A problem with conventional golf tees is that the tee can be removed from the ground by a golf stroke, and the tee can become lost.

Also, the symmetrical nature of the tee makes it difficult for a player to align a shot accurately.

Also, the tee can be easily broken by the action of a golf stroke, Also, the tee can cause damage (for instant scratches or dents) to the face of a golf club.

The present invention seeks to overcome at least one of these problems, or at least provide a useful alternative.

A first aspect of the invention provides a golf tee including a cup for supporting a golf ball ; and two or more pins coupled to the cup for insertion into the ground.

The use of more than one pin reduces the chance of the tee being removed by a golf stroke. Also, the pins can be aligned in a preferred direction (or at right angles to the preferred direction) to serve as a guide to the player. Any number of pins may be provided, for instance four pins arranged in a square configuration. However in a preferred embodiment the tee has no more than two pins.

The first aspect also extends to an anchor stay for a golf tee, the anchor stay including a pair of pins for insertion into the ground; and a coupling

part for interconnection with a cup.

The first aspect also extends to a method of playing a golf stroke, the method comprising: providing a golf tee having two or more pins; aligning the pins in a preferred direction; inserting the aligned tee into the ground; placing a golf ball on the cup; and striking the ball from the tee.

A second aspect of the invention provides a golf tee including a cup for supporting a golf ball ; and one or more pins coupled to the cup for insertion into the ground, wherein the or each pin is formed from a first material, and the cup is formed from a second material different to the first material.

The physical properties of the first and second materials can be selected for optimal performance.

Thus for example the cup could be formed of material (such as wood) which is relatively soft or malleable (compared with the material forming the pin (s) ) so that the cup does not scratch or dent the golf head.

Alternatively the cup may be formed from relatively flexible material, such as rubber, so that the tee can flex more easily to absorb the impact of a golf stroke.

At the same time, the pin (s) can be formed from a relatively rigid material to reduce the chance of the tee being removed from the ground by the force of the stroke, and to ensure that the pin (s) can be easily inserted into the ground.

The cup and pin (s) may be formed as a single piece, or may be detachably connected.

The cup and pin may have a variety of different interconnecting parts. For

instance the cup may have a bore which receives an anchor member.

However in a preferred case the pin (s) extend from an anchor member having a bore; and the cup is detachably retained in the bore of the anchor member. The bore may extend only partially through the anchor member. However preferably the bore extends through the anchor member and has a seat portion; and the cup has a flange which is seated in the seat portion of the bore.

In one embodiment the cup has a relatively narrow waist portion which engages a wall of the bore.

Typically the cup and anchor member are provided separately as a kit of parts. This enables different sized cups and anchor stays to be paired up in an assembled tee. Alternatively, the anchor member and cup may be manufactured and sold separately.

Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of an anchor stay; Figure 2 is a cross section through the anchor stay along the line A-A; Figure 3 is a bottom view of the anchor stay; Figure 4 is a plan view of a cup; Figure 5 is a cross section through the cup along line B-B; Figure 6 is a bottom view of the cup; Figure 7 is a cross section through a tee assembled from the anchor stay and cup shown in figures 1-6; Figure 8 is a cross section through an alternative anchor stay; Figure 9 is a cross section through a first alternative cup Figure 10 is a cross-section through a second alternative cup

Figure 11 is a cross-section showing two further alternative tees.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring to figures 1-3, an anchor stay 1 comprises a body portion with angled sides 2,3 and a flat annular plateau region 4. The sides 2,3 taper inwardly as shown in the plan view of Figure 1. A bore 5 is located in the body portion and has an annular recess 6 which forms a seat. A pair of pins 7,8 extend downwardly from the body portion. The pins 7,8 taper gradually from a relatively wide base to a relatively narrow tip. The anchor stay is formed from a relatively rigid plastic material, such as polypropylene Hytrell'.

Referring now to figures 4-6 a cup 10 comprises a generally cylindrical body portion 11 formed with an annular flange 12. The cup 10 is formed from a relatively flexible material such as rubber.

In use, the cup 10 is inserted into the bore 5 of the anchor 1 as shown in figure 7, with the flange 12 engaging the annular seat 6, thus preventing the cup 10 from being pulled completely through the bore 5. The flange 12 is received as a relatively tight fight to keep the cup in place.

Prior to the tee being inserted into the ground, the anchor 1 is oriented so that the pins line up with the preferred playing direction. Alternatively the pins may be lined up at right angles with the preferred playing direction.

The pins are then pushed into the ground and a golf ball placed on top of the cup 10.

The anchor 1 is made relatively thin, and has angled sides 2,3 which ensure that the anchor 1 does not engage the head of a golf club when the club addresses the ball.

Referring to figure 8, an alternative anchor 20 is shown. In this case the anchor 20 has pins 12,22 which have parallel sides and tapering tips 23, 24.

In an alternative cup 30 shown in figure 9, the top of the cup is formed with a bevelled edge 31 to receive a golf ball more securely.

In a further alternative cup 40 shown in figure 10, the sides of the body portion taper outwardly from a relatively narrow upper end to a relatively wide lower portion 42. The body portion then narrows into a relatively narrow waist region 43 which engages the side 25 of the bore of the anchor as indicated in figure 8. This ensures a positive fit between the anchor 20 and the cup 40.

Referring now to Figure 11, two further alternative tees are shown.

Anchor stay 70 is identical to anchor stay 20 except that the pins are shorter. Two alternative cups 50 or 60 can be used with the anchor stay 70. The cup 50 shown on the right is relatively long, and the cup 60 shown on the left is relatively short.

The present invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof.

It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.