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Rules Guy: Can I Re-Tee After a Lost Drive?
The Rules of Golf allow you to re-tee after a lost drive, but with a penalty stroke.
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
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A reader asks the Rules Guy if they can re-tee their next shot after hitting a tee shot they don't want to look for. The Rules Guy explains that under Rule 6.2b, players can re-tee their next shot after a lost drive, but they must take a stroke-and-distance penalty. The Rules Guy also addresses a question about playing from a tee box with only one marker visible.
Why it matters
Knowing the rules around re-teeing after a lost drive is important for golfers to avoid confusion and properly apply the rules during a round. This information can help players make the right decision on how to proceed after an errant tee shot.
The details
According to the Rules of Golf, if a player hits a tee shot that they do not want to look for, they can take stroke-and-distance relief under Rule 18.1 and re-tee their next shot. The player is allowed to re-tee the ball, either on a tee or on the ground, within the teeing area. However, they must take a one-stroke penalty for the re-tee. The Rules Guy also addresses a situation where a tee box only has one marker visible, stating that in match play the players can agree on a reasonable spot to play from, while in stroke play the player should contact the committee or use their best judgment to play from the two club-length rectangle based on the visible marker.
- The reader's question was submitted via email on February 17, 2026.
The players
Fred Erickson
A golfer who submitted a question to the Rules Guy about re-teeing after a lost drive.
Warren Ayala
A golfer who submitted a question to the Rules Guy about playing from a tee box with only one marker visible.
What they’re saying
“If I want to take a stroke-and-distance penalty under Rule 18.1 for a tee shot that I don't want to find (or look for), my understanding is I can if I don't declare it a provisional. Am I also correct in thinking that I can't re-tee it? If not, do I drop the ball or place it?”
— Fred Erickson (email)
“We reached a tee box with only one marker. We played from where we thought was reasonable, guessing at the other marker's location. Was that okay?”
— Warren Ayala (Anthem, Ariz.)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
Knowing the rules around re-teeing after a lost drive is important for golfers to avoid confusion and properly apply the rules during a round. This information can help players make the right decision on how to proceed after an errant tee shot. Additionally, when faced with a tee box with only one marker visible, players should contact the committee if possible, or use their best judgment to play from a reasonable spot based on the visible marker.
