Abstract: A collapsible golf ball retriever that has a plurality of fingers pivotally attached to the connecting end of an elongated handle at a common axis of rotation. Each of the fingers has an attachment end connected to the handle and a distal cage portion. The cage portions are constructed to cooperatively receive and hold a golf ball therein. The fingers may rotate between an aligned position and a fanned position. Because the fingers share a common axis of rotation and are, therefore, stacked, the collapsible golf ball retriever is capable of assuming a very compact form that is able to fit in spaces nearly as small as the golf ball itself.

Abstract: A golf club such as a mallet-style putter has a series of stepped concentric circular cavities formed in the top surface thereof at a generally transversely centered position offset rearwardly from the face of the club to afford improved alignment and optionally convert the putter for use as a training aid by supporting a carried ball on the cavities such that the carried ball will rock or be dislodged if the putting stroke accelerates or decelerates too quickly.

Abstract: A golf club that enables a golfer to retrieve a ball from the ground as well as from a cup includes a club head having a front striking surface. A ball pickup structure includes a concave recess extending into a rear end surface of the body, the concave recess having a generally cylindrical conformation and an axis generally parallel to the striking surface. A pair of resilient fingers are secured to the rear end surface of the body and spaced apart to straddle the concave recess. The fingers include curved interior surfaces disposed in confronting relationship to the concave recess. The fingers and the concave recess together define a lower opening having a longitudinal (front-to-back) dimension slightly less than a golf ball diameter The lower opening may be placed superjacent to a golf ball and the head urged downwardly so that the ball moves relatively upwardly into the lower opening.

Abstract: A golf ball retriever is attached to the handle of a golf putter and is used to retrieve a golf ball from a playing surface and to concurrently deposit a golf ball marker in place of the golf ball. The apparatus includes a fork rotatably mounted to a support body that is secured to the extremity of the handle of a golf club shaft. The fork has a pair of arms which lie substantially in a common plane and are arcuately curved toward each other. One of the arms is longer than the other. A golf ball marker with a turf-engaging spike is placed on the underside of the body supporting the fork and is held thereto by a magnet within the support body. The fork is moved toward the golf ball while residing at a lifting angle inclined about fifteen degrees downwardly relative to the golf club shaft. The arms of the fork engage the undersurface of the golf ball and cradle it therebetween.

Abstract: A sand-rake comprises a rake head portion attached to a golf club head cover that has a golf club inserted into it. This arrangement allows a golfer to dress the surface of sand in a sand trap by holding the shaft of the club and raking the sand with the teeth of the rake head to yield a desired ridged sand surface. The head, or face, cover portion is made from a resilient plastic material and has a pocket-like shape with an aperture allowing insertion or removal of the club head. A rake head portion having teeth substantially wider than a groove in the face of the golf club, may be integrally formed with, or otherwise attached to the cover. In one embodiment, the rake teeth are individually attached to the head cover in order to adapt the sand-rake to local conditions.

Abstract: A golf training apparatus, comprising:an elongated tube having a first and second end, and a length sufficient to regulate a golfer's stance;a lower leg lateral restraint having a first and second end, said lower leg lateral restraint movably positioned within said first end of said elongated tube, said first end of said lower leg lateral restraint having a sharp point for facilitating the insertion of said lower leg lateral restraint into the ground;a lateral foot restraint having a first and second end, said lateral foot restraint movably positioned within said second end of said elongated tube, said first end of said lateral foot restraint having a sharp point for facilitating the insertion of said lateral foot restraint into the ground;a locking mechanism for locking said elongated tube, said lower leg lateral restraint, and said lateral foot restraint together; andwherein said elongated tube, said lower leg lateral restraint, and said lateral foot restraint can be disassembled into separate components fo

Abstract: A new Golf Tee and Ball Placer and Holding System for facilitating the placement of a golf tee into the playing surface in the desired position to receive the golf ball for play and the placement of the golf ball on the tee for play and the recovery of the tee without requiring the player to bend down for such placement and recovery. The inventive device includes a hollow shaft including a tee receiving opening in operative relationship to a tee retaining area, a golf ball holding member comprising a hollow shaft member passage, a notched golf ball holder, a golf tee retriever, and a golf tee slot, and a golf tee and ball placer holder having a handle for pushing the opposite end into the ground in an upright position and a club holder incorporated into the handle.

Abstract: A multipurpose golf tool having an unique construction that makes it easy to incorporate multiple features and functions within a single, rigid and generally flat body section that fits in the palm of the golfer hand yet can be stored in a pocket without causing damage to the clothing.

