The Tee Box Confusion That Shouldn’t Exist (But Does)

After 35 years covering this game, I’ve seen every conceivable rules dispute play out on the practice range, the first tee, and in the scorer’s trailer. But one thing never ceases to surprise me: how many accomplished golfers—and I mean *good* golfers—don’t fully understand what they can and can’t do from the teeing area.

The Rules Guy’s recent column tackles exactly this problem, and it’s worth paying attention to, because these aren’t edge cases we’re talking about. They’re situations that come up regularly in club tournaments, member-guest events, and casual rounds. And getting them wrong can cost you a stroke, or worse, a disqualification.

The Stroke-and-Distance Myth

Let’s start with Fred Erickson’s question about stroke-and-distance relief under Rule 18.1. Fred had a reasonable understanding: if you don’t want to hunt for your ball off the tee, you can take the penalty and play again from the teeing area. But here’s where most golfers get tripped up. The Rules Guy clarifies:

“If you hit toward the wrong fairway, can you re-tee without penalty? On the first point, yes, if you played from the teeing area and don’t want to find the ball, you can take stroke-and-distance relief and play again from said teeing area.”

That part Fred nailed. But then comes the surprise.

“Regarding not being able to re-tee, wrong: Per Rule 6.2b, you can do so — again, you just need to play the ball from within the teeing area, whether on a tee or on the ground, as you prefer.”

In my experience caddying for Tom Lehman back in the ’90s, I watched him use this exact procedure maybe twice in a decade. It’s rare at the professional level because Tour players are, well, professional. They find their balls. They hit fairways. But at the club level? I’ve seen members waste ten minutes looking for a ball in the rough when they could have simply taken the penalty, re-teed, and moved on. The psychological burden of a lost ball is real, and the Rules of Golf actually *permit* you to sidestep it.

What strikes me about this is how the modern Rules of Golf have actually become more *player-friendly* in recent years. The USGA and R&A aren’t trying to trap you; they’re trying to keep the game moving and accessible. That’s worth acknowledging.

The Missing Marker Problem

Warren Ayala’s question from Anthem, Arizona—about playing from a tee box where only one marker was visible—speaks to a different issue entirely. This one’s on the clubs and their committees.

“In stroke play, where the distinction becomes more important, contact the committee. Not reachable? Per Rule 6.2b(4), use reasonable judgment to try to play from the two club-length rectangle based on the front and outside edges of the tee marker.”

Here’s what bothers me: Warren and his friend shouldn’t have had to guess. They shouldn’t have needed reasonable judgment. A well-maintained golf course has two clearly visible tee markers for every tee box, period. I’ve toured hundreds of courses in 35 years, and the quality disparity is staggering. Some clubs treat their tee boxes like the crown jewels; others treat them like an afterthought.

The Rules Guy does offer a practical workaround for clubs thinking ahead: “Clever committees will dot tee markers’ positions with spray paint for this eventuality.” This is the kind of straightforward problem-solving that separates well-run clubs from mediocre ones. A little spray paint prevents confusion, keeps the round moving, and eliminates disputes.

Match Play vs. Stroke Play: Know the Difference

One detail worth highlighting: the Rules Guy notes that match play and stroke play are treated differently when tee box questions arise. In match play, you and your opponent can agree to a solution. In stroke play, you need committee guidance. This distinction matters more than casual golfers realize, especially in tournament settings.

I’ve covered 15 Masters, and one thing you notice at that level is how scrupulously the committees operate. There’s no guessing. There’s no “let’s figure it out.” Every scenario is documented, every situation is addressed. That’s the standard we should be aspiring to at every level.

Why This Matters Beyond the Tee Box

These might seem like minor technicalities—the kind of thing you’d only worry about if you’re in a tournament. But I’d argue that understanding the rules *deeply* actually improves your game in subtle ways. When you know you *can* re-tee after taking stroke-and-distance, you make better decisions under pressure. When you understand the teeing area boundaries, you don’t accidentally commit a rules violation that costs you.

For casual golfers, the takeaway is simple: the Rules of Golf are more flexible and player-friendly than most people think. For competitive golfers, it’s even simpler: learn the book. The Rules Guy’s column exists because these questions come up constantly, and they’ll keep coming up until golfers invest five minutes understanding the fundamentals.

After three and a half decades of watching this game evolve, I’m convinced that most scoring disasters stem not from swing mechanics or course management, but from rules confusion. Get that part right, and you’re already ahead of the field.