Patent Abstract:
A system for practicing golf is disclosed. The system includes a golf tee holder, a lie modifying wedge, a lie modifying sheet, and a lie modifying bag. The golf tee holder is a small, rubber component placed under a driving range mat, which holds a real golf tee at an adjustable height. The lie-modifying wedge is foam wedge that is placed under or on top of the driving range mat to manipulate the lie of the golf ball on the driving range mat amongst uphill, downhill, and side-hill lies. The lie-modifying sheet and lie-modifying bag are relatively flat components places on top of and anchored to the driving range mat and used as surfaces from which to hit golf balls from different materials simulating hazards on a golf course, such as long grass, a hard pan lie, and a sand trap.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to a golf tee holder and a system for practicing golf.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of related art  
           [0004]    Golf players spend a great deal of their practice time at driving ranges where they can hit real golf balls using full swings. Most golf players prefer to practice hitting golf balls from natural turf. However, many driving ranges today do not have natural turf and only offer their patrons artificial driving range mats from which to hit.  
           [0005]    The typical system for hitting a golf ball from an artificial driving range mat includes the mat itself with a hitting surface and an artificial tee made of a molded material. Players can either hit golf balls from the hitting surface itself or tee the ball up on the artificial tee. The artificial tee is a cylindrical in shape and extends upwards through a hole in the driving range mat to a set height above the hitting surface. The driving range mat is flat, and there is only one surface from which the golf players can hit.  
           [0006]    One disadvantage of this system is the artificial tee does not allow players to use real, wooden tees when practicing on driving range mats. Another disadvantage is the artificial tee does not allow players to adjust the height at which their golf ball is teed when practicing on the driving range mats. A further disadvantage is the golf players can only practice from flat lies from a surface that simulates hitting from very short grass.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The invention provides for a golf tee holder including a base portion having a first horizontal width and a lower surface to position on a horizontal surface, and a holding piece secured to and extending upwardly from the base portion, the holding piece having a second horizontal width less than the first horizontal width and an opening in an upper end thereof, the opening having a diameter and the holding piece being a material such that a stem of a golf tee having a diameter between 3 mm and 6 mm inserted into the opening is frictionally held by opposing surfaces of the opening.  
           [0008]    The base portion may be circular in shape.  
           [0009]    The base portion may have a diameter between 40 mm and 70 mm and a thickness between 2 mm and 7 mm.  
           [0010]    The holding piece may be cylindrical in shape.  
           [0011]    The holding piece may have a height between 20 mm and 50 mm and a diameter between 10 mm and 30 mm.  
           [0012]    The opening in the holding piece may extend completely through the holding piece to allow a lodged piece of a first golf tee to be ejected by inserting a second golf tee therein.  
           [0013]    The base portion and the holding piece may be made from a single piece of the material.  
           [0014]    The material may be rubber.  
           [0015]    The base portion may be circular in shape with a diameter of approximately 55 mm and a thickness of approximately 5 mm, the holding piece may be cylindrical in shape with a height of approximately 25 mm and a diameter of approximately 15 mm, and the opening may have a diameter of approximately 3 mm.  
           [0016]    The holding piece may be sized to extend upwardly through a hole in a driving range mat with a thickness of approximately 25 mm, the hole having a diameter of approximately 15 mm and extending completely through the driving range mat.  
           [0017]    The invention also provides for a system for practicing golf including a base portion having a first horizontal width and a lower base surface to position on a horizontal surface, a holding piece secured to and extending upwardly from the base portion, the holding piece having a second horizontal width less than the first horizontal width and an opening in an upper end thereof, the opening having a diameter and the holding piece being of a material such that an end of a golf tee having a diameter between 3 mm and 6 mm inserted into the opening is frictionally held by opposing surfaces of the opening, and a driving range mat having a mat hole extending completely through the driving range mat, the mat hole positioned over the holding piece, the driving range mat having a lower mat surface positioned on the horizontal surface.  
           [0018]    The base portion may be positioned between the driving range mat and the horizontal surface.  
           [0019]    The driving range mat may have a hitting surface, the hitting surface being within 10 mm of the upper end of the holding piece.  
           [0020]    The driving range mat may have a third horizontal width, the third horizontal width being at least 1 m.  
           [0021]    The driving range mat may have a base portion groove on the lower mat surface.  
