Golf tee stroke counter

Abstract

A golf tee stroke counter apparatus includes a golf tee member with a tee shaft, a stroke counter element rotatably mounted on the tee shaft, a plurality of stroke count numerals on the tee shaft or the counter element, and a stroke count index positioned on the other of the tee shaft and the counter element. The stroke counter element and the tee shaft are mutually rotated to align the index with a numeral to indicate a current stroke count.

1 . A golf stroke scoring apparatus comprising:
 (a) a golf tee member including a golf tee shaft having a tee axis extending therealong;   (b) a stroke counter element rotatably mounted on the tee shaft to enable rotation about the tee axis;   (c) a plurality of stroke count numerals positioned in circumferentially spaced relation about the tee axis on one of the tee shaft and the counter element;   (d) a stroke count index positioned on the other of the tee shaft and the counter element; and   (e) the tee shaft and the counter element being mutually rotated to align the index with a selected one of the stroke numerals to indicate a current stroke count for a golf course hole.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  and including:
 (a) an indexing mechanism engaged between the stroke counter element and the tee shaft to facilitate alignment of the stroke count index with each stroke numeral. 
 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the stroke counter element is a disc having an aperture formed therethrough; and 
 (b) the disc is positioned on the tee shaft with the tee shaft extending through the aperture to enable the disc to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis. 
 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the stroke counter element is a disc having an aperture formed therethrough; 
 (b) a circumferential groove is formed in the tee shaft about the tee axis; and 
 (c) the disc is positioned on the tee shaft with the tee shaft extending through the aperture and with the disc snapped into the groove to enable the disc to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis. 
 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the stroke counter element is a disc having an aperture formed therethrough, the aperture having a radially inwardly extending indexing tooth; 
 (b) a circumferential groove is formed in the tee shaft about the tee axis, the groove having circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth formed therein; and 
 (c) the disc is positioned on the tee shaft with the tee shaft extending through the aperture and with the disc snapped into the groove to enable the disc to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis and the indexing tooth engages the groove between adjacent ratchet teeth to thereby facilitate the alignment of the stroke count index with each stroke numeral. 
 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the stroke counter element is a tubular sleeve; and 
 (b) the sleeve has the tee shaft extending therethrough to enable the sleeve to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis. 
 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the stroke count numerals are positioned in circumferentially spaced relation about the tee shaft; 
 (b) the stroke counter element is a tubular sleeve having a stroke count numeral opening formed therethrough; and 
 (c) the sleeve has the tee shaft extending therethrough to enable the sleeve to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis to enable selective alignment of the stroke count numeral opening with the stroke count numerals. 
 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) a circumferential groove is formed in the tee shaft about the tee axis; 
 (b) the stroke counter element is a tubular sleeve having a sleeve bore formed therethrough; 
 (c) a tooth extends radially inwardly from the sleeve within the bore; and 
 (d) the sleeve is positioned on the tee shaft with the tooth engaging the groove to enable the sleeve to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis. 
 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) a circumferential groove is formed in the tee shaft about the tee axis, the groove having circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth formed therein; 
 (b) the stroke counter element is a tubular sleeve having a sleeve bore formed therethrough; 
 (c) an indexing tooth extends radially inwardly from the sleeve within the bore; and 
 (d) the sleeve is positioned on the tee shaft with the tooth engaging the groove between adjacent ratchet teeth within the groove to enable the sleeve to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis and to thereby facilitate the alignment of the stroke count index with each stroke numeral. 
 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the stroke counter element is a disc having an aperture formed therethrough and an outer periphery; 
 (b) the disc has a golf club head cleaning tooth extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the disc; and 
 (c) the disc is positioned on the tee shaft with the tee shaft extending through the aperture to enable the disc to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis. 
 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the golf tee member includes a golf tee head; 
 (b) the tee head is rotatably engaged with the tee shaft; and 
 (c) the tee head forms the stroke counter element. 
 
     
     
         12 . A golf stroke scoring apparatus comprising:
 (a) a golf tee member including a golf tee shaft having a tee axis extending therealong;   (b) a stroke counter element rotatably mounted on the tee shaft to enable rotation about the tee axis;   (c) a plurality of stroke count numerals positioned in circumferentially spaced relation about the tee axis on one of the tee shaft and the counter element;   (d) a stroke count index positioned on the other of the tee shaft and the counter element;   (e) a circumferential groove formed in the tee shaft about the tee axis;   (f) an indexing mechanism engaged between the stroke counter element and the circumferential groove to facilitate alignment of the stroke count index with each stroke numeral; and   (g) the tee shaft and the counter element being mutually rotated in cooperation with the indexing mechanism to align the index with a selected one of the stroke numerals to indicate a current stroke count for a golf course hole.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the indexing mechanism includes:
 (a) circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth formed within the circumferential groove; 
 (b) an indexing tooth extending radially inwardly from the stroke counter element; and 
 (c) the indexing tooth engaging the groove between adjacent ratchet teeth to thereby facilitate alignment of the stroke count index with each stroke numeral. 
 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the stroke counter element is a disc having an aperture formed therethrough; and 
 (b) the disc is positioned on the tee shaft within the circumferential groove with the tee shaft extending through the aperture to enable the disc to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis. 
 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the stroke counter element is a tubular sleeve; and 
 (b) the sleeve has the tee shaft extending therethrough to enable the sleeve to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis. 
 
     
     
         16 . A golf stroke scoring apparatus comprising:
 (a) a golf tee member including a golf tee shaft having a tee axis extending therealong;   (b) a golf tee head rotatably mounted on the tee shaft to enable rotation about the tee axis;   (c) a plurality of stroke count numerals positioned in circumferentially spaced relation about the tee axis on one of the tee shaft and the tee head;   (d) a stroke count index positioned on the other of the tee shaft and the tee head; and   (e) the tee shaft and the tee head being mutually rotated to align the index with a selected one of the stroke numerals to indicate a current stroke count for a golf course hole.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 16  and including:
 (a) an indexing mechanism engaged between the tee head and the tee shaft to facilitate alignment of the stroke count index with each stroke numeral. 
 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 16  wherein:
 (a) the tee shaft has a neck with a reduced diameter at an upper end thereof; 
 (b) the tee head has a bore formed into a lower end thereof; and 
 (c) the neck is received in the bore to enable the tee neck to rotate relative to the tee shaft. 
 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 16  wherein:
 (a) the tee shaft has a neck with a reduced diameter at an upper end thereof; 
 (b) the tee head has a bore formed into a lower end thereof; 
 (c) the neck is received in the bore to enable the tee neck to rotate relative to the tee shaft; 
 (d) a plurality of radial projections spaced circumferentially about the neck; 
 (e) an indexing tooth projecting radially inwardly from the bore in axial alignment with the projections; and 
 (f) the indexing tooth being received between the projections upon relative rotation between the tee head and the tee shaft to thereby facilitate alignment of the stroke count index with each stroke numeral. 
 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 16  wherein:
 (a) the stroke count numerals are circumferentially spaced about the tee shaft; and 
 (b) the stroke count index is positioned on the tee head.