A small peg used to support a golf ball at the beginning of play on each hole. Also refers to a T-shaped pipe fitting or the letter T.
Originally from Scottish 'teaz' (1673), possibly from Dutch 'tuit' meaning 'spout' or 'nozzle.' The golf sense developed in the late 17th century in Scotland. The shape association with the letter T led to broader usage for T-shaped objects.
The humble golf tee was revolutionary when invented - before its creation, golfers had to create small mounds of sand or dirt to elevate their ball. The modern wooden tee wasn't patented until 1899, nearly 200 years after golf began using elevated starting positions.
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