Patent ID: 8246491

Claim:
A golf tee to support a golf ball, comprising: a first portion; a second portion coupled to the first portion; an axis along the first and second portions; and a compressible material located between the first portion and the second portion; wherein: the golf tee comprises: a compressed configuration when the golf tee is subjected to a load; and a relaxed configuration when the load is removed; the first portion comprises: a base section with a ground-piercing end to support the golf tee; and a first section opposite the base section; the second portion comprises: a support section to support the golf ball; a second section opposite the support section; and a perimeter of a support end of the support section defining a plane; the second section of the second portion is coupled to the first section of the first portion; the axis is substantially perpendicular to the plane; the first and second portions are displaceable, relative to each other, along the axis; the first and second portions are substantially non-tiltable relative to each other; the golf tee is transitioned from the relaxed configuration to the compressed configuration when the load moves the second portion towards the first portion; and the compressible material is configured to: increasingly compress along the axis as the golf tee is transitioned from the relaxed configuration to the compressed configuration; and automatically return the golf tee to the relaxed configuration when the load is removed from the support end of the support section while the base section of the first portion remains inserted into a ground surface.