PickCup is a ball retrieval product recently introduced by Pitchfix, the global market leader in divot repair tools and other golf products. It enables golfers to remove their ball from the cup without causing damage to the hole’s edges while keeping green maintenance costs down.
The creation of PickCup is in large part a result of the new R&A and USGA rule that allows flagsticks to remain in the hole when putting with the idea of speeding up play. Many golfers, when removing the ball from the cup, will insert their hand or putter between the flag stick and the edge of the hole, causing damage to the edges of the hole. When golfers gently lift the flagstick from the hole they’ll find that the PickCup has collected their ball from the hole, making it easy for them to retrieve it without damaging the hole.
The PickCup can be installed higher up on the flagstick than normal which has proven to be quite effective for golf during Covid-19 play which calls for social distancing. By installing the PickCup slightly below the lip of the cup, golfers can remove the ball with their thumb and index finger, thus preventing Corona Virus infection by touching the surfaces of the cup and flagstick.
“As a company, Pitchfix is devoted to not only enhancing the quality of golf’s putting surfaces, but also minimizing costs for course maintenance,” said Bart Fokke, CEO of Pitchfix. “By using PickCup, courses that are currently closed may be able to provide a safe way of retrieving balls when open again.”
PickCup is made from weatherproof polyurethane plastic with a flex-rubber edge that helps to protect the edges of the hole and the green when the flagstick is laid down. It is mounted on a special device that is installed on the flagstick and fitted with a universal adapter so that it can be attached to any conventional flagstick. It remains in a static position on a flagstick so as not to interfere with a ball in play.
Unlike competing products, PickCup has been ruled to