           [0022]    The base portion may be positioned between the driving range mat and the horizontal surface, the lower base surface being approximately coplanar with the lower mat surface, the driving range mat may have a hitting surface approximately coplanar with the upper end of the holding piece, and the driving range mat may have a third horizontal width being approximately 1.5 m.  
           [0023]    The invention further provides a system for practicing golf including a base portion having a first horizontal width and a lower surface to position on a horizontal surface, a holding piece secured to and extending upwardly from the base portion, the holding piece having a second horizontal width less than the first horizontal width and an opening in an upper end thereof, the opening having a diameter, a driving range mat placed on the horizontal surface, the driving range mat having a mat hole positioned over the holding piece, the base portion positioned between the driving range mat and the horizontal surface, and a golf tee having a stem removably inserted into the opening, the diameter of the opening and the holding piece material being such that the stem is frictionally held by opposing surfaces of the opening.  
           [0024]    The golf tee may be held at an adjustable tee height, the adjustable tee height being adjustable by sliding the stem of the golf tee relative to the opening.  
           [0025]    The system for practicing golf may also include a golf ball supported on a supporting component of the golf tee.  
           [0026]    The invention further provides a system for practicing golf including a driving range mat having first and second portions, the first portion on a base support, the base support having an upper surface in a first plane that is substantially horizontal, and a lie-modifying component between the base support and the second portion of the driving range mat, the lie-modifying component having an upper surface, the upper surface of the lie-modifying mat in a second plane at an angle to the first plane so that an upper surface of the second portion of the driving range mat is in a third plane at an angle to the first plane.  
           [0027]    The base support may be the ground.  
           [0028]    The lie-modifying component may have a lower surface on the base support, the lower surface being substantially co-planar with the base support.  
           [0029]    The lie-modifying component may have a length of approximately 1.5 meters and a width of approximately 0.75 meters.  
           [0030]    The lie-modifying component may have a height of approximately 100 mm.  
           [0031]    The second portion of the driving range mat may completely cover the upper surface of the lie-modifying component.  
           [0032]    The driving range mat may have sides in a first direction, and the first portion and the second portion of the driving range mat may be divided by a line, the line being in a second direction, the second direction being parallel to the first direction.  
           [0033]    The invention further provides a system for practicing golf including a driving range mat on a base support, the driving range mat having a hitting surface in a first plane that is substantially horizontal, the hitting surface having first and second portions, and a lie-modifying component on the second portion of the hitting surface, the lie-modifying component having an upper surface, the upper surface of the lie-modifying component in a second plane at an angle to the first plane.  
           [0034]    The base support may be the ground.  
           [0035]    The lie-modifying component may have a length of approximately 1.5 m and a width of approximately 0.75 m.  
           [0036]    The lie-modifying component may have a maximum thickness of 100 mm.  
           [0037]    The driving range mat may have sides in a first direction, in the first portion in the second portion of the hitting surface maybe divided by a line, the line being in a second direction, the second direction being parallel to the first direction.  
           [0038]    The invention further provides a system for practicing golf including a driving range mat, on a base support, having a first anchoring formation and a hitting surface, a hitting surface material attached to the hitting surface of the driving range mat, the hitting surface material having a first texture, a lie-modifying sheet on the driving range mat, the lie-modifying sheet having an upper surface and a second anchoring formation, the second anchoring formation engaging with the first anchoring formation to secure the lie-modifying sheet to the driving range mat, and a lie-modifying material attached to the upper surface of the lie-modifying sheet, the lie-modifying material having a second texture different from the first texture.  
           [0039]    The first formation may be a circular hole in the driving range mat and the second formation may be a cylinder extending from a lower surface of the lie-modifying sheet, the cylinder size to extend through the hole.  
           [0040]    The lie-modifying sheet may have a length of approximately 60 cm in a width of approximately 30 cm.  
           [0041]    The lie-modifying material may further comprise strands of an artificial material suitable for simulating a rough portion of a golf course.  
           [0042]    The strands of artificial material may have lengths of approximately 7 mm.  
           [0043]    The lie-modifying material may be a sand bag.  
           [0044]    The lie-modifying material may further comprise an upper surface suitable for simulating a hard pan portion of a golf course.  
