[Golf Rules... Knowledge is Power] 'Tee Shot Ball in the Teeing Area'

No Penalty if Ball Drops During Practice Swing
Intentional Missed Swing Counts as One Stroke
Ball Dropped in Teeing Area: Second Stroke Tee-Up

Golf has no referees. It is a "gentleman's sport" where golfers play by following the rules themselves. The golf rules are "assistants" created to help with play. If you know them well and use them appropriately, they can greatly help with score management. These are golf rules that weekend golfers must know.

The first hole tee shot is not easy even for professional players. Pressure builds up. Amateur golfers get even more nervous. Sometimes they drop the ball during practice swings. Sometimes they accidentally touch the ball while making a swinging motion. In these cases, there is no penalty. You can place the ball back on the tee and swing again. This is because the practice swing is not intended to play the ball. According to golf rule 6.2, a ball placed on the tee is not in play until a stroke is made. You may pick up or move the ball without penalty.

However, it is different if you swing immediately after addressing the ball. Even a miss swing counts as one stroke. The next shot will be the second stroke. Sometimes players make a miss swing while attempting a tee shot. This also counts as one stroke. It is an intentional swing. In the worst case where the tee shot ball remains in the teeing area, it is counted as one stroke, and then you can place the ball back on the tee and take the shot again.

When placing the tee, it must not extend beyond the navel. That results in a two-stroke penalty. The same applies to the back. According to golf rules, the teeing area is a rectangle extending two clubs' length behind the tee markers. If the driver is 46 inches, up to 92 inches is allowed. Only the tee needs to be inside the teeing area. The body may be outside. For shots, to speed up play, the 40-second rule is observed.