Golf tee

Abstract

A golf tee includes a stem positionable in or on the ground; and a head connected to the stem for supporting a golf ball. The head is configured to surround and support a portion of the golf ball, including the portion of the ball facing a golf player when positioned to hit the golf ball. The head includes a back portion configured to be impacted by a golf club of the golf player and two side portions extending from the back portion and wrapping around opposite sides of the golf ball to surround up to 180° of the circumference of the golf ball to inhibit side spin of the golf ball upon impact by the golf club. The back portion of the head of the golf tee includes a flat planar element extending substantially across the back portion and configured to provide a visual cue to guide the golf player to square the face of the golf club at impact when striking the golf ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf tee, comprising:
 a stem positionable in or on the ground; and   a head connected to the stem for supporting a golf ball, wherein the head is configured to surround and support a portion of the golf ball, including the portion of the ball facing a golf player when positioned to hit the golf ball, wherein the head comprises a back portion configured to be impacted by a golf club of the golf player and two side portions extending from the back portion and wrapping around opposite sides of the golf ball to surround up to 180° of the circumference of the golf ball to inhibit side spin of the golf ball upon impact by the golf club, wherein the back portion of the head of the golf tee includes a flat planar element extending substantially across the back portion and configured to provide a visual cue to guide the golf player to square the face of the golf club at impact when striking the golf ball.   
     
     
         2 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein the head is configured to surround a portion of the golf ball between 130° to 180° of the circumference of the golf ball. 
     
     
         3 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein the head is configured to surround a portion of the golf ball between 140° to 180° of the circumference of the golf ball. 
     
     
         4 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein the head is configured to surround a portion of the golf ball between 150° to 180° of the circumference of the golf ball. 
     
     
         5 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein the head is configured to surround a portion of the golf ball between 160° to 180° of the circumference of the golf ball. 
     
     
         6 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein the head is configured to surround a portion of the golf ball between 170° to 180° of the circumference of the golf ball. 
     
     
         7 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein a tip of the stem is configured for insertion into the ground. 
     
     
         8 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein the golf tee is configured for use in a range mat. 
     
     
         9 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , further comprising a flat base supporting the stem, wherein the golf tee is configured for use in a range mat. 
     
     
         10 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein the golf tee is constructed from plastics, rubber, wood, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein the golf tee is configured for use in a method of collaboratively playing golf in an optional selective shot format by a group of golf players on a golf course using a single set of golf clubs, and a single golf ball, the golf course comprising a plurality of holes, each hole having at least a tee box and a putting green with a cup, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) assigning one or more golf clubs in said single set of golf clubs to be carried and used by each of said group of golf players; and   (b) at each of said plurality of holes:
 (i) striking, by one and only one player of said group of golf players, the single golf ball at the tee box for the hole using only the one or more golf clubs assigned to that player; 
 (ii) determining which one and only one of said group of golf players will hit the next shot of the single golf ball where it has landed to advance the single golf ball toward the cup for the hole; 
 (iii) striking, by the one and only one player determined in (ii), the single golf ball using only the one or more golf clubs assigned to that player; and 
 (iv) repeating steps (ii) and (iii) until the single golf ball is in the cup, 
   wherein at least one of said steps of striking the single golf ball during a round is preceded by positioning the golf ball on the golf tee.