[Kim Maengnyoung’s Golf English Conversation] "Teeing Ground and Teeing Area"

Teeing Ground has been changed to Teeing Area.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) announced new golf rules in January 2019.

Although three years have passed since the new rules were implemented, it is still common to see people using old terminology. However, it is every golfer’s responsibility to use the updated terms. The place where a player takes a tee shot is now called the "Teeing Area." "Teeing Ground" is the outdated term. Recently, the incident involving KLPGA Tour player Yoon Yina (19) and the "Wrong Ball" (Ogu) has been widely discussed. The correct term is "Wrong Ball."

The official who determines whether a rule has been violated is called a "Referee." The term "Provisional Ball" should be used exactly as it is pronounced in English, rather than any other variation. The right to play first from the teeing area should be written as "Owner," not "Honour." Water that has temporarily accumulated on the course is now referred to as "Temporary Water," not "Casual Water."

Some terms frequently used by amateur golfers have been removed from the official golf rules. These include: Competitor, Fellow-Competitor, Outside Agency, Lateral Water Hazard, Water Hazard, Rub of the Green, and Observer. For reference, the new term "Maximum Score" refers to a stroke play format where there is a limit on the maximum number of strokes a player can take on a hole.

A: As a player, you are responsible for knowing the rules and playing by them.

B: Of course, I know well. I’ll abide by the golf rules.

A: How did the teeing ground term change?

B: It changed into teeing area by the 2019 new rules.

Written and photographed by Kim Maengnyoung, Golf Columnist