Tee rules, current as of 2026.
What's legal, what's not, and what just changed.
The current rulebook
The Rules of Golf 2023-2026 edition took effect January 1, 2023 and is authoritative through December 31, 2026. It is jointly published by The R&A and the USGA. A new edition takes effect January 1, 2027.
What Rule 6.2c says about tees
Direct quotation from the R&A Rules of Equipment Part 6: "A tee is a device designed to raise the ball off the ground. A tee must not otherwise assist the player in making a stroke or in his play."
The four constraints in plain English:
- Max length: 4 inches (101.6 mm).
- No alignment aids or directional markings.
- No mechanism that significantly influences the ball.
- No mechanical assistance beyond simply lifting the ball.
The tethered-tee exception
Part 6 also explicitly allows tethered tees: "As an exception for difficult turf conditions, tees tethered together or to an anchor may be used during the round provided that the player does not align the tees or tether in such a way that could indicate line of play or otherwise assist the player in making a stroke."
2026 model local rules
The R&A publishes Model Local Rules that committees can adopt for specific events. None of the 2026 updates affect tee specifications. The next major rulebook revision is the 2027-2030 edition.
What this means for Better Golf Tee
- Our tallest SKU (driver, 44.5 mm = 1.75 inches) is comfortably under the 4-inch maximum.
- The cup design contains no alignment aids.
- TPU 95A is a standard tee material under the rule.
- The tether falls under the difficult-turf-conditions exception. Legal under R&A rules for tournament play.