Golf tee

Abstract

A golf tee for use in teeing a golf ball during a round of golf or practice is disclosed. The golf tee includes a stem portion engaged to an elongated base portion. The stem portion includes a flexible tubular-shaped body defining a cavity. The body includes a flared portion terminating at a circular rim defining a golf ball engaging surface. The base portion has a first end terminating in a point adapted for insertion into a tee box. The stem portion and base portion may be integrally constructed by an injection molding process. The golf tee is shaped and constructed to reduce inhibiting forces against ball flight when a ball resting upon the engaging surface is struck by a club. Depth gauge indicia may be imprinted on an exterior surface of the golf tee for use to insert the golf tee to a pre-determined depth.

1 . A golf tee for use in teeing a golf ball comprising: 
 a) a stem member having a flexible tubular-shaped body, a first end and a second end, said second end comprising a flared portion terminating at a circular rim defining a golf ball engaging surface; and    b) an elongated base having a first end terminating at an insertion point and a second end, wherein said elongated base second end is engaged to said stem member first end.    
   
   
       2 . The golf tee of  claim 1  wherein said stem member is constructed of a material having a coefficient of static friction less than processed birch wood.  
   
   
       3 . The golf tee of  claim 1  wherein said stem member is constructed of a material having a coefficient of kinetic friction less than processed birch wood.  
   
   
       4 . The golf tee of  claim 1  wherein said stem member is constructed of an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       5 . The golf tee of  claim 1  wherein said stem member is constructed of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).  
   
   
       6 . The golf tee of  claim 1  wherein said stem member comprises advertising related text, logos or symbols.  
   
   
       7 . The golf tee of  claim 1  wherein said stem member is bendable in a direction of travel of a golf club used to strike a golf ball resting upon said engaging surface.  
   
   
       8 . The golf tee of  claim 1  further comprising a ring-shaped depth gauge circumferentially attached about said golf tee.  
   
   
       9 . The golf tee of  claim 1  further comprising a ring-shaped depth gauge circumferentially attached about said stem member first end and said base second end, wherein said gauge is a piece of heat shrink tubing.  
   
   
       10 . The golf tee of  claim 1  wherein said stem member first end and said base second end are engaged by a piece of heat shrink tubing.  
   
   
       11 . The golf tee of  claim 1  further comprising depth gauge indicia imprinted on an exterior surface thereof for use to insert said golf tee into a tee box to a pre-determined depth.  
   
   
       12 . A golf tee for use in teeing a golf ball comprising: 
 a) a stem portion comprising an elongated hollow body defining a cavity, said body comprising a flared portion terminating at a circular rim defining a golf ball engaging surface;    b) a center portion engaged to said stem portion; and    c) an elongated base portion engaged to said center portion and having a first end terminating in a point adapted for insertion into a tee box.    
   
   
       13 . The golf tee of  claim 12  wherein said stem portion, said center portion and said base portion are integrally constructed.  
   
   
       14 . The golf tee of  claim 12  wherein said stem portion, said center portion and said base portion are integrally constructed by an injection molding process.  
   
   
       15 . The golf tee of  claim 12  wherein said center portion defines a shoulder relative to an outer diameter of said base portion.  
   
   
       16 . The golf tee of  claim 12  further comprising a ring-shaped depth gauge circumferentially disposed about said center portion.  
   
   
       17 . The golf tee of  claim 12  further comprising depth gauge indicia imprinted on an exterior surface thereof for use to insert said golf tee into a tee box to a pre-determined depth.  
   
   
       18 . The golf tee of  claim 17  wherein said indicia is a color.  
   
   
       19 . The golf tee of  claim 17  wherein said indicia is a depth insertion line transverse to a longitudinal axis of said golf tee.  
   
   
       20 . A golf tee comprising an integral one-piece body constructed of an elastomeric material, said body having a solid elongated base portion for insertion into a tee box and a flexible tubular-shaped stem portion for supporting a golf ball.  
   
   
       21 . The golf tee of  claim 20  wherein said stem portion comprises a circular rim defining a golf ball engaging surface.  
   
   
       22 . The golf tee of  claim 20  further comprising depth gauge indicia imprinted on an exterior surface thereof for use to insert said golf tee into a tee box to a pre-determined depth.  
   
   
       23 . The golf tee of  claim 22  wherein said indicia is a color.  
   
   
       24 . A golf tee comprising: 
 a) a stem portion comprising a flexible tubular-shaped body defining a cavity, said body comprising a flared portion terminating at a circular rim defining a golf ball engaging surface; and    b) an elongated base portion fixed to said stem portion and having an end point adapted for insertion into a tee box;    c) wherein said stem portion and said base portion are integrally constructed by an injection molding process.    
   
   
       25 . The golf tee of  claim 24  wherein said stem portion defines a shoulder relative to an outer diameter of said base portion.  
   
   
       26 . The golf tee of  claim 24  further comprising depth gauge indicia on an exterior surface of said golf tee for use to insert said golf tee into a tee box to a pre-determined depth.  
   
   
       27 . The golf tee of  claim 25  wherein said depth gauge indicia are disposed above a bottom surface of said cavity relative to said base portion.  
   
   
       28 . A method of reducing spin on a golf ball struck off a golf tee comprising: 
 a) inserting a golf tee to a pre-determined depth in a tee box, said golf tee having a base portion for insertion into said box and a stem portion comprising a flexible tubular-shaped body defining a cavity;    b) placing a golf ball on a golf ball engaging surface defined by a flared portion terminating at a circular rim at an end of said stem portion;    c) striking said golf ball with a golf club; and    d) bending said stem portion in a direction of said golf club travel.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising constructing said stem portion from a material having a coefficient of static friction less than processed birch wood.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising constructing said stem portion from a material having a coefficient of kinetic friction less than processed birch wood.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising indicating said predetermined depth by imprinting depth gauge indicia on an exterior surface of said golf tee.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising returning said stem portion after golf club impact with said ball to the same position as before golf club impact with said ball.