Abstract: A ball container and dispenser is elevated in a standing position by a downwardly extending ball pickup tube and pivotable stand. The tube angles away from the container and dispenser so that the bottom of the tube is forward of the container and dispenser to pick up balls in front of the user. A hinged lid removably covers a top ball dispensing opening in the container and dispenser. The stand pivots to serve as a combination stand in the down position and lid locker in the up position. The rigid element snap fits into paired ridges protruding from the container and dispenser. A handle integral with the lid is shaped like a sports equipment handle and slopes toward the rear. The bottom of the tube is parallel to the ground and has a circular opening smaller than the ball. For hard balls, the opening has radial slots around the perimeter creating resilient tabs.

Abstract: In a golf putter the head of the putter has a receptacle having a shape which in part conforms to the shape of a golf ball and has an opening in the bottom of the putter head. The opening is adapted to partially receive a golf ball, the bottom surface of the club is raised across the front and rear portions of the receptacle which allows for the smooth movement of the putter over the grass.

Abstract: An improved golf club stand that enables a golf club to be inverted and supported above the ground in a substantially vertical position is provided. In a first embodiment, the stand includes a sleeve secured in the handle of the club and a spike. The spike is tapered at a first end and is configured at a second end to be detachably coupled to the sleeve. In a second embodiment, the spike is retained in the handle of the club. The sleeve has a slotted open end that prevents the spike from being dislodged from the sleeve and enables a portion of the spike to pass therethrough. The disk end of the spike also prevents the spike from completely passing through the slotted end. The sleeve is configured to prevent the spike from retracting fully into the sleeve and drop into the club's shaft. When inserted in the ground, the invented stand aids with keeping the grip of the club dry and unsoiled.

Abstract: A golf accessory apparatus has a divot tool having a removable ball marker attached thereto along with a golf club shaft cradle. The accessory body has a pair of prongs on one end thereof with each prong having a wedged-shaped tip to form a divot tool. The other end of the accessory body has a golf club shaft cradle thereon formed with a pair of lobes forming an arcuate seat therebetween so that when the prongs are pushed into the earth, the golf club can have the shaft laid upon the cradle to keep it off the ground. The golf accessory body also has a ball marker support thereon including an edge opening and a front window in the body. The window allows for removing a ball marker of predetermined shape into the edge slot behind the window and to display the face of the ball marker through the window.

Abstract: A golf club, in particular, a putter, having a golf ball-seizure device integrated into the putter head. The putter head has a golf ball-seizing aperture. The aperture has an effective interior diameter that allows passage of a golf ball therethrough by relative flexible movement between an interior surface of the aperture and an outer surface of the golf ball. For this purpose, a flexible ring may be installed in the aperture. A retaining element is mounted adjacent to the aperture such that a golf ball, upon passing upwardly through the aperture, is restricted from further substantial movement and thereby captured in a confinement volume by the combination of the effective interior diameter of the aperture and the retaining element.

Abstract: A golf ball retrieval device adapted to be removeably secured to the handle end of a golf club comprising:a golf club handle receiving member, said receiving member being hollow and having a circular cross-section throughout the length thereof, said circular cross-section decreasing in diameter from an exterior end thereof to an interior end thereof to form a hollow truncated conical shape adapted to receive golf club handles of varying diameters therein and to frictionally engage such handles by contact with the internal surfaces of said hollow truncated conical shape;an end plate radially disposed across the interior end of said truncated conical shape to prevent entrance or egress therefrom; and,a thin annular member affixed to said end plate at one edge thereof, said annular member extending from said plate and from the truncated conical shape to which it is affixed.

Abstract: An improved golf club including a shaft recessing divot tool is provided. The divot tool is a body having a first end portion connected to the club, and a second end portion including two extending prongs. The first end portion of the tool is cylindrical and includes a slot which engages a pin located in the hollow end of the shaft of the club. The prongs at the second end portion are located side-by-side and include tapered end portions for penetrating turf or soil. The tool is movable from a first locked position in which the tool is recessed substantially within the shaft of the club, to a second locked and extended position in which the prongs of the tool extend outwardly from the end of the shaft for use by a golfer.

Abstract: In a golf putter the head of the putter has a receptacle which has an opening in the bottom of the putter head. The opening is adapted to partially receive a golf ball, the opening having a bevel such that the inner portion of the bevel engages the golf ball and the bevel allows for the smooth movement of the putter over the grass. A plurality of ridges within the receptacle engage the golf ball and hold it to the putter head.