DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Referring firstly to the general view of FIG. 1, the tool can be held in the left or right hand. The tool has a handle 1, which may be of wood or plastic for example, and a metal spike 2 which projects transversely from the handle.

[0015] The handle 1 is elongate with a substantially rectangular cross-section and is formed with a tee holder 3 at the front end. The spike 2 is mounted at the approximate centre of the handle to project from its bottom face 4. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, in plan view the side faces 5 and 6 of the handle are generally parallel but converge towards each other at 7 and 8 to meet the rear face 9, the edges of which are slightly rounded. When viewed in side elevation as in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the top face 10 is substantially parallel to the bottom face 4 at the rear end of the tool, but beyond the spike 2 the top face 10 curves downwardly at 11 and then again runs substantially parallel to the bottom face 4. Finally, at the front end of the handle the top and bottom faces are inclined upwardly to form a substantially planar upwardly inclined tee holder 3. Referring back to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the planar end section 3 contains a single notch or open-ended slot 14 which divides the section into two forwardly-projecting limbs 15 and 16 which can pass on opposite sides of the stem of a golf tee. In addition, there is a shallow depression 17 in the top face 10 at the root of the slot 14 to receive and locate the cup of the tee. The side faces of the handle converge slightly at 18 and 19 along the length of the limbs 15 and 16, which terminate in curved ends.

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 4, the spike 2 is secured at one end of a recess 21 in the bottom face 4 of the handle 1, which runs centrally to the rear end of the handle. The spike is pivotally mounted by means of a transverse pivot pin 22 so that when the tool is not in use the spike can be safely stowed within the recess 21, as shown. The handle may be formed with opposed lugs 23 and 24 on opposite sides of the recess 21 to retain the spike with a snap action. In addition, the recess may be enlarged in one area, e.g. at the rear end 25 as shown, where the spike which can be engaged and levered out of the recess.

[0017] The rear face of the handle may further be formed with a hole 28 (FIG. 3) into which the stem of a tee can be frictionally engaged to provide a convenient place to store a tee when the tool is not in use. When required, the tee is removed by pulling the projecting cup of the tee.

[0018] In use of the tool, a tee 30 is inserted between the limbs 15 and 16 and the handle 1 is grasped in the hand as shown in FIG. 5. The shape of the handle allows the thumb to rest on the cup 31 of the tee while the stem 32 projects forwardly at an angle to the spike 2, which projects perpendicularly between the first and second fingers. The spike can then be pressed into the ground to form a pilot hole 33, as indicated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The tool spreads the load comfortably over the hand via the handle 1 so that considerable force can be applied to the spike, even on very hard ground. The spike is then withdrawn from the ground and the tool tipped forwardly as in FIG. 8 to position the stem 32 over the hole 33. The tee is then inserted into the hole with a slight rocking action, during which the spike may be pivoted rearwardly as in FIG. 9. Since the tee is firmly located using the thumb it can be precisely and accurately positioned in the hole. After removing the thumb from the cup 31 the limbs 15 and 16 are withdrawn either side of the tee, as shown in FIG. 10 so that the tool can be withdrawn and the spike pressed fully home into the handle, FIG. 11, allowing the tool to be quickly and safely slipped into the users pocket.

[0019] After the shot has been taken the tee can be retrieved from the ground and re-inserted into the storage hole 28.

[0020] Although not shown in the drawings, there may be a hole through the rear end of the handle 1 to receive a loop of string, cord etc. which can be used for suspending the tool from a golf trolley for example. The loop can also be used to hold the tool when it is not in use. If the loop is of a sufficient size the users hand can be inserted through the loop as a safeguard against the tool being dropped.

[0021] It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.