| Each hole begins with your first shot. And each | | | | importantly, where you will place your feet. If the |
| first shot is taken from a tee box. Since this is | | | | ground is uneven, or hard pan, or soggy where |
| the only place on the golf course where you can | | | | your feet will be you will want to look for a |
| choose, within limits, where you will actually place | | | | better spot from which to hit. You may not be |
| your golf ball it makes sense to give some | | | | able to improve it much depending on course |
| thought to where the best place to tee it up is | | | | conditions, but don't stick with it just because |
| for your game and style of play. | | | | your ball is teed and that's where your stance |
| A lot of golfers place their tee on the line directly | | | | dictates you stand. If you are playing a short par |
| between the tee markers. And although that is | | | | three and prefer to hit your short irons off the |
| perfectly legal, it may not be optimal. The rules of | | | | ground you will likely find better turf from which |
| golf allow you to tee your ball anywhere between | | | | to hit a few feet behind the front of the tee box |
| the tee markers as long as it is not in front of | | | | which will lead to better backspin and allow you to |
| the imaginary line between the two markers, up | | | | throw it straight at the pin and know it will stick |
| to two club lengths BACK. That imaginary | | | | where it lands. |
| rectangle is your hunting ground. Choosing | | | | Finally, the rules state that the BALL has to be |
| carefully can mean the difference between a | | | | teed in that imaginary rectangle. Your feet are |
| good shot and a great shot. Choosing poorly may | | | | allowed to be outside that area if you find a spot |
| be the difference between a good shot an a poor | | | | you like on the very edge of that area but that |
| shot. | | | | places your feet outside it. Where you stand is |
| Check the condition of the soil not only where | | | | not important. Where the ball is teed up (or lies) is |
| you will place the tee, but also, and perhaps more | | | | what matters. |