Patent Publication Number: US-9901798-B1

Title: Golf club stand

Description:
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure generally relates to the field of golf club accessories, and more particularly to a golf club stand. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Many golfers now use motorized carts to navigate a golf course, but many golf course owners discourage or prohibit golfers from driving motorized carts to the immediate location of the golfer&#39;s ball after a shot. This is especially true if the golf course grass has become saturated with water. Driving motorized carts on saturated grass can cause damage. Therefore many golf courses require golfers to keep the motorized vehicles upon designated cart paths. At times, this requires the golfer to walk a moderate distance to get to their ball. 
     Often, when a golfer begins the walk from the cart to the ball, the golfer may be unsure as to which of many golf clubs will be needed for the next golf shot. As a result, the golfer is forced to bring more than one club along as the golfer walks to the golf ball to take the next shot. Often, golfers are forced to bring more than one club with them if their ball is near a “green” but not yet on the green (a “green” is a section of very short grass where the target hole is located). In this case, the golfer will usually bring a putting club and a chipping club. This is true even though the golfer probably knows exactly which club(s) will be used for all of the remaining shots. This is because motorized golf carts are generally disallowed within a short distance of the green regardless of the condition of the grass. 
     As a golfer approaches the ball with more than one golf club, the golfer is forced to choose which golf club to use to swing at the ball for the next shot. Because the golfer is away from the location of the golf club bag, the golfer must place the unselected golf club(s) upon the ground while taking the next swing at the golf ball with the selected club. The placement of the unselected club(s) upon the ground often causes dirt, gravel, sand, water and other debris to accumulate on the handle or “grip” portion of the golf club. This is especially true in the morning when dew readily accumulates upon surfaces that touch the ground. Many golfers dislike debris or moisture upon the grip of their golf clubs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned problems of the prior art are overcome or eliminated by a golf club stand used for elevating a golf club handle above the ground. The golf club stand includes a rod disposed through a mount, wherein the rod is slidably engaged with the mount. An anterior terminal end of the rod extends from one side of the mount, while an oppositely situated posterior terminal end extends from an opposite side of the mount. The stand further comprises a cap which is fixedly secured to the anterior terminal end of the rod, and which is removably engaged with the mount. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the golf club stand may be engaged with a golf club by disposing the mount within a cavity of a handle of the golf club such that a peripheral wall of the mount physically abuts an interior side wall of the handle of the golf club, such that the rod is disposed within the cavity and the cap is directed away from the golf club. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the golf club stand may be engaged with the golf club by inserting a protrusion which extends from a bottom side of the mount through the top side of the handle of the golf club such that the rod is oriented towards the cavity of the golf club and is movable therein, and such that the bottom side of the mount rests on the top side of the handle of the golf club. 
     In either embodiment, when the golf club stand is in use, the cap is removed from the mount, thereby causing the rod to extend from the mount in a direction opposite to a head of the golf club via a vertically extending channel formed through the mount. The posterior terminal end of the rod has a stop member formed thereon, wherein the stop member and the mount are configured such that the rod cannot be released from the mount. Once the stand is in such an extended position, the rod may be engaged within a slot that is formed substantially perpendicularly to the vertically extending channel. In this position, the golf club may be supported by the golf club stand, and the handle of the golf club is raised relative to the ground. 
