Golf Glossary
Tee Time
In short
A tee time, in German Startzeit, is the fixed time at which your group plays its first shot on the first hole. You usually book it in advance online. This lets the course spread groups across the day a few minutes apart, so nobody has to wait constantly during the round.
What is a tee time in golf?
The term tee time describes the time at which you start at the tee, the teeing area of the first hole. German golfers say Startzeit. Both mean the same thing: you have a fixed appointment at which your flight, that is your group, goes out onto the course.
The idea is simple. A golf course cannot let everybody start at once. A group needs several minutes on the first hole before it has cleared the tee and the next group can play. Tee times therefore split the day into small slots. On many courses there are several minutes between groups, and each course sets its own intervals.
Having a reserved tee time means having a place in the day's schedule. The advantage for you is that you know exactly when you start and the group ahead is far enough away. This also helps pace of play across the whole facility.
Booking a tee time: how reservation works
Most courses offer online booking. You choose the day, time and number of players, and pay the green fee either online or on site. Some courses also take bookings by phone or at the secretary's office. Depending on the course, guests need a DGV card, proof of the Platzreife or a handicap. At most courses the Platzreife is the minimum requirement for playing the course.
Groups usually have one to four players, which is why they are called singles, twosomes, threesomes or fourballs. If you play with friends, you book the whole group in one tee time. Players on their own are sometimes paired with another flight.
Cancellation matters: many courses only allow it up to a fixed deadline. Check the conditions when booking. For competitions there is usually a draw sheet published by the organiser instead of open booking.
Rule 5.3a: start on time
The 2023 Rules of Golf cover the starting time in Rule 5.3a. You must be at the teeing area at the time set by the Committee and be ready to play. Not too early and not too late: the starting time is treated as an exact time.
Late arrivals risk a penalty. If you arrive ready to play no more than five minutes late, you receive the general penalty on the first hole. That is two penalty strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. If you are more than five minutes late, you are disqualified. The same steps apply to starting early: up to five minutes early brings the general penalty, more than five minutes disqualification.
There is one exception: if the Committee decides that exceptional circumstances prevented you from starting on time, there is no penalty. This mainly concerns competitions. In an ordinary casual round you need not fear a penalty, but being on time remains a matter of courtesy to the other groups.
Practical example: a Saturday morning
Imagine your tee time is 9:00. You plan your journey to arrive about 30 minutes early. This is a common rule of thumb that leaves time for parking, checking in and changing.
At 8:30 you check in, collect balls and head to the putting green, where you putt for five to ten minutes. A few minutes remain for some chips and a few longer shots. At 8:55 you are on the first tee, push your tee into the ground and wait for the starter's signal or for the group ahead to clear the tee.
If you had arrived at 8:58, there would be no time to putt, your muscles would be cold and you would be stressed. The first hole rarely goes well that way. Arriving in good time means you play more relaxed and do not delay the groups behind.
Tee times in competitions: draw sheets and shotgun starts
In competitions the Committee sets the starting times and publishes them on a draw sheet. It shows who plays with whom in which flight and at what time they tee off. Groups are often arranged by handicap or by draw. The conditions of competition usually also tell you how to check in on the day.
A special format is the shotgun start. All groups start at the same time, each on an assigned hole. It is practical for corporate tournaments and events because everyone finishes around the same time. In that case the shared starting time is when all players must be ready at their starting hole.
Rule 5.3a applies in competitions as well. Lateness is treated more strictly there than in a casual round, because the penalty becomes part of the result.
Common mistakes and tips about starting times
Beginners often plan too tightly. A tee time is not your arrival time but the time of your first shot. Time for checking in, parking, changing and warming up comes before it.
- Allow a buffer of half an hour, more for your first round on a new course.
- Check local rules and requirements for guests in advance, such as the Platzreife.
- Bring scorecard, balls, tees and a pitch repairer.
- Cancel in good time if you cannot come.
- Choose a time that suits your standard: if you have played few rounds, allow more time for the round.
Good to know: the tee time says nothing about when the round ends. How long a round takes depends on the flight, the course and how busy it is. Expect a 9-hole round to take about half the time of an 18-hole round.
Tee time, tee and starter: telling them apart
These terms are close but mean different things. The tee time is a point in time. The tee is a place, the teeing area of each hole. The starter is the person who greets groups at the first tee, checks starting times and sends players on their way.
The flight is the group that starts together. A green fee is the charge for using the course. All these terms belong to the routine before the first shot. If you keep these terms apart, you will find it easy to check in at a new course and to understand announcements such as “Your tee time is in ten minutes”.
Try it at Golf Lounge
At the 9-hole “Black” course of Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg you book your tee time online. One to four players can be booked together, and guests without membership are welcome as long as they hold the DGV Platzreife. The course is open from April to December. A 9-hole qualifying competition takes place every Saturday at 9 am from May to October. On the course you will find water hazards, bunkers and protected greens.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tee time in golf?
A tee time is the booked starting time at which your group plays its first shot on the first hole. You usually reserve it online. The course spreads groups across the day a few minutes apart. Arrive in good time so you have time to check in and warm up.
How early should I arrive before my tee time?
As a rule of thumb, about 30 minutes before your starting time. That is enough for parking, check-in, changing and a few putts. On an unfamiliar course or at competitions, allow a little more. At the tee time itself you must be at the tee, ready to play.
What happens if I am late for my tee time?
Under Rule 5.3a, if you are no more than five minutes late you receive the general penalty on the first hole, two strokes in stroke play. Beyond five minutes, disqualification is the normal result. This applies mainly in competitions. In a casual round the course sets its own consequences.
How many players fit into one tee time?
A tee time usually covers one to four players. That group is called a flight. If you play as a four, you book all places in one tee time. On some courses single players are paired with another flight so the slot is used.
Do I need the Platzreife for a tee time?
For most golf courses charging a green fee, yes. As a guest you generally need at least the Platzreife, and some courses also ask for a DGV card or a handicap. Short courses and pitch-and-putt layouts can often be played without it. Check the conditions when booking.
As of: October 2026