Portable golf club support system

Abstract

A golf club holder for removably supporting a golf club above a ground surface, the golf club holder comprising a shaft and a handle that are each coupled to a joint. The handle and the shaft may be movable between a first position where they are substantially parallel, and a second position where they are substantially perpendicular. The shaft may include a ground-piercing member. The ground-piercing member of the first shaft can be pushed into the ground and supported thereby. The golf club holder can be folded up to be transported.

1 . A golf club holder, the holder comprising: 
 a shaft configured to penetrate a ground surface at a first acute angle from the ground surface; and    a handle coupled to the shaft to pivot relative to the shaft between a first substantially parallel position and a second substantially perpendicular position;    wherein the handle is configured to support a golf club at a second acute angle from the shaft, the golf club having a club shaft and a head.    
   
   
       2 . The golf club holder of  claim 1 , wherein both the first and second angles are each between about thirty and about sixty degrees.  
   
   
       3 . The golf club holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second angles are inversely related to one another.  
   
   
       4 . The golf club holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first substantially parallel position further comprises the longitudinal axis of the shaft and the longitudinal axis of the handle being substantially collinear with each other.  
   
   
       5 . The golf club holder of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is coupled to the shaft by means of a rotatable joint.  
   
   
       6 . The golf club holder of  claim 5 , wherein the joint is a nut and a bolt, a rivet, or a pivot pin.  
   
   
       7 . The golf club holder of  claim 4 , wherein the shaft and the handle are coupled by a joint, whereby the joint allows the shaft and the handle to be pivotably moveable between the first substantially parallel and substantially collinear position and the second substantially perpendicular position.  
   
   
       8 . The golf club holder of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a longitudinal cavity extending from one end of the handle to a middle portion thereof, the cavity substantially configured to receive at least a portion of the shaft.  
   
   
       9 . The golf club holder of  claim 8 , wherein the handle further comprises a plurality of protrusions, each of the protrusions extending a distance into the cavity of the handle, the distance being sufficient so as to inhibit the relative movement of the shaft and the handle between the first substantially parallel position and the second substantially perpendicular position.  
   
   
       10 . The golf club holder of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a plurality of indentations on its surface.  
   
   
       11 . The golf club holder of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a series of elevated rings such that the handle comprises a first diameter and each elevated ring comprises a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter.  
   
   
       12 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a gradually changing diameter.  
   
   
       13 . A method for removably supporting at least one golf club above a ground surface, the method comprising: 
 providing a golf club holder comprising a shaft and a handle, the shaft having a proximate end and a distal end, the handle being coupled to the shaft at the proximate end of the shaft, and the distal end of the shaft comprising a piercing end capable of penetrating the ground surface;    providing at least one golf club, the golf club having a head and a club shaft;    locating the golf club holder such that the piercing end of the shaft is touching the ground surface and the proximate end of the shaft is above the ground surface;    applying pressure to the golf club holder, thereby forcing the piercing end of the shaft into the ground surface and forming a first acute angle between the ground surface and the shaft;    pivoting the handle away from the shaft such that the handle is substantially parallel to the ground surface; and    resting the club shaft of the at least one golf club against the handle, such that the head of the golf club is resting on the ground surface, thereby forming a second acute angle between the club shaft and the shaft.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step comprising pivoting the handle away from the shaft is completed prior to applying pressure to the golf club holder.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of: 
 removing the at least one golf club from the golf club holder;    pivoting the handle toward the shaft such that the handle is substantively parallel and substantially collinear with the shaft; and    pulling on the handle, thereby dislodging the distal end of the shaft from the ground surface.    
   
   
       16 . A golf club holder, the holder comprising: 
 a handle;    a shaft, the shaft having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end being movably coupled to the handle and the distal end being configured to penetrate a ground surface at a first angle from the ground surface;    a plurality of fabric supports surrounding the shaft that are hingedly coupled to the shaft in a location adjacent to the distal end of the shaft, the fabric supports each having a first end and a second end and being displaceable between a collapsed position wherein the fabric supports are disposed adjacent to the shaft in a manner substantially parallel thereto, and an open position wherein the fabric supports extend radially from the shaft;    a fabric shade coupled to and supported by the plurality of fabric supports; and    a plurality of couplings that are hingedly coupled to the first end of each fabric support and the shaft in a location proximate to the distal end of the shaft, thereby allowing the fabric supports and fabric shade to move between the collapsed position and the open position.    
   
   
       17 . A combination golf club holder and golf club, the combination comprising: 
 a shaft configured to penetrate a ground surface at a first acute angle from the ground surface;    a handle coupled to the shaft to pivot relative to the shaft between a first substantially parallel position and a second substantially perpendicular position;    a club shaft, the club shaft having a proximate end and a distal end;    a golf club head coupled to the distal end of the club shaft; and    a grip coupled to the proximate end of the club shaft;    wherein the shaft and the club shaft are arranged such that the club shaft is removably supported by the handle, the golf club head is supported by the ground surface, and the shaft forms a second acute angle with the club shaft.    
   
   
       18 . The combination golf club holder and golf club of  claim 17 , wherein the first acute angle and the second acute angle are each between about thirty and about sixty degrees.  
   
   
       19 . The combination golf club holder and golf club of  claim 17 , wherein the grip of the club shaft is disposed above the handle.