Golf Glossary
Teeing area (tee box)
In short
The teeing area is where the first stroke on every hole is played. Under the Rules it is a zone whose front edge is set by two tee markers and which extends two club-lengths back. It is the only place where you may place your ball on a tee.
Teeing area: meaning and terms
In German, the word Abschlag has two meanings. It refers both to the place where a hole begins and to the first stroke itself; with a driver, that stroke is also called a drive.
The place has several names. The Rules of Golf call it the teeing area. In everyday golf you also hear tee box, teeing ground or simply tee. The English word ‘tee’ means two things: the starting area and the small wooden or plastic peg the ball sits on.
Most holes have several teeing areas one behind the other, each with its own coloured markers, so the same hole can be played at different lengths. Teeing areas are usually level, well maintained and slightly raised so you can see the target.
Rule 6.2: how big is the teeing area?
The 2023 Rules of Golf define exactly where you may tee off. The teeing area is a rectangle. Its front edge is the line between the forward-most points of the two tee markers, and it extends two club-lengths back. It is measured with the longest club in your bag other than the putter.
Other key points from Rule 6.2:
- The ball is in the teeing area when any part of it touches or is above the area.
- You may stand outside the area; only the ball must be inside.
- You may tee the ball or play it from the ground.
- You must not move the tee markers to gain an advantage.
- You may fix irregularities of the surface and remove dew or frost within the teeing area.
- If the ball falls off the tee before the stroke, or you knock it off while addressing it, re-tee it without penalty.
Playing from outside the teeing area
A common beginner mistake is teeing the ball slightly in front of the markers. Rule 6.1b covers this, and the outcome depends on the form of play.
In match play there is no penalty, but your opponent may cancel the stroke. You then play again, this time correctly from inside the teeing area.
In stroke play you receive the general penalty of two strokes. The stroke from outside does not count, and you must correct the mistake by playing from within the teeing area. If you fail to do so before teeing off on the next hole, or before returning your scorecard on the final hole, you are disqualified.
A quick look at the markers before each tee shot avoids needless penalties. If in doubt, tee up half a metre behind the line.
Golf tee colours: forward and back tees
Tee markers come in different colours, each representing a different length for the hole. In Germany the DGV sets a fixed order for rated courses, from front to back: green for junior tees, then orange, red, blue, yellow, white and black. Every course must have red and yellow tees; the other colours are optional. In Germany blue therefore sits between red and yellow. Other countries sometimes use the colours differently.
Traditionally yellow was the men’s tee and red the women’s tee. White and black are the longest tees and are often used in competitions. For women, the DGV only issues Course Ratings up to a length of 5,800 metres over 18 holes, so white and black tees are normally available only to men for handicap play.
Many courses now separate tee colours from gender. Under the World Handicap System the same teeing area can be rated for both women and men, each with its own Course Rating and Slope Rating, so every player can choose the tees that suit their distance. Competition terms specify which tees apply, and the scorecard shows the length behind each colour.
Which tees should I play?
The best choice is the set of tees from which you can reach most greens in a sensible number of shots. Tees that are too long make the game a struggle and slow the round down. Tees that match your distance mean more fun and realistic scores.
A simple guide: if you rarely get close to par-4 greens even with two good shots, move forward. Initiatives such as ‘Tee It Forward’ in the USA have long encouraged players to choose tees by distance.
The choice also matters for your handicap. Your Course Handicap is calculated from your Handicap Index and the Course Rating, Slope Rating and par of the tees you play. Longer tees usually give you more strokes. For a round to count for handicap, the tees you play must carry an official rating; the club office or competition terms tell you which tees qualify.
Etiquette and order of play on the tee
A few established customs apply on the tee:
- Honour: in match play the winner of the previous hole tees off first. In stroke play, under Rule 6.4b, the player with the lowest score on the previous hole goes first, but ready golf, where whoever is ready plays, is allowed and encouraged.
- Safety: only hit once the group ahead is out of range. Others stand to the side, never in front or directly behind.
- Quiet: no talking or moving while someone is playing.
- Care: fill tee divots with the sand and seed mix provided and put broken tees in the bin.
If a ball heads towards other people, shout ‘fore’ loudly to warn anyone in its path.
Practical example: one hole from two sets of tees
Picture a par 3 measuring 150 metres to the centre of the green from the back tees and 115 metres from the forward tees.
Player A hits her 7-iron about 115 metres. From the forward tees she can reach the green in one and has a real chance of par. From the back she would need a wood and would often miss the green.
Player B hits his 7-iron 150 metres. The back tees suit him, otherwise the hole becomes too short and he would only ever hit wedges.
Both record par as three on the scorecard. The Course Handicap ensures the results remain fairly comparable despite the different tees.
Try it at Golf Lounge
At the Golf Lounge you can practise your tee shots on the TrackMan range with 32 bays on two levels. The range is covered, heated and open all year round. TrackMan measures every shot at each mat, including carry, total distance, launch angle and ball speed, and the TrackMan Range app shows the data on your phone. For real tee shots on a course, play the 6-hole ‘Red’ short course without a golf licence, or the 9-hole ‘Black’ course once you have your Platzreife.
Frequently asked questions
What is the teeing area in golf?
The teeing area is the starting point of every hole. Under the Rules it is two club-lengths deep with its front edge set by two coloured markers. This is where you play the first stroke of a hole and the only place you may tee up your ball.
What do golf tee colours mean?
Each colour stands for a different length of the hole. In Germany rated courses use a fixed order from front to back: green, orange, red, blue, yellow, white and black. Every course has red and yellow tees, traditionally the women’s and men’s tees. Many courses no longer link colours to gender, and the scorecard shows the lengths.
What is a tee box?
Tee box is an informal term for the teeing area: the well-kept, usually level ground at the start of each hole from which the first stroke is played. The Rules use the term teeing area, defined by two markers and a depth of two club-lengths.
Can I tee up in front of the tee markers?
No. The ball must be within the teeing area, between the markers and no more than two club-lengths behind them. In stroke play, playing from outside costs two penalty strokes and you must replay from the correct area. In match play your opponent may cancel the stroke without penalty.
Can women play from the men’s tees?
For a casual round, nothing stops you. Under the World Handicap System every rated set of tees has its own Course Rating and Slope Rating, often for both women and men. For a handicap round the tees need a suitable rating, and the DGV only rates tees up to 5,800 metres over 18 holes for women. In competitions the terms set the tees, and many clubs recommend choosing by distance.
As of: October 2026