Device for teeing a golf ball

Abstract

A device for teeing a golf ball includes a ball support member that has at least two opposed feet and that defines at least one ball locating formation for supporting a golf ball interposed between the feet. The, or each, ball locating formation is in a plane that is spaced from a plane in which the feet are positioned. The ball support member is of a resiliently flexible material to permit the, or each, ball locating formation to deflect, against a bias of the ball support member, towards the plane of the feet when either or both of the ball support member and the ball are struck with a golf club head.

1 . A device for teeing a golf ball, the device comprising
 a ball support member that has at least two opposed feet and that defines at least one ball locating formation for supporting a golf ball interposed between the feet, with the, or each, ball locating formation being in a plane that is spaced from a plane in which the feet are positioned, the ball support member being of a resiliently flexible material to permit the, or each, ball locating formation to deflect, against a bias of the ball support member, towards said plane of the feet when either or both of the ball support member and the ball are struck with a golf club head.   
     
     
         2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the ball support member has a target side for facing the target and an opposed approach side, at least one of the feet being arranged on each of the target and approach sides. 
     
     
         3 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the, or each, ball locating formation is in the form of an opening in the ball support member, the opening being dimensioned so that a golf ball can be supported by a periphery of the opening. 
     
     
         4 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which two or more ball locating formations are positioned on the support member, the ball locating formations being positioned so that a user can select a desired ball locating formation depending on circumstances of play, such as the need to strike off a sloped surface. 
     
     
         5 . A device as claimed in  claim 3 , which includes a golf tee, the golf tee being configured for engagement with the ball support member so that a golf ball can be supported above the ball support member. 
     
     
         6 . A device as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the golf tee has a tubular shank with at least one end open to support a golf ball and which is capable of being received through the opening with the periphery of the opening engaging the shank to retain the golf tee in position. 
     
     
         7 . A device as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the shank defines a series of spaced engagement formations along its length to permit a position of said open end to be adjusted relative to the ball support member. 
     
     
         8 . A device as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the golf tee includes a head on one end of the shank, the head having a diameter larger than that of the shank so that the golf tee is inhibited from passing through the opening. 
     
     
         9 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which one ball locating formation is positioned between the target side and a transverse centre line. 
     
     
         10 . A device as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the ball support member is elongate from the approach side to the target side and has a longitudinal profile that defines an apex region between the transverse centre line and the target side of the ball support member, the ball locating formation being positioned in the apex region. 
     
     
         11 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the ball support member defines a generally planar approach portion intermediate the approach side and the apex region and a target portion that curves away from the apex region to terminate at the target side. 
     
     
         12 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the ball support member defines a furrow that extends from at least one of the approach and target sides to the, or each, ball locating formation to facilitate rolling of a golf ball with a club head from one of the approach and target sides to the, or each, ball locating formation when the ball support member is in an operative position. 
     
     
         13 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the feet have a chiselled profile to facilitate embedding of the feet into a substrate when the feet rest on the substrate and the ball support member is deflected downwardly when a ball is struck. 
     
     
         14 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the ball support member defines at least one opening to permit the ball support member to be anchored to a substrate with a suitable anchoring device received through the, or each, opening and into the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the ball support, member includes at least one fastening arrangement to permit the ball support member to be fastened to an element that defines some form of synthetic or artificial surface. 
     
     
         16 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes electronic circuitry operatively arranged with respect to the ball support member to generate a signal when a ball supported by the ball support member is struck with a golf club head.