     For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic depicting a longitudinal section of an exemplary golf club stand; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic depicting a top surface of an exemplary cap of the stand depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic depicting a cross-sectional view of the cap depicted in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic depicting a bottom side view of an exemplary mount of the stand depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic depicting a cross-sectional view of the mount depicted in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic depicting an exemplary rod of the stand depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic depicting a portion of an interior view of the mount depicted in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic depicting a conventionally known golf club; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic depicting the golf club stand depicted in  FIG. 1  installed within the golf club depicted in  FIG. 8  and positioned in relation to the golf club in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic depicting the golf club stand depicted in  FIG. 1  installed within the golf club depicted in  FIG. 8  and positioned in relation to the golf club in an expanded position; 
         FIG. 11  is a photograph depicting another exemplary golf club stand in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 12  is a photograph depicting the golf club stand depicted in  FIG. 11  in an extended position; 
         FIG. 13  is a photograph depicting another view of the golf club stand depicted in  FIG. 11  in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 14  is a photograph depicting an exemplary cap; 
         FIG. 15  is a photograph depicting a bottom side of the cap depicted in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a photograph depicting another view of the bottom side of the cap depicted in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a photograph depicting a top side of an exemplary ball marker; 
         FIG. 18  is a photograph depicting a bottom side of the ball marker depicted in  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a photograph depicting a top side of an exemplary mount; 
         FIG. 20  is a photograph depicting a bottom side of the mount depicted in  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a photograph depicting a bottom perspective view of the mount depicted in  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a photograph depicting a side view of the mount depicted in  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a photograph depicting another perspective view of the golf club stand depicted in  FIG. 11  in an expanded position; 
         FIG. 24  is a schematic depicting a portion of an interior view of the mount depicted in  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a schematic depicting a portion of the golf club stand depicted in  FIG. 11  installed within the golf club depicted in  FIG. 8  and positioned in relation to the golf club in a “retracted” position; 
         FIG. 26  is a schematic depicting the golf club stand depicted in  FIG. 11  installed within the golf club depicted in  FIG. 8  and positioned in relation to the golf club in a folded position; 
         FIG. 27  is a schematic depicting a bottom side view of an exemplary mount of the stand depicted in  FIG. 11 ; and 
         FIG. 28  is a schematic depicting a cross-sectional view of the mount depicted in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The golf club stand of the present invention is used to support a golf club such that a handle of the golf club does not rest upon the ground when the golf club is not in use. Although the stand may be used to support a variety of types, brands, and sizes of golf clubs, and is not limited to the type of golf club with which it is used, the stand is especially preferred to support putters and wedges, such as, e.g., those that are conventionally known. 
     The golf club stand comprises a mount. In an exemplary embodiment, the mount is fixedly disposed within a cavity that is conventionally formed within an upper portion of a handle of a golf club and which is accessed via an opening formed at a top side of the handle, wherein the top side of the handle is oppositely situated from a head of the golf club. The mount may be fixed within the cavity of the golf club handle via a wide variety of materials and/or methods, including, for example, an adhesive, welding, machining, frictional fit, and the like. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the mount may comprise a protrusion that extends from a bottom side of a main body of the mount. In this embodiment, the protrusion may be disposed within the opening formed at the top side of the handle such that a main body of the mount securely rests atop the top side of the handle. 
     The golf club stand further comprises a rod and a cap. The rod has a longitudinally extending body in which a terminal end of the body of the rod is fixed to the cap, and in which an oppositely situated terminal end of the rod has a stop member disposed thereon. The rod is disposed through a chamber formed through the mount such that the cap is positioned towards a top side of the mount and the stop member is positioned towards a bottom side of the mount, and such that the rod is slidaby engaged with the mount. 
     When the stand is in a “retracted” position, the cap rests against the top side of the mount. The cap and the mount may be secured to one another when the golf club stand is closed, or retracted, by a wide variety of fastening means, including, for example, a magnet, a clip, a spring, a clasp, a pin, and the like, wherein in an especially preferred embodiment, the mount and the cap are secured to one another via a magnetic force. In this embodiment, a magnet may be disposed on and/or within the mount, and the cap may comprise a magnetic material such as, for example, stainless steel. 
     When the golf club stand is installed on a golf club, the mount is positioned within the chamber of the handle of the golf club such that the bottom side of the mount is directed towards the head of the golf club. Preferably the top side of the mount is slightly raised relative to the uppermost end of the handle of the golf club. When in a retracted position, the cap rests on the mount and the rod and the stop member are positioned within the chamber of the handle of the golf club. 
