Dear Linda,
One of my buddies popped up his tee shot and it landed right next to one of the red tee markers. Is he allowed to move the tee marker to hit his ball?
Lou Lou
Dear Lou Lou,
Before you hit your tee shot, you are not permitted to move the tee markers that are on your tee box (Rule 11-2). If you move those tee markers because they interfere with the stance you wish to take, you will incur a two-stroke penalty (loss of hole in match play). If you move them because you don’t like where they are placed (perhaps you think they’re too close together, or too far back, or aimed in the wrong direction), then you would have to replace them before you or any other player teed off (and incur a two-stroke penalty or loss of hole in match play) or you would be disqualified (Decision 11-2/2).
However, the tee markers that are located on another tee box are not your tee markers. When your buddy’s ball landed next to the forward tee marker, that marker was considered an obstruction. Since tee markers are designed to be movable, he was entitled to move that tee marker before hitting his ball. Please remind him to replace the marker in its same location after the shot.
While we’re on the subject of moving tee markers, please note that there is no penalty for moving a tee marker if you trip over it or even if you kick it intentionally or hit it with a club. Just make sure you replace it.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