           [0045]    The invention further provides a system for practicing golf including a driving range mat, on a base support, having a first anchoring formation and an upper surface, an upper surface material attached to the upper surface of the driving range mat, the upper surface material having a first texture, and a lie-modifying bag, on the driving range mat, having a second anchoring formation, a lie-modifying material, and an upper surface on the lie-modifying material such that the upper surface has a second texture different from the first texture, the second anchoring formation engaging with the first anchoring formation to secure the lie-modifying bag to the driving range mat.  
           [0046]    The first formation may be a circular hole in the driving range mat, and the second formation may extend from a lower surface of the lie-modifying mat and the sides to extend through the hole.  
           [0047]    The lie-modifying bag may have a length of approximately 60 cm, a width of approximately 30 cm, and a height of approximately 8 cm.  
           [0048]    The lie-modifying material may be sand.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0049]    The invention is further described by way of example with reference to accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf tee holder according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the golf tee holder;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a typical driving range mat;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view on  4 - 4  in FIG. 3;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 5 is view similar to FIG. 4 further illustrating the golf tee holder on a horizontal surface;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a typical golf tee;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 further illustrating the golf tee and a golf ball;  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the golf tee holder with a broken tee stem inserted therein;  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 9 similar to FIG. 8 further illustrating a second golf tee inserted into the golf tee holder to eject the broken tee end; and  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9 further illustrating the second golf tee fully inserted into the golf tee holder and the ejected broken tee end.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a lie-modifying component;  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 12A is a top plan view of the lie-modifying component and the driving range mat;  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 12B is a top plan view of the lie-modifying component and the driving range mat;  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 12C is a top plan view of the lie-modifying component and the driving range mat;  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 12D is a top plan view of the lie-modifying component and the driving range mat  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view on  13 - 13  in FIG. 12A further illustrating the lie-modifying component under the driving range mat on the horizontal surface;  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view on  14 - 14  in FIG. 12B further illustrating the lie-modifying component on the driving range mat on the horizontal surface;  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a lie-modifying sheet;  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the lie-modifying sheet placed on a driving range mat;  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side view on  16 - 16  in FIG. 16 further illustrating the driving range mat and the lie-modifying sheet on the horizontal surface;  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a lie-modifying bag;  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 19 is a top plane view of the lie-modifying bag placed on the driving range mat; and  
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional side view on  19 - 19  in FIG. 19 further illustrating the driving range mat and the lie-modifying bag on the horizontal surface.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0073]    [0073]FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrate a golf tee holder  30  according to an embodiment of the invention. The golf tee holder  30  includes a base portion  32  and a holding piece  34 .  
         [0074]    The base portion  32  is in the form of a circular disk made from a flexible, rubber-like material. The base portion  32  has upper and lower horizontal surfaces  36  and  38  and a circular outer edge  40 . The outer edge  40  has a diameter  42  of 55 mm. The base portion  32  has a thickness  44  as measured over the upper  36  and lower  38  horizontal surfaces of 5 mm.  
         [0075]    The holding piece  34  is in the form of a cylinder co-molded with, and made from the same material as, the base portion  32 . The holding piece  34  extends upwardly from a central region of the base portion  32 . The holding piece  34  has a horizontal upper surface  46  and a circular outer edge  48 . The outer edge  48  has a diameter  50  of 15 mm. The holding piece  34  has a height  52  as measured over the upper horizontal surface  36  of the base portion  32  and the upper horizontal surface  46  of the holding piece  34  of 25 mm.  
         [0076]    A circular opening  54  is a formed through the golf tee holder  30 . The opening  54  extends into the upper horizontal surface  46 , through the holding piece  34  and the base portion  32 , and out of the lower horizontal surface  38  of the base portion  32 . The opening  54  has a diameter  56  of 3 mm.  
         [0077]    [0077]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a typical driving range mat  58 . The driving range mat includes a lower layer  60 , an upper layer  62 , and a circular mat hole  64 .  
         [0078]    The lower layer  60 , made from a foam-like material, includes a lower mat surface  66  and a circular base portion groove  68 . The upper layer  62 , made of artificial turf, includes a hitting surface  70 . The driving range mat  58  is square with side lengths  72  of 1.5 m and has a mat thickness  74  as measured over the hitting surface  70  and the lower mat surface  66  of 30 mm.  
