The Best Golf Tee You Can Buy
Everything you need to know about golf tees
Golfers have been using some form of tees since the 1700s, according to Scottish Golf History. However, courses did not have specific tee box areas until the late 1800s.
Early tees were not manufactured like today’s tees. Instead, golfers would make a small mound of sand molded with water into the desired shape and place the ball on this mound. Some courses still provide containers of sand around the tee box, but today, these are used to fill in divots.
The first tee that penetrated the ground was patented in 1892, consisting of a rubber circle and a metal spike. A modern-looking wooden tee that penetrated the ground, called the Reddy Tee because of its red painted top for visibility, was being sold in 1921, according to Golfweek.
As Online Golf says, there are many different styles of tees available that go beyond the simple design of the small rounded cup that holds the golf ball on the top of a wooden or plastic peg.
Most golf tees are made of wood, including some made from bamboo. Others consist of plastic. A few tees will consist of biodegradable materials. Cheap wooden tees will break more often than plastic tees, but some wood tees are tougher than plastic.
Wood and plastic tees often come in bright colors, which makes them easier to find if they pop out of the ground and fly away during a tee shot. However, paint on tees could end up transferring onto your golf club as you strike the ball and make contact with the tee.
Golf tees nearly all have a sharp point on the bottom end, which makes it easier to puncture the ground. The top of the tee holds the golf ball in place before you hit it.
You don’t want a top that is so small or flimsy that your ball could blow off the tee in the wind … especially right in the middle of your downswing. So most golf tee makers use the traditional design of a small rounded cup where the ball rests. Others use varying designs that try to limit the amount of material in the tee making contact with the ball, while still providing the support needed to hold the ball in place.
The length of the golf tee measures from the point at the bottom to the surface that holds the golf ball at the top. Some golf tees can be as short as 1.5 inches, while others can be 4 inches or longer.
A longer tee allows you to tee the ball at a higher distance from the ground, while also placing enough of the tee into the ground to provide stability. A long tee is better for larger clubs, like drivers, according to Golfer Hill, while you may want a shorter tee for iron shots from the tee box.
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