Golf tees � golf equipment and accessories � how the tee began

 The golf tee began life as a pile of sand, unrecognisable from the golf equipment and accessories we know today

A pile of sand 

The golf tee began life as a pile of sand, unrecognisable from the golf equipment and accessories we know today, but based on the same principle. Originally the 'tee' was the area where from which you played and they 'tee'd' on the ground, as laid down in the first rules of golf of 1744 - 'Your Tee must be upon the Ground'.  Golfers at this time used sand to make a tee within one club length of the previous hole, later expanded to within two and four club lengths.

Derived from the Gaelic

The word tee itself is derived from the Gaelic word 'tigh' meaning house and is related to the 'house' in curling (the coloured circles used in the game that is similar to bowling, but played on ice).  The first golf tees were within a 'circle' of one club length round the hole. Golfers made tees from piles of sand, a messy business and towels and water were provided to wash the golfers' hands as they are today to wash golf balls. Clearly it is easier to carry golf tees as part of your golf equipment and accessories than it would be to haul a sandbag around the course!

The first commercial tee

The first commercial golf tee, which is the one we know today, was the Reddy Tee invented at Maplewood Golf Club in 1921 by William Lovell. First manufactured in wood and painted with red tops so that they could be seen easily, they were soon produced in a variety of styles and materials. The "Reddy Tee", made of white celluloid by the Nieblo Manufacturing Company, was patented in 1924. Although plastic golf tees are available, simple wooden tees similar to those made in the 1920s are still the most common type of golf equipment and accessories.

A Dutch connection

A continental origin of golf is suggested by a linguistic analysis of golfing terms and a recently discovered Dutch description of golf from the first half of the 16th century. Golf historians have long surmised that the terms tee and stymie are based on the Dutch word tuitje (a diminutive of tuit , meaning �snout�) and the phrase stuit me (meaning �hinders me�). A Dutch origin of tee is plausible as a variation of the Flemish tese , meaning �target�. Whether Gaelic or Dutch in origin, the golf tee remains an important item of golf equipment and accessories.

A division of Confidence Sporting Goods, inc., the famous manufacturer from Palm Springs , California , we have been making quality sporting goods for 35 years. We sell a huge range of sports equipment, including golf tees as part of golf equipment and accessories. Because we sell directly to you, you can expect to save up to 70% on normal retail prices when buying from us.

To order, phone 1-800-603-0004.