The "teeing ground" is the starting place for the hole to be played. It is a rectangular area two club-lengths in depth, the front and the sides of which are defined by the outside limits of two tee-markers.One of the guys I was playing with kept teeing his ball in front of the markers. It was a casual round, so I didn't say anything, but I did want to look up the penalty. I think it's a trip to Dairy Queen...
and I'm right...
Per rule 11-4b, if you tee off from outside the teeing ground, it's a two stroke penalty. AND, you have to correct the mistake (ie tee off again, hitting your fourth shot). If you don't correct it before teeing off on the next hole, or it's DQ.
I don't play match play very often (ever?), but the penalties are always interesting. Most penalties are loss of hole. In this case, if you tee off from outside the teeing area, then your opponent may choose to cancel the stroke and make you replay it. If he or she doesn't think the next one will be as good as the shot you just played.
Playing out of turn in match play is the same penalty - your opponent can cancel the stroke (if it was good) and make you replay it. If it was a bad shot (or if your opponent is feeling particularly generous), then the opponent can allow you to continue with no penalty.