     The golf club stand may be set into an “extended” position by removing the cap from the mount. As the cap is removed from the mount and as the cap is further directed away from the mount, the rod moves through the mount. The mount is configured to prevent the rod from completely disengaging from the mount, and is further configured to orient the rod and the cap relative to the mount such that, when the cap and the head of the golf club are positioned on the ground, i.e., when the golf club stand is in a “folded” position, the golf club handle is raised, thereby preventing the handle from becoming, for example, dirty or wet, and further assisting a user in picking up the golf club. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. Any additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and may form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary golf club stand  10  comprises a cap  12 , a mount  14 , and a rod  16 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , cap  12  comprises a body  18 . Although body  18  is shown as having a generally disc-like configuration, its configuration is not limited to this embodiment, so long as the configuration of body  18  allows cap  12  to function as generally described herein. Body  18  comprises an upper face  20  oppositely situated to a lower face  22 , and a peripheral wall  24  which surrounds upper and lower faces  20  and  22 . An opening  26 , which is centrally formed through lower face  22 , leads into a chamber  28  having a generally cylindrical configuration. 
     Although body  18  of cap  12  may be formed from a variety of materials including, for example, one or more of a plastic, a rubber, a metal, and the like, in an especially preferred embodiment, body  18  of cap  12  is formed of a magnetic material, such as, for example, stainless steel. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 , mount  14  comprises a main body  30 . Although main body  30  is depicted in the figures as having a generally cylindrical configuration, main body  30  is not so restricted. Rather, the geometrical configuration of main body  30  is only limited to the extent that it can be fitted within a cavity  102  formed in a handle  104  of a golf club  100 , wherein an exemplary golf club  100  is depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
     Main body  30  comprises a top side  32  oppositely situated to a bottom side  34 , and a peripheral wall  36  which surrounds top and bottom sides  32  and  34  at outer edges thereof. Where peripheral wall  36  contacts top side  32 , peripheral wall  36  slopes outwardly therefrom to form a lip region  38  of peripheral wall  36 . At an opposite end from top side  32 , lip region  32  turns substantially perpendicularly towards bottom side  34  to form a neck region  40  of peripheral wall  36 , wherein neck region  40  is contiguously and substantially perpendicularly formed with bottom side  34 . 
     Top side  32  of mount  14  has an opening  42  centrally formed thereon, while bottom side  34  has an opening  44  centrally formed thereon. Openings  42  and  44  are coaxial with one another, and opening  44  has an interior diameter greater than an interior diameter of opening  42 . 
     A slot  46  is formed within top side  32 . Slot  46  begins at opening  42  and longitudinally extends therefrom into lip region  38  and into neck region  40  where it terminates at neck region  40 . Slot  46  is defined in part by a forward intermediate wall  48  that is recessed relative to top side  32  and which is parallel to top and bottom sides  32  and  34 , wherein forward intermediate wall  48  has an anterior terminal end  50  oppositely situated to a posterior terminal end  52 . Anterior terminal end  50  is directed towards opening  42  and posterior terminal end  52  is located in neck region  40 . Anterior terminal end  50  turns substantially perpendicularly towards bottom side  34  to form an interior forward leading wall  58 . 
     Slot  46  is further defined by a proximal side wall  54  and a distal side wall  56 , both of which are substantially perpendicular to top side  32  and to forward intermediate wall  48  and both of which are contiguously formed with top side  32  and forward intermediate wall  48 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 7 , mount  14  further comprises a generally L-shaped chamber  60  which comprises a portion  62  and a portion  64 . Portion  62  vertically and continuously extends from opening  42  to opening  44 . Portion  62  is immediately adjacent on one side thereof to interior forward leading wall  58 , and is immediately adjacent on an oppositely side thereof to an interior rearward leading wall  65 , wherein interior rearward leading wall  65  is parallel to interior forward leading wall  58 . 
     Portion  64  is substantially perpendicular to portion  62 . Portion  64  is defined by a rearward intermediate wall  66  which is substantially coplanar and parallel with forward intermediate wall  48 , by an abutment wall  68  which is substantially perpendicular to rearward intermediate wall  66  and which is directed towards top side  32 , and by an underside  70  of top side  32 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , bottom side  34  of mount  14  has a recessed portion  72  and a recessed portion  74  formed therein. Recessed portion  72  holds a magnet  76 , and recessed portion  74  holds a magnet  78 . In an especially preferred embodiment, magnets  76  and  78  are flush with bottom side  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , and as previously mentioned, golf club stand  10  further comprises rod  16 . Rod  16  comprises a longitudinally extending body  80  having a generally cylindrical configuration. Body  80  is defined by a posterior terminal end  82  at one end thereof, and by an anterior terminal end  84  at an oppositely situated end thereof. Posterior terminal end  82  has a stop member  86  joined thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, stop member  86  has a bulbous-shaped body  88 . 