         [0079]    The circular mat hole  64  is formed through the driving range mat  58 . The mat hole  64  extends into the hitting surface  70  through the upper layer  62  and lower layer  60  and out the lower mat surface  66 . The mat hole  64  has a diameter  76  of 17 mm.  
         [0080]    The circular base portion groove  68  is formed on the lower mat surface  66 . The base portion groove  68  is concentric with the mat hole  64  and has a diameter  78  of 57 mm. The base portion groove  68  extends upwardly into the driving range mat  58  to a depth  80  of 6 mm.  
         [0081]    [0081]FIG. 5 illustrates the golf tee holder  30  and the driving range mat  58  resting on a horizontal surface  82 . The mat hole  64  is positioned around the holding piece  34 . The base portion  32  is positioned in the base portion groove  68 . The lower mat surface  66  and the lower horizontal surface  38  of the base portion  32  are coplanar and rest on the horizontal surface  82 . The upper horizontal surface  46  of the holding piece  34  is coplanar with the hitting surface  70  of the driving range mat  58 .  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 6 illustrates a typical golf tee  84 . The golf tee  84  includes a stem  86  and a supporting component  88 . The stem  86  is cylindrical with a diameter  90  of 5 mm and ends in a point. The supporting component  88  is a circular, concave platform with a diameter  92  of 12 mm and an upper surface  94 . The golf tee  84  has a height  96  of 55 mm.  
         [0083]    In use, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the golf tee holder  30  is placed on the horizontal surface  82 . The driving range mat  58  is placed on the horizontal surface  82  such that the mat hole  64  is positioned over the holding piece  34 . The base portion  32 , now positioned in the base portion groove  68 , is secured between the horizontal surface  82  and the lower layer  60  of the driving range mat  58 . The holding piece  34  extends upwardly through the mat hole  64  such that the upper horizontal surface  46  of the holding piece  34  is coplanar with the hitting surface  70  of the upper layer  62  of the driving range mat  58 .  
         [0084]    The stem  86  of the golf tee  84  is inserted into the opening  54 . The opening  54  expands slightly when the stem  86  is inserted because of the flexible material from which the holding piece  34  is made. The golf tee  84  is held in place by frictional forces exerted on the stem  86  from all directions by the opening  54 . The supporting component  88  is held at an adjustable tee height  98  as measured over the upper surface  94  of the supporting member  88  and the hitting surface  70  of the driving range mat  58 .  
         [0085]    A player can lower the adjustable tee height  98  by manually pushing the golf tee  84  farther into the opening  54 . Conversely, the player can raise the adjustable tee height  98  by pulling the golf tee  84  farther out of the opening  54 . A golf ball  100  is then placed on the supporting component  88  where it rests at the adjustable tee height  98 . After setting the adjustable tee height  98 , the player can use a desired first golf club to strike the golf ball  100  off the golf tee  84 .  
         [0086]    When the golf ball  100  is struck, the golf tee  84  usually undergoes some lateral forces. Such lateral forces cause the golf tee  84  along with the holding piece  34  to bend out of place temporarily immediately after the golf ball  100  is struck. The flexibility of the material from which the golf tee holder  30  is made allows the holding piece  34  to return to its original position, whether or not the golf tee  84  has become dislodged from the opening  54 . However, the golf tee holder  30  remains in place because the base portion  32  is secured within the base portion groove  68  and the holding piece  34  is positioned in the mat hole  64 .  
         [0087]    If the golf tee  84  is not dislodged from the opening  54 , the player may or may not want to change the adjustable tee height  98  before hitting another golf ball from the golf tee  84 , using either the first golf club or a desired second golf club.  
         [0088]    If the golf tee  84  has become dislodged from the opening  54 , the player can reinsert the stem  86  into the opening  54 . The player can then set the adjustable tee height  98  to either the same height or a different height before hitting another golf ball from the golf tee  84 , using either the first golf club or a desired second golf club.  
         [0089]    Often, the lateral forces applied to the golf tee  84  are great enough, despite the holding piece  34  being flexible, to break the golf tee  84 . In which case it is possible for the stem  86  of the golf tee  84  to become lodged in the opening  54 . In use, and as illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, and  10 , the golf tee holder  30  is removed from beneath driving range mat  58  and the stem  86  is lodged in the opening  54 . To remove the lodged stem  86 , a second stem  102  of a second golf tee  104  is inserted into the opening  54 . When the second stem  102  has been inserted far enough into the opening  54  to contact the lodged stem  86 , the second stem  102  pushes the lodged stem  86  towards the lower horizontal surface  38  of the base portion  32 . Once the second golf tee  104  is nearly completely inserted into the opening  54  and the second stem  102  extends to the lower horizontal surface  38  of the base portion  32 , the lodged stem  86  is dislodged from the opening  54 . The player can then continue normal use of the golf tee holder  30 .  
