Golf range ball positioner

Abstract

An apparatus for scooping up and depositing a golf ball on a permanent golf range tee includes a ball retaining platform member having an upper surface and a lower surface, and having an edge including a ball-retaining notch for receiving and retaining a golf ball, a tee locating member joined to the platform member by a hinge or sliding posts for permitting the tee locating member and the platform member to move toward each other and away from each other to a predetermined extent while remaining structurally connected, so that the tee locating member may be slidably spaced below the lower surface, the tee locating member having an edge with a tee-receiving notch, and an elongate handle member having a first end and a second end and secured to the platform member at the first end. A method of positioning a golf ball onto an upright golf range tee, using the above-described apparatus, includes the steps of gripping a second end of the handle member and placing the platform member near a golf ball, maneuvering the ball onto the platform member upper surface and into the notch, lifting the apparatus and ball with the handle member, fitting the tee locating member notch around and against the shank portion of a mounted golf range tee, thereby automatically positioning the ball directly over the tee, and lowering the handle and platform members until the ball rests on the tee, and then maneuvering the platform member out from under the ball, leaving the ball mounted on the tee.