     As shown, e.g., in  FIG. 1 , anterior terminal end  84  of rod  16  is fixedly secured within chamber  28  of cap  12 . Mount  14  is slidably engaged with body  80  of rod  16  such that mount  14  is disposed between stop member  86  and cap  12 , and further such that bottom side  34  of mount  14  is directed towards stop member  86  and top side  32  of mount  14  is directed towards cap  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-10 , when golf club stand  10  is attached to a golf club  100 , golf club stand  10  is positioned on golf club  100  such that rod  16  is positioned within a cavity  102  of a handle  104  of golf club  100 , such that stop member  86  is directed towards a head  110  of golf club  100 , and such that neck region  40  is physically attached to an interior side wall  106  of golf club  100  which surrounds cavity  102 , while lip region  38  is positioned above terminal rim  108  of handle  104 , wherein terminal rim  108  defines the uppermost portion of handle  104  and is directed opposite to head  110  of golf club  100 . 
     When golf club stand  10  is in a retracted position as shown, e.g., in  FIG. 9 , lower face  22  of cap  12  physically abuts top side  32  of mount  14 , and is secured thereto via a magnetic force generated by and between body  18  of cap  12  and magnets  76  and  78 . 
     When it is desired to rest golf club  100  against golf club stand  10 , a user may exert an upward pull against lower face  22  of cap  12  which exceeds the magnetic force between cap  12  and magnets  76  and  78 . Once such force is overcome, a user may then continue to pull cap  12  away from mount  12  such that body  80  of rod  16  and body  88  of stop member  86  pass through opening  42  formed on bottom side  34  of mount  14  and through portion  62  of chamber  60 . 
     Body  88  of stop member  86  is dimensioned such that it has a diameter larger than that of the diameter of opening  42 . As such, body  88  of stop member  86  cannot pass through opening  42 . Rather, once body  88  reaches opening  42 , a force may be directed against peripheral wall  24  of cap  12 , thereby moving cap  12  and rod  16  such that body  80  of rod  16  rests against forward intermediate wall  48 , proximal side wall  54 , and distal side wall  56  of mount  14 , and such that bulbous shaped body  88  of stop member  86  is disposed within portion  64  of chamber  60  of mount  14 . Stop member  86  is essentially locked in position in this state as bulbous shaped body  88  is held in place by underside  70  of top side  32 , and by rearward intermediate wall  66  and by abutment wall  68 . Bulbous shaped body  88  is further engaged with mount  14  via a magnetic force generated by and between body  88  of stop member  86  and by magnets  76  and  78 . When in the retracted position, lower face  22  of cap  12  may be disposed directly on a ground  200 , thereby suspending handle  104  of golf club  100  over ground  200 . 
     When it is desired to again position golf club stand  10  in a retracted position, cap  12  and rod  16  need only be raised towards top side  32  of mount  14 , thereby aligning body  88  of stop member  86  with opening  44  of mount  14 , and then sliding body  80  of rod  16  through portion  64  of chamber  60  until lower face  22  is disposed on top side  32  of mount  14 . 
     Another exemplary golf club stand is depicted in  FIGS. 11-28 . Referring to these figures, an exemplary golf club stand  300  comprises a cap  302 , a mount  304 , and a rod  306 . Referring to  FIGS. 14-16 , cap  302  comprises a generally disc-shaped body having an upper face  308  oppositely situated to a lower face  310 . Lower face  310  has an opening  312  centrally formed therein. Lower face  310  further has a recess  315  formed therein wherein recess  315  holds a magnet  319 . The body of cap  302  further comprises a peripheral wall  314  disposed between and contiguously formed with the outer edges of upper and lower faces  308  and  310 . Peripheral wall  314  tapers inwardly from upper face  308  to lower face  310  such that lower face  310  has a smaller diameter than upper face  308 . Cap  302  further comprises a raised wall  303  that extends substantially perpendicularly from upper face  308  and which is contiguously formed with peripheral wall  314 . A cutaway portion  305  is formed through raised wall  303  thereby giving raised wall  303  an arced configuration. 
