Teeing Area Rules in Golf
The teeing area: where each hole begins
The teeing area is the rectangular zone defined by the tee markers of the various colours (white, yellow, red, blue, black, etc.). Each set of markers defines a rectangle that extends two club lengths back from the line of the markers.
Where to place the ball for the tee shot
The ball must be within the teeing area: between the two markers and no more than two club lengths behind them. The player may stand outside the teeing area when hitting (you can stand behind the markers if you prefer), but the ball must be within the area.
The ball can be on the ground or on an artificial tee (tee peg). The tee peg can be made of any material as long as it doesn't exceed 10.16 cm (4 inches) in length.
What happens if I play from outside the teeing area?
In strokeplay: if you play from outside the teeing area, you receive a 2-stroke penalty and must return to hit from within the correct area. The stroke played from outside the area doesn't count.
In matchplay: your opponent can ask you to replay the stroke from the correct area, without penalty. They are not required to do so.
Ball falls off the tee before the stroke: no penalty
If the ball is on the tee and falls off before you attempt to hit it, you can replace it without penalty. Even if you make a practice movement and the club barely brushes the tee or ball without the intention of hitting, it doesn't count as a stroke.
Important: if you try to hit the ball and merely clip the tee or push it off without truly striking the ball, it's not a stroke (a whiff only counts as a stroke if there was genuine intent to hit).
Order of play on the first hole
On the first hole, order of play is determined by agreement between players, by draw, or by the day's competition rules. On subsequent holes, the player with the best score on the previous hole plays first (the "honour").
In strokeplay, not respecting order of play is not penalised (though it is in matchplay, where the affected player can void the stroke and ask it to be replayed in the correct order).
Provisional ball from the tee
If your tee shot may be OB or lost, you should play the provisional ball before leaving the teeing area. If you've already left the teeing area, you can still play a provisional, but do so as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary delays.
Common teeing area questions
Can I move the tee markers? No. The tee markers define the playing area and cannot be moved. They are fixed objects.
Can I use a tee on subsequent holes? On holes 2 onwards, the ball is played as it lies (fairway, rough, etc.) and a tee is not used, unless it's a par 3 or the first stroke of the hole where you can use the teeing area.
Can I practise my swing without hitting from the tee? Yes. You can make practice swings (even if they brush the tee grass) as long as they are not attempts to hit the ball.
Penalty
2 strokes in strokeplay for playing from outside the teeing area (and you must replay from within). No penalty in matchplay if the opponent doesn't ask for the stroke to be replayed.