         [0090]    [0090]FIGS. 11, 12A,  12 B,  12 C,  12 D and  13  illustrate a lie-modifying component  106  and the driving range mat  58  on top of the horizontal surface  82 .  
         [0091]    The lie-modifying component  106  is wedged shaped and made from a soft foam-like material. The lie-modifying component  106  has an upper surface  108  and a lower surface  110 . The lie-modifying component  106  has a length  112  of 1.5 m, a width  114  of 0.75 m, and a height  116  of 100 mm. A cross section of the lie-modifying component is a right triangle with the height  116  of 100 mm and a hypotenuse  118  of 756 mm. The upper surface  108  and the lower surface  110  are rectangular in shape.  
         [0092]    The lower surface  110  of the lie-modifying component  106  is on the horizontal surface  82  and beneath the driving range mat  58 . The lower mat surface  66  of the driving range mat  58  completely covers the upper surface  108  of the lie-modifying component  106 . An outer region of the lower mat surface  66  of the driving range mat  58  is raised to the height  116  of the lie-modifying component  106 .  
         [0093]    A first portion  120  of the hitting surface  70  is located directly above a first portion  122  of the driving range mat  58 . The first portion  122  of the driving range mat  58  is directly on the horizontal surface  82 . The first portion  120  of the hitting surface  70  remains parallel to the horizontal surface  82 . The driving range mat  58  bends upward at mat bending point  124 . A second portion  126  of the hitting surface  70  is located directly above a second portion  128  of driving range mat  58 . The second portion  128  of the driving range mat  58  is on the lie-modifying component  106 . The second potion  126  of the hitting surface  70  is now at an angle to the horizontal surface  82 .  
         [0094]    In use, to simulate a side hill lie with the golf ball  100  below the golf player&#39;s feet  130 , a golf player places the golf ball  100  on the first portion  120  of the hitting surface  70 . The golf player then stands on the driving range mat  58  with his feet  130  on the second portion  126  of the hitting surface  70 . The golf player&#39;s feet  130  will be higher than the golf ball  100  because the second portion  126  of the hitting surface  70  is higher than the first portion  120  of the hitting surface  70 . The golf player then hits the golf ball  100  from the first portion  120  of the hitting surface  70  with a golf club. As illustrated in FIG. 12B, to simulate a side hill lie with the golf ball  100  above the feet  130 , the golf player places his feet  130  on the first portion  120  of the hitting surface  70  and the golf ball  100  on the second portion  126  of the hitting surface  70 .  
         [0095]    As illustrated in FIGS. 12C and 12D, uphill and downhill lies can also be simulated by reconfiguring the driving range mat  58 , the lie-modifying component  106 , and the golf player&#39;s feet  130 . To simulate either an uphill or downhill lie, one foot  130  is placed on the first portion  120  of the hitting surface  70  and the other foot  130  on the second portion  126 .  
         [0096]    Alternatively, the lie-modifying component  106  can be placed on top of the driving range mat  58 . FIG. 14 illustrates the lie-modifying component  106  on the driving range mat  58 . The second portion  126  of the hitting surface  70  is covered by the lie-modifying component  106 . The upper surface  108  of the lie-modifying component  106  is now exposed. The golf ball  100  or the golf player&#39;s feet  130  are placed on either the upper surface  108  of the lie-modifying component  106  or on the first portion  120  of the hitting surface  70  of the driving range mat  58  to simulate uphill, downhill, and side hill lies.  
         [0097]    [0097]FIGS. 14, 15, and  16  illustrate a lie-modifying sheet  132  placed on the driving range mat  58  on the horizontal surface  82 . The lie-modifying sheet  132  includes an anchoring formation  134 , an upper surface  136 , a lower surface  138 , and long artificial grass  140 . The lie-modifying sheet  132  is rectangular in shape with a length  142  of 60 cm and a width  144  of 30 cm.  
