Patent ID: 7384353

Claim:
A golf tee, comprising: an elongate, flat, flexible base adapted to overlie a support surface; said flexible base having a longitudinal axis of symmetry; said flexible base having a first end having a first thickness, a second end longitudinally spaced from said first end and having a thickness substantially equal to said first thickness, and a medial section formed integrally with said first and second ends, said medial section having a thickness that is less than said thickness of said first and second ends; a flexible, cylindrical tee secured to said first end of said flexible base in upstanding relation thereto, said cylindrical tee being centered on said longitudinal axis of symmetry; a non-circular aperture formed in said second end of said flexible base, said non-circular aperture being centered on said longitudinal axis of symmetry in longitudinally spaced relation to said flexible, cylindrical tee; and a stake having a cross-section conforming to said non-circular aperture, said stake adapted to be driven into said support surface through said non-circular aperture; whereby if a golf club head strikes said flexible, cylindrical tee, said medial section of said flexible base will flex so that said flexible, cylindrical tee and said first end of said flexible base will momentarily be lifted from said support surface so that the force of the impact is not fully transferred to said second end so that said second end of said flexible base remains in non-sliding contact with said support surface due to said stake; and whereby said flexible base does not rotate about said stake when said first end of said flexible base is momentarily lifted due to the respective structures of the non-circular aperture and the non-circular stake.