So I have played with people who after they tee the ball up on the tee box, they us their foot and press down the ground right behind the ball so they can set their club face as they want it. Is that legal? Isn't that improving your lie?

not changing the lie of the ball...so I guess it's OK
Laura Davies used to chip up the tee box to make a sod tee.

I would think this is against the rules. It should be. I do know a guy that does this exact same thing before every shot. If his ball is in the rough, he'd use his foot to mat it down behind the ball so he had a clear shot at the ball. He did this every time. I was new to golf, and I didn't care one way or another, but it a bit much. If we were playing for money, I'd would have said something, but we weren't and I just didn't care what he did.

I wouldn't think off the tee it is against the rules. Much like Aimee mentions, there are people who actually 'design' their own tee off area. In this month's Golf magazine, they show how to tee it up for a low spin tee shot by digging your heel into the ground and making a mound for a tee.

-Rob

rule 13
http://golf.about.com/cs/rulesofgolf/a/rule13.htm

main point is here
However, the player incurs no penalty if the action occurs:

in creating or eliminating irregularities of surface within the teeing ground (Rule 11-1) or in removing dew, frost or water from the teeing ground

so if they do it on the rough - penalty otherwise its fair game

Kevin

So it's ok on the tee box but not elsewhere? Ok. Odd, but ok.

Good to know. I usually just place my tee in a clear part of the tee area.

Actually, I think the tee box is the only place you "design your own lie" so to speak...you tee it up as you wish...so that may be the reasoning. Much the same way that you can tee off within one club length behind the tee markers, as long as you are within the width/boundry of the markers...you are determining the lie and location of your ball.

Aimee - one point - its actually 2 club lengths behind the marker

The reason as I see it is there are 2 main bits of the golf course that's marked - Tee and green = the rest is the bit in the middle (has a proper name but can I recall it )
Both are locations where you can 'improve' the lie of your ball - ie cleaning the line from ball to hole, marking and cleaning without penalty.
Teeing area is the similar as this - its the start of the hole and you can do what you want to start it off

My understanding is you can back up 2 yards from the tee markers, not 1 club length. Which is correct?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf_course

The teeing area spans the distance between the markers, and extends from two-club lengths behind the markers up to the markers themselves

sorry couldn't find it specifically mentioned in the rules

oh and its any club (ie longest!)

if anybody can find it mentioned in the rules please help!!!

Right, it is a square formed by the two tee markers and then extending 2 club lengths back (any club...longest usually) and back across. I sometimes use all of this when I am between clubs and want to make the shot a little longer.

I do the same thing when between clubs, Use the longer club, and back off 2 club lengths and hope I'm dialed in. Works rather well most of the time. 2 club lengths using a 46" driver is just under 3 yards, so that's equal to about 1/4 of a club off my distance. I have 15 yards between clubs.

I'm not that consistent with the driver to worry about 3 yards. I just try to find a clean flat area and rip it. It may be different on a short par 4 or a par 3. On a par 3 I know my yardages with most clubs I would use and this may apply. Long par 3s >175 yards, I pick yardage to back of green and select that club, shorter I pick club to center of green or to pin and try to tee accordingly. My distances for clubs all overlap depending on ball placement and swing.

I read that tip in Golf Magazine where it says to use your heal to dig up a mound of dirt to use as a tee. Idea is to hit a low drive with less spin into the wind. Not sure what difference it would make to tee up on a mound of dirt rather than to use a short tee. I also don't like the idea of hitting a mound of dirt with a high dollar driver face. Nothing like scratching up the face of a $400 driver hitting a pile of sandy dirt. I can't imagine the grounds crew cared for that tip very much. Sounds lik a great way to tear up the tee box for no good reason.