Golf ball retrieval device and associated method

Abstract

A golf ball retrieval device couples to a shaft of the flag stick while it is upstanding in a cup on a golf green. The device includes a support member at a lower end of a stem and a handle at an upper end of the stem. When attached to the flag stick, the support member is seated in the cup with the stem projecting upwardly to the handle. When a golfer holes out with his or her ball in the cup along with the flag stick, the ball is supported on the support member in the cup. To retrieve the ball from the cup, and without touching the flag stick, the golfer hooks the putter under the handle of the device and raises the handle and support member connected thereto along the shaft of the flag stick until the ball exits the cup on the support member. The golfer may allow the ball to roll off of the support member and back onto the green or grab the ball from the support member.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A golf ball retrieval device for retrieving a golf ball from a cup with a flagstick extending upwardly from the cup, the device comprising:
 a support member adapted to sit within the cup and support the golf ball after the golf ball comes to rest in the cup;   a stem projecting upwardly from the support member;   a handle coupled to the stem a spaced distance from the support member above the cup and adapted to be engaged by a golfer with a putter to thereby lift the handle and support member from the cup with the golf ball supported on the support member; and   an attachment mechanism to couple the support member and the handle to the flagstick for movement relative to the flagstick.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the stem projects generally parallel to the flagstick. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the handle is positioned at an upper end of the stem and the support member is positioned at a lower end of the stem. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism further comprises:
 a first portion proximate the support member; and 
 a second portion proximate the handle. 
 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein at least one of the first and second portions further comprises:
 a boss surrounding the flagstick with a hole in the boss through which the flagstick extends. 
 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the handle projects generally perpendicularly to the stem. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the support member further comprises:
 a golf ball retainer adapted to retain the golf ball on the support member after the support member is lifted from the cup. 
 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the golf ball retainer further comprises:
 an upwardly directed lip extending around a circumference of the support member. 
 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is movable relative to the flagstick to retrieve the golf ball from the cup while the flagstick remains stationary in the cup. 
     
     
         10 . A golf ball retrieval device for retrieving a golf ball from a cup with a flagstick extending upwardly from the cup, the device comprising:
 a support member adapted to sit within the cup and support the golf ball after the golf ball comes to rest in the cup;   a stem projecting upwardly from the support member and generally parallel to the flagstick, the support member being coupled to the stem proximate a lower end of the stem;   a handle oriented generally perpendicular and coupled to the stem proximate an upper end of the stem above the cup and adapted to be engaged by a golfer with a putter to thereby lift the handle and support member from the cup with the golf ball supported on the support member; and   a first portion of an attachment mechanism coupled the support member and a second portion of the attachment mechanism coupled to the handle for movement of the device relative to the flagstick;   wherein the device is movable relative to the flagstick to retrieve the golf ball from the cup while the flagstick remains stationary in the cup.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the first and second attachment mechanism portions further comprises:
 a boss surrounding the flagstick with a hole in the boss through which the flagstick extends. 
 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the support member further comprises:
 a golf ball retainer adapted to retain the golf ball on the support member after the support member is lifted from the cup. 
 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the golf ball retainer further comprises:
 an upwardly directed lip extending around a circumference of the support member. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method for retrieving a golf ball from a cup on a putting green with a flag stick projecting from the cup, the method comprising the steps of:
 coupling a golf ball retrieval device to the flag stick with a support member of the golf ball retrieval device having a support member situated in the cup and a handle spaced from the support member and situated out of the cup;   engaging the handle with a putter;   lifting the golf ball retrieval device with the putter via the handle until the golf ball exits the cup;   retrieving the golf ball; and   releasing the handle from the putter thereby allowing the golf ball retrieval device to fall by gravity downwardly along the flag stick until the support member is situated in the cup;   wherein the method is accomplished while the flag stick remains stationary and upright in the cup.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 rolling the golf ball off of the support member when the support member is out of the cup. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the retrieving step further comprises:
 retrieving the golf ball from the putting green after the rolling step. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 retaining the golf ball on the support member after the support member has exited the cup. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the retrieving step further comprises:
 retrieving the golf ball from the support member after the support member has exited the cup. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the lifting step further comprises:
 lifting the support member with the golf ball thereon to at least waist height for a golfer handling the putter. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the coupling step further comprises:
 inserting a shaft of the flag stick through a first hole in the support member and a second hole in the handle. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 removing one of a banner on a first end of the flag stick and a ferrule on a second end of the flag stick prior to the inserting step; and 
 re-installing the one of the banner and the ferrule onto the flag stick.