     Although the body of cap  302  may be formed from a variety of materials including, for example, one or more of a plastic, a rubber, a metal, and the like, in an especially preferred embodiment, the body of cap  302  comprises a magnetic material, such as, for example, stainless steel. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , an exemplary golf club stand  300  further comprises a ball marker  349  having a generally disc-like configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, ball maker  349  rests on upper face  308  and is secured thereto via, e.g., a magnetic force via magnet  319 . Ball maker  349  may be disengaged from upper face  308  by, e.g., sliding ball maker  349  away from upper face  308  and through cutaway portion  305 . 
     As shown, e.g., in  FIG. 19-22 , mount  304  comprises a body  316 . Body  316  comprises a substantially planar top side  318  oppositely situated to a generally concave-shaped bottom side  320 . Body  316  further comprises a generally cylindrical-shaped peripheral wall  322  which is contiguously formed with and disposed between top and bottom sides  318  and  320 . Peripheral wall  322  extends above top side  318  to form a forward portion  324  such that top side  318  is recessed relative to forward portion  324 . Forward portion  324  has on outer wall  325  which is contiguously formed and coplanar with an outer wall  324  of peripheral wall  322 . Forward portion  324  has an inner wall  327  oppositely situated from outer wall  325  and directed towards top side  318 , wherein inner wall  327  has a generally concave configuration. An opening  329  is formed through forward portion  324  and peripheral wall  322  of body  316 . 
     A chamfered wall  317  is formed through peripheral wall  322  and forward wall  324 . Chamfered wall  317  provides a means whereby a user can position the user&#39;s finger or thumb against chamfered wall  317  to thereby assist in the release of cap  302  from mount  304 . 
     Top side  318  of mount  304  has an opening  326  centrally formed thereon, while bottom side  320  has an opening  328  centrally formed thereon. Openings  326  and  328  are coaxial with one another and are in fluid communication with one another via a vertically extending channel  362  which is formed through body  316  of mount  304 . 
     A slot  346  is formed within top side  318 . Slot  346  longitudinally extends from opening  326  of top side  318  to opening  329 . Slot  346  is bordered in part by an intermediate wall  348  that is recessed relative to top side  318  and which is parallel to top and bottom sides  318  and  320 , wherein intermediate wall  348  has an anterior terminal end  350  oppositely situated to a posterior terminal end  352 . Anterior terminal end  350  is directed towards opening  326  and posterior terminal end  352  terminates at opening  329 . Anterior terminal end  350  turns substantially perpendicularly towards bottom side  320  to form an interior forward leading wall  358  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 24 ). 
     Slot  346  is further bordered by a proximal side wall  354  and a distal side wall  356 , both of which are substantially perpendicular to top side  318  and to intermediate wall  348  and both of which are contiguously formed with top side  318  and intermediate wall  348 . 
     As seen, e.g., in  FIGS. 24 and 28 , vertically extending channel  332  is immediately adjacent on one side thereof to interior forward leading wall  358 , and is immediately adjacent on an oppositely side thereof to an interior rearward leading wall  365 , wherein interior rearward leading wall  365  is parallel to interior forward leading wall  358 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 21 and 28 , e.g., mount  304  further comprises a protrusion such as, e.g., a threaded stud  330 , which is centrally disposed on and which linearly extends from bottom side  320 . Threaded stud  330  has a generally conical shaped body  333 , wherein body  333  has a chamber  336  centrally formed therethrough. Chamber  336  is accessed via an opening  335  formed on a bottom side  337  of body  333  and via an opening  339  formed on a top side  341  of body  333 . Chamber  336  is further centrally aligned with channel  362  of chamber  369 . 
