Tethered golf tee

Abstract

A tethered golf tee includes a golf tee connected to a clamp via a flexible cord or string. During use, the tee is inserted into the ground for supporting a golf ball, and the clamp is positioned on the ground adjacent the tee. When the ball is struck, the clamp, tethered to the tee, prevents the tee from travelling too far, and facilitates the location and retrieval thereof. During storage, curved jaws of the clamp are closed around and frictionally engage the shaft of a golf club, providing easy access for future use.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A tethered golf tee and clamp assembly comprising:
 a golf tee for supporting a golf ball above ground level;   a clamp including opposed first and second jaws biased together; and   a cord tethering the golf tee and clamp together;   wherein inner walls of the jaws include rounded or curved sections forming an oval or rounded opening sized for frictionally engaging a shaft of a golf club.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the golf club shaft includes a diameter that tapers from a first small diameter to a second larger diameter; and wherein the opening includes a diameter larger than the first diameter of the golf club shaft, whereby outer free ends of the first and second jaws are biased together when mounted around the first diameter, and smaller than the second larger diameter, whereby the opening frictionally engages the second larger diameter when mounted around the second diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner walls of the jaws include a plurality of rounded or curved sections of different radiuses or curvature for frictionally engaging shafts of golf clubs with different diameters. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner walls of the jaws include teeth for frictionally engaging the shafts of the golf clubs. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner walls of the jaws include a frictional material for frictionally engaging the shafts of the golf clubs. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises first and second lever arms pivotally connected to each other with the first and second jaws at the outer free ends thereof, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second lever arms comprise a resilient material, thereby biasing the first and second jaws together. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 6 , further comprising a spring for biasing the first and second jaws together. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising first and second handles at ends of first and second lever arms, respectively, opposite the first and second jaws, for manually applying a force to overcome the biasing force of the spring. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spring for biasing the first and second jaws together. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the golf tee includes first and second flat sides, which are 2× to 4× wider than first and second rounded sides. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the golf tee further comprises a hole extending through the first and second flat sides for receiving an end of the cord.