Can you use two tees on a tee box during a round?

[johnclayton1982]

Odd question.  Bit of background.  After posting with some driver problems, iacas correctly pointed out to me that I was moving my head too much on my driver.  He was right.  After videoing the swing, I was swaying horribly on my misses.  My pro recommended that I put two tees in the ground, one real one with the ball and another blank tee in the middle of my stance, and both aim and keep my head behind the "fake" tee.  Its designed to teach you to always hit on the upswing. After about a week of this, I am driving much better.

That said, it got me wondering if I could do that during a round.  That is, tee up for my driver with the "real" ball and tee out at my left heel, and my decoy tee, just like in practice, in the middle of my stance.  Is there any prohibition against placing two tees in the ground?  Does this alter the ground in some way?

Thanks,

John

[mdl]

Interesting question.  I don't know the answer though, so we'll have to wait for the rules gurus...

[Nole77]

I believe it qualifies as using training aids during the course of a round.  After all, the tee is no different than a person using a set of alignment sticks.  Therefore, it'd be against the rules.

I believe it'd fall under:

14-3. Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment

[Elvisliveson]

Originally Posted by Nole77

I believe it qualifies as using training aids during the course of a round.  After all, the tee is no different than a person using a set of alignment sticks.  Therefore, it'd be against the rules.

I believe it'd fall under:

14-3. Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment

Absolutely correct. However, I don't think there is anything stopping him from using a tee that was in or on the ground prior to his arrival at the tee box. Of course he couldn't touch it, but he could build his stance around it.

[Alistair]

Or  using anything else already there - a leaf, a divot mark, a weed (of course not the last of these on the most groomed courses).

[Rulesman]

Originally Posted by johnclayton1982

That said, it got me wondering if I could do that during a round.  That is, tee up for my driver with the "real" ball and tee out at my left heel, and my decoy tee, just like in practice, in the middle of my stance.  Is there any prohibition against placing two tees in the ground?  Does this alter the ground in some way?

Thanks,

John

8-2 . Indicating Line of Play

a . Other Than on Putting Green

Except on the putting green , a player may have the line of play indicated to him by anyone, but no one may be positioned by the player on or close to the line or an extension of the line beyond the hole while the stroke is being made. Any mark placed by the player or with his knowledge to indicate the line must be removed before the stroke is made.

[Zeph]

Call it a practice round and you can do whatever you want.

[Rulesman]

Originally Posted by Zeph

Call it a practice round and you can do whatever you want.

Good post for the Rules of Golf forum.

[LuciusWooding]

See guys, he's called Rulesman because he rules.

Seriously though, pretty useful bloke to have around. For OP, you have to make do with a divot or something like that. You can't make marks in the ground or place objects, or even cast shadows to align yourself. If it's a strictly visual thing, find a divot in the teeing area and line up with that; you can use a club for alignment to place your tee in relation to the divot, as long as you pick it up before address.

If you use the tee to actually hit on the downswing, you're screwed. Unless there's some way you can plant dandelions a couple days in advance and use them, you'll have to wean yourself off. The dandelion thing can't be a smart idea, and it will likely get you shunned by the groundskeepers, plus you couldn't break the stems in your backswing or prior to the stroke.

[luu5]

Originally Posted by Rulesman

8-2. Indicating Line of Play

a. Other Than on Putting Green

Except on the putting green, a player may have the line of play indicated to him by anyone, but no one may be positioned by the player on or close to the line or an extension of the line beyond the hole while the stroke is being made. Any mark placed by the player or with his knowledge to indicate the line must be removed before the stroke is made.

Why would you use 8-2 to something where it does not suit? Why not use the rule already give before, 14-3 Unusual use of equipment.

Especially as 8-2 in stroke play gives you 2 stroke penalty and 14-3 gives straight DQ.

[Rulesman]

IMO DQ is too severe a penalty (or adjustment as Tufts put it) for the potential benefit.

[saevel25]

8-2 is line of play, not helping with alignment. I would say that even if a tee mark was there before hand that falls under an aid. Its not the act of placing the object is the act of using the object to help you. I am not sure as to the use of divots. In the spirit of the game, competative golf i wouldn't do it myself. But if your playing a casual round, i say go for it. I would just use a divot or some sort of other naturally made marking, not an existing tee.

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by saevel25

8-2 is line of play, not helping with alignment. I would say that even if a tee mark was there before hand that falls under an aid. Its not the act of placing the object is the act of using the object to help you. I am not sure as to the use of divots. In the spirit of the game, competative golf i wouldn't do it myself. But if your playing a casual round, i say go for it. I would just use a divot or some sort of other naturally made marking, not an existing tee.

I don't see anything wrong about picking out a spot that was made before you arrived at the tee box to help you in any of this. Some of the greatest players have recommended picking a spot in front of your ball to help aim and align yourself and I don't see this as being any different whether it's a divot or a spot in the fairway.

Using a piece of equipment would be crossing the line Imo. I am not certain that a  tee pushed or broken in the ground (like you see on almost any par 3) that was abandoned by a previous player counts or not.

[Rulesman]

Originally Posted by TourSpoon

Using a piece of equipment would be crossing the line Imo. I am not certain that a  tee pushed or broken in the ground (like you see on almost any par 3) that was abandoned by a previous player counts or not.

An abandoned tee is not equipment so that aspect is not a problem.

Further, anything already on the ground (tee, daisy head. pebble) can be used for alignment.

[Rulesman]

Originally Posted by saevel25

8-2 is line of play, not helping with alignment. I would say that even if a tee mark was there before hand that falls under an aid. Its not the act of placing the object is the act of using the object to help you. I am not sure as to the use of divots. In the spirit of the game, competative golf i wouldn't do it myself. But if your playing a casual round, i say go for it. I would just use a divot or some sort of other naturally made marking, not an existing tee.

Dec 8-2a/2 would suggest that the RBs would consider it so

[luu5]

So what if we wrap this up?

You can not use any of your equipment on ground to help your stance or your line of alignment, except your shoes... Anything that is already on/in ground can be used (as it is not equipment but an object), as long as it is not altered, moved etc, i.e. it has to be as found. It can be your tee from previous round or whatever, but nothing that you carried with you on this round.

To me, putting a tee in ground between your feet does not help you with your line of alignment (8-2). Especially as the purpose of putting it there is to help you keep your head behind and so make a better stroke (14-3).

I would DQ immediately.

[Ignorant]

Originally Posted by saevel25

8-2 is line of play, not helping with alignment. I would say that even if a tee mark was there before hand that falls under an aid. Its not the act of placing the object is the act of using the object to help you. I am not sure as to the use of divots. In the spirit of the game, competative golf i wouldn't do it myself. But if your playing a casual round, i say go for it. I would just use a divot or some sort of other naturally made marking, not an existing tee.

Originally Posted by Rulesman

Dec 8-2a/2 would suggest that the RBs would consider it so

This Dec has nothing to do with the OP question. As it is clearly said there 'to indicate the line of play'. In OP one is not indicating nthe line of play but using a tee to help his own alignment. The Rule to be used is definitively 14-3 and the result would be DQ.

[Rulesman]

I concede.

After an interesting conversation this morning with my contact at the R&A;, their view is that in this case it is, as you say, unusual use of equipment and therefore a breach of 14-3. DQ.