Can I use tees that are tied together with string?

They’re the kind of thing you get for Christmas – from someone who knows you like golf but haven’t got a clue what to buy.

But those big rubber tees, often tied together by string, are a god send in the winter when you’re playing off mats and a traditional wooden or plastic model just refuses to penetrate the artificial turf.

Some of the more entrepreneurial minded of you out there might carry out a DIY job, fixing tees of different sizes together to make sure you don’t lose them when you let fly from such a tough surface.

Have you ever thought about what the Rules of Golf say about it? Peter Lloyd has. He emailed us to say: “When teeing off I mostly use a tee but I have a couple of different sized tees strung together and, after hitting the ball can find them easily, and there is no litter left behind. Is there any infringement of the rules using the tees strung together?”

So what’s going on? Is it OK, or do our durable tees need to go straight back in the bag? Let’s cut to the chase on golf tee rules…

Golf tee rules: Am I allowed to use two golf tees tied together?

We’ve to look in two places to get the whole story on this scenario and the most pivotal part of the answer isn’t actually in the Rules of Golf at all.

But let’s firstly consider what the bible says because there are a couple of interesting things to note when it comes to what you stick in the ground to give your ball a helping hand into the air.

Golf tees are classed as equipment and Rule 4.3a says you’re not allowed to use anything that “artificially eliminates or reduces the need for a skill or judgment that is essential to the challenge of the game”.

You’re also not allowed to use equipment in “an abnormal way”. Are you doing either of those things in this case? No.

There is a definition of tee in the Rules, which only states that it must be no longer than four inches and “conform with the equipment rules”.

And it is to those we now turn to unlock the door. Rule 6.2 deals with tees and, alongside the size requirement, it also states that a tee must not be “designed or manufactured in such a way that it could indicate line of play”, as well as unduly influencing the movement of the ball or helping the player make a stroke.

Could you use tied up tees to help with your line of play? It’s certainly very possible to imagine it.

But wait, there is a note to the Rule. It says: “As an exception for difficult turf conditions, tees tethered together or to an anchor may be used during the round provided that the player does not align the tees or tether in such a way that could indicate line of play or otherwise assist the player in making a stroke.”

There we are then. Tee off in a tethered fashion, but make sure there is no question of your contraption helping your alignment.

Got a question for our expert?

Despite the changes to the Rules of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. I’ll try to help by featuring the best of your queries in this column.

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