     As shown, e.g., in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , bottom side  320  of mount  304  has a recessed portion  372  and a recessed portion  373  formed therein. Recessed portions  372  and  373  respectively hold magnets  376  and  377 . In an especially preferred embodiment, magnets  376  and  377  are flush with bottom side  320 . 
     As previously stated, golf club stand  300  further comprises rod  306 . Rod  306  comprises a longitudinally extending body  380  having a generally cylindrical configuration. Body  380  is defined, in part, by a posterior terminal end  382  at one end thereof, and by an anterior terminal end  384  at an oppositely situated end thereof. Posterior terminal end  382  has a stop member  386  joined thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, stop member  386  has a bulbous-shaped body  388 . 
     As shown in the figures, anterior terminal end  384  of rod  306  is fixedly secured within opening  312  of cap  302 . Body  390  of rod  306  is disposed through opening  326 , channel  362 , and opening  344  of mount  304  such that stop member  386  of rod  306  is directed towards threaded stud  330  and anterior terminal end  384  of rod  306  is directed towards top side  318  of mount  304 , and such that body  390  of rod  306  is slidably engaged with body  316  of mount  304 . Mount  304  is slidably engaged with body  380  of rod  306  such that mount  304  is disposed between stop member  386  and cap  302 , and further such that bottom side  320  of mount  304  is directed towards stop member  386  and top side  318  of mount  304  is directed towards cap  302 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 25 , golf club stand  300  may be attached to golf club  100  by, e.g., positing golf club stand  300  as shown. Threaded stud  330  may be used to bore a hole in a terminal rim  120  of handle  104  of golf club  100  by, e.g., twisting golf club stand  300  in a clockwise and/or a counterclockwise direction to thereby screw threaded stud  330  through terminal rim  120  until threaded stud  330  seats securedly onto handle  104 . 
     When golf club stand  300  is attached to a golf club  100  such that golf club stand  300  is in a fully retracted position, stop member  386  is positioned within cavity  102  of handle  104  and is directed towards head  110  of golf club  100 , rod  306  is positioned within cavity  102 , threaded stud  330  is disposed within hole  122  of handle  104 , and bottom side  320  of mount  304  is engaged with terminal rim  120  of handle  104 . Furthermore, lower face  310  of cap  302  is physically disposed on top side  318  of mount  304  and is held thereto by the magnetic force generated between cap  302  and magnets  376  and  377 . 
     When it is desired to rest golf club  100  against golf club stand  300 , a user merely needs to exert an upward pull against lower face  310  of cap  302  which exceeds the magnetic force between cap  302  and magnet  376 . Once such force is overcome, a user may then continue to pull cap  302  away from mount  304  such that body  380  of rod  306  and body  388  of stop member  386  pass through opening  326  formed on bottom side  320  of mount  304  and through channel  362  of chamber  360 . 
     Body  388  of stop member  386  is dimensioned such that it has a diameter larger than that of the diameter of opening  326 . As such, body  388  of stop member  386  cannot pass through opening  326 . Rather, once body  388  reaches opening  326 , a force may be directed against peripheral wall  324  of cap  302 , thereby moving cap  302  and rod  306  such that body  380  of rod  306  rests against forward intermediate wall  348 , proximal side wall  354 , and distal side wall  356  of mount  304 . Stop member  386  is essentially locked in position in this state as bulbous shaped body  388  cannot pass through opening  326 . Bulbous shaped body  388  may be further engaged with mount  304  via a magnetic force generated by and between body  388  of stop member  386  and by magnet  376 . When in a folded position, lower face  310  of cap  302  may be disposed directly on a ground  200 , thereby suspending handle  104  of golf club  100  over ground  200 . 
     When it is desired to again position golf club stand  300  in a closed, or a retracted, position, cap  302  and rod  306  need only be positioned towards top side  318  of mount  304  such that opening  384  of cap  302  is aligned with opening  326  of mount  304 , and then sliding body  380  of rod  306  through vertically extending channel  362  until lower face  310  of cap  302  is disposed on top side  318  of mount  304 . 
     While there is shown and described certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.