Tee box condition

[Rob G 89]

Is there any formal rule saying tee boxes should be flat and well manicured? Furthermore is there any relief from a tee box littered with divots? I know you get 2 club lengths back, but is there anything beyond that relief wise?

 

I just ask because I play a fairly decent course 120 prime tee times, and alot of there tee boxes are uphill/downhill lies or side hill lies. 
 

or does the rules of golf expect skill to be takeover and you should know how to hit from all lies?

[SNIPERBBB]

Just have to deal with it. As for the divot thing, the course should move the tees a bit  more often to keep from getting too divotized. Still have to deal with it though.

 

 

Edited September 26, 2023 by SNIPERBBB

[Colin L]

2 hours ago, Rob G 89 said:

Is there any formal rule saying tee boxes should be flat and well manicured? Furthermore is there any relief from a tee box littered with divots? I know you get 2 club lengths back, but is there anything beyond that relief wise?......

 

In a word, no.   But you have an area the width between the tee markers and two clublengths deep to play from.  You have to look the best (or least worst) place to play from anywhere in that area.   Most golfers, I suspect, habitually tee up close to the front line of the teeing area  but they don't have to.   

 

That's a suggestion as to how to deal with it,  not an excuse for having teeing areas such as you describe.  The other suggestion is don't play there if there's a better alternative.

[ae1985]

So sick of playing on tees that are like an upside down cereal bowl.

[AzRoger]

They rebuilt most of the tee boxes at my course a few years ago, just need to get enough members to complain to the superintendent/golf pro to get it done. Don't have to do them all at once, a couple at a time until completed.

[betarhoalphadelta]

Why are you worried about a divot? You have the option to put your ball on a tee! You can tee it up as high as you like (up to the tee length limit of course). You could play on dirt and not worry about it if you have a tee. 

 

[bcjim]

It's the sidehill lies on the tee box that I hate.  And then the ones so hacked up, one or both feet are in a divot.

 

[Rob G 89]

4 hours ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

Why are you worried about a divot? You have the option to put your ball on a tee! You can tee it up as high as you like (up to the tee length limit of course). You could play on dirt and not worry about it if you have a tee. 

 

It’s the footing that bothers me 

[2bGood]

Not what you are asking, but the teeing area is the one place on the course that you CAN do repairs and improve your lie. So yes there are special rules for that area. 

 

Actions That Are Allowed(8) In the teeing area

Place a tee in or on the ground,Move, bend or break any growing or attached natural object (see Rule 6.2b(3)), andAlter the surface of the ground, remove or press down sand and soil, or remove dew, frost or water.

 

You could under the rules, level the tee area before your shot (you might get kicked out of the club though😉).

 

 

 

 

[bluedot]

In general, you do NOT get relief on a tee box for any abnormal ground conditions like water around your feet, and sidehill lies and divots wouldn’t be abnormal ground conditions anyway.
 

The justification for no relief when there ARE abnormal ground conditions is that you don’t yet have a ball in play, and that is is up to the “committee” to move the tees to a location wher the abnormal ground condition is not a problem.

[sui generis]

1 hour ago, bluedot said:

you do NOT get relief on a tee box for any abnormal ground conditions like water around your feet,

 

I may have to think about that for a bit.

 

R16.1(2) Relief Allowed Anywhere on Course Except When Ball Is in Penalty Area.

 

Relief from interference by an abnormal course condition is allowed under Rule 16.1 only when both:

The abnormal course condition is on the course (not out of bounds), and

 

The ball is anywhere on the course, except in a penalty area (where the player’s only relief is under Rule 17).

 

https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-clarifications/rules-and-clarifications.html#!ruletype=fr&section=rule&rulenum=16&subrulenum=1

[bluedot]

3 minutes ago, sui generis said:

 

I may have to think about that for a bit.

 

R16.1(2) Relief Allowed Anywhere on Course Except When Ball Is in Penalty Area.

 

Relief from interference by an abnormal course condition is allowed under Rule 16.1 only when both:

The abnormal course condition is on the course (not out of bounds), and

 

The ball is anywhere on the course, except in a penalty area (where the player’s only relief is under Rule 17).

 

https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-clarifications/rules-and-clarifications.html#!ruletype=fr&section=rule&rulenum=16&subrulenum=1

Except that you don’t yet have a ball in play.

 

This came up at my previous club on a very large teeing area for a par 3 that had become somewhat concave over the years. After heavy rains, there were days where most of the tee area was soaked; casual water in those days, abnormal ground condition now.  
 

We asked the question one particularity messy day; our head pro called the USGA for an answer and was told that the player is NOT entitled to move outside the markers plus two club lengths back on a tee shot.

[Hawkeye77]

LOL, our course built a couple of new tee boxes a few years ago and couldn’t manage to get them level and to save dirt of all things when it wasn’t necessary made them long and narrow and almost never move the tee makers - you just roll your eyes. Teeing up in compacted dirt is far too common and a nice hook lie to boot!

[sui generis]

39 minutes ago, bluedot said:

Except that you don’t yet have a ball in play.

 

 

I do understand that part of the argument. 🙂