to this year? If I am reading this correctly can we break off tree branches that encroach on the teeing ground and would impede a swing?

If so I’m bringing a chainsaw next round. I’ve got some trimming if love to do on several tee boxes. ( joking. Maybe).

> @bladehunter said:

> > @Shilgy said:

> > > @"Bill Broderick" said:

> > > Rule 6-2 (b) (3) says that this is permitted.

> > >

> > > (3) **Certain Conditions in Teeing Area May Be Improved**. Before making a stroke, the player may take these actions in the teeing area to improve the conditions affecting the stroke Conditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. (see Rule 8.1b(8)):

> > >

> > > - Alter the surface of the ground in the teeing area (such as by making an indentation with a club or foot),

> > >

> > > - Move, bend or break grass, weeds and other natural objects that are attached or growing in the ground in the teeing area

> > >

> > > - Remove or press down sand and soil in the teeing area, and

> > >

> > > - Remove dew, frost and water in the teeing area.

> >

> > Is the part about the area of intended swing new to this year? If I am reading this correctly can we break off tree branches that encroach on the teeing ground and would impede a swing?

>

>

> If so I’m bringing a chainsaw next round. I’ve got some trimming if love to do on several tee boxes. ( joking. Maybe).

Ryobi makes an excellent 18v battery powered one that I can probably fit in my bag. The only drawback is that the chain lube/oil may get all over the inside...

> @kevinscott22 said:

> Yeah it's called a "turf tee". I do it sometimes when teeing off with a hybrid or long iron. My buddy in college used to do it with driver to hit stingers

My dad exclusively hits his hybrid off the tee by this method. He uses a divot tool to make it though.

Saw Trevino do it on a par 3 at Shinnecock years ago and adopted it, lots of pros do it.

> @cmagnusson said:

> > @kevinscott22 said:

> > Yeah it's called a "turf tee". I do it sometimes when teeing off with a hybrid or long iron. My buddy in college used to do it with driver to hit stingers

>

> My dad exclusively hits his hybrid off the tee by this method. He uses a divot tool to make it though.

Is he short of tees..?

I wonder what is the 'magic' behind this turf tee thing. In the old days there were no tees or pegs so one needed to build a mound out of sand or create an undulation on the ground in order to hit with the longest clubs. Today there is no need for that as there are tees of all possible sizes to be used. So, is this just a 'thing' one has seen and as it seemed so cool one picked up the habit or what? I cannot see any benefit from that habit, in fact, it seems rather childish.

Ms Davies used it to great effect.

> @Newby said:

> Ms Davies used it to great effect.

Sure, but I don't see any link to her results.

Let’s say you are playing improved lies (lift,clean and place), your drive lands in the fairway, leaves a pitch mark and scoots forward an inch or two. Under the rules, are you allowed to tee your ball up on the pitch mark if it is within the allowed distance no closer to the hole? I play a lot of tourney golf and have always assumed this was ok as the spot was not created by the player in order to improve the shot. Simply taking advantage of a spot in the fairway.

> @goheels11 said:

> Let’s say you are playing improved lies (lift,clean and place), your drive lands in the fairway, leaves a pitch mark and scoots forward an inch or two. Under the rules, are you allowed to tee your ball up on the pitch mark if it is within the allowed distance no closer to the hole? I play a lot of tourney golf and have always assumed this was ok as the spot was not created by the player in order to improve the shot. Simply taking advantage of a spot in the fairway.

Not only may you place your ball on a raised edge of a pitch mark, but if someone left a tee in the ground within the allowed distance, you may place the ball on the tee.

> @goheels11 said:

> Let’s say you are playing improved lies (lift,clean and place), your drive lands in the fairway, leaves a pitch mark and scoots forward an inch or two. Under the rules, are you allowed to tee your ball up on the pitch mark if it is within the allowed distance no closer to the hole? I play a lot of tourney golf and have always assumed this was ok as the spot was not created by the player in order to improve the shot. Simply taking advantage of a spot in the fairway.

Yes. I was refereeing at a Tour event when LCP was in place - player put his ball on a worm cast in the fairway to tee it up for a long second shot into a par 5.

> @antip said:

> > @Newby said:

> > Ms Davies used it to great effect.

>

> Sure, but I don't see any link to her results.

Nothing special- just a Hall of Farmer....most all time wins on the LET and 20 wins on the lpga.

> @Shilgy said:

> > @antip said:

> > > @Newby said:

> > > Ms Davies used it to great effect.

> >

> > Sure, but I don't see any link to her results.

>

> Nothing special- just a Hall of Farmer....most all time wins on the LET and 20 wins on the lpga.

I'm well aware of her talents and outstanding career success but that resulted from her play, not her pre-shot teeing area habit of rearranging the surface of the ground.

Marky Cross does it with Rinky

> @Newby said:

> Ms Davies used it to great effect.

What does 'great effect' mean in this context? What kind of effect does it give a ball when it is being hit from a raised turf compared to a low tee?

> @"Mr. Bean" said:

> > @Newby said:

> > Ms Davies used it to great effect.

>

> What does 'great effect' mean in this context? What kind of effect does it give a ball when it is being hit from a raised turf compared to a low tee?

The causal relationship has not yet been completely verified, but apparently it makes you win.