         [0098]    The anchoring formation  134  extends downward from the lower surface  138  of the lie-modifying sheet  132 . The anchoring formation  134  is cylindrical in shape.  
         [0099]    The long artificial grass  140  is attached to the upper surface  136  of the lie-modifying sheet  132 . The long artificial grass  140  has a height  168  of 70 mm.  
         [0100]    The hitting surface  70  of the driving range mat  58  is covered with artificial turf  146  which does not extend above the hitting surface  70 . The lie-modifying sheet  132  is on the driving range mat  58  placed on the horizontal surface  82 . The anchoring formation  134  is inserted into the mat holes  64  to secure the lie-modifying sheet  132  to the driving range mat  58 . The lower surface  138  of the lie-modifying sheet lies directly on and covers a covered portion  148  of the hitting surface  70 . An exposed portion  150  of the hitting surface  70  remains uncovered.  
         [0101]    In use, to simulate hitting from the rough, a golf player places the golf ball  100  on the lie-modifying sheet  132  resting the golf ball  100  in the long artificial grass  140 . The golf player places his feet  130  on the exposed portion  150  of the hitting surface  70  of the driving range mat  58 . The golf player may then strike the golf ball  100  out of the long artificial grass  140  located on top of the lie-modifying sheet  132 . Lateral forces are exerted on the lie-modifying sheet  132  when the golf player hits the golf ball. The anchoring formation  134  prevents the lie-modifying sheet  132  from sliding off the driving range mat.  
         [0102]    [0102]FIGS. 17, 18, and  19  illustrate a lie-modifying bag  152  on top of the driving range mat  58  on the horizontal surface  82 . The lie-modifying bag  152  has an anchoring formation  154 , an upper surface  156 , a lower surface  158 , and sand filler  160 . The lie-modifying bag  152  is pillow-shaped with a length  162  of 60 cm, a width  164  of 30 cm, and a height  166  of 8 cm.  
         [0103]    The anchoring formation  154  extends downward from the lower surface  158  of the lie-modifying bag  152 . The anchoring formation  154  is cylindrical in shape.  
         [0104]    The lie-modifying bag  152  is on the driving range mat  58  placed on the horizontal surface  82 . The anchoring formation  154  is inserted into the mat holes  64  to secure the lie-modifying bag  152  to the driving range mat  58 . The lower surface  158  of the lie-modifying bag  152  lies directly on and covers the covered portion  148  of the hitting surface  70 . An exposed portion  150  of the hitting surface  70  remains uncovered.  
         [0105]    In use, to simulate hitting from a sand trap, the golf player places the golf ball  100  on the upper surface  156  of the lie-modifying bag  152 . The golf player places his feet  130  on the exposed portion  150  of the hitting surface  70  of the driving range mat  58 . The golf player then strikes the golf ball  100  from the upper surface  156  of the lie-modifying bag  152 . When the golf ball  100  is struck, the upper surface  156  of the lie-modifying bag  152 , will depress into the sand filler  160  of the lie-modifying bag  152 . The result is that the golfer will get a sensation similar to that of hitting a golf ball  100  out of a sand trap. Lateral forces are exerted on the lie-modifying bag  152  when the golf player hits the golf ball  100 . The anchoring formation  154  prevents the lie-modifying bag  152  from sliding off the driving range mat  58 .  
         [0106]    One advantage of this system is the golf tee holder  30  allows the player to use real golf tees when practicing on artificial driving range mats, more closely simulating the feel of hitting a golf ball off natural grass. Another advantage is the golf tee holder  30  allows the player to adjust the tee height when practicing on artificial mats. Another advantage is the holding piece  34  is not exposed, therefore wear on the golf tee holder  30  is at a minimum thus golf tee holder  30  should have a very long useful life. Furthermore, this system allows a golf player to practice from a variety of different lies and different surfaces while hitting from artificial surfaces.  
         [0107]    The embodiment described above is only one embodiment of this invention. Embodiments of this invention can vary in many ways. For example, the diameter of the base portion can be between 40 mm and 70 mm, and the thickness of the base portion can be between 2 and 7 mm, depending on the size of the base portion groove on the particular a driving range mat.  
         [0108]    Also, the height of the holding piece can be between 20 mm and 50 mm with a diameter of between 10 mm and 30 mm, depending on the size and shape of the of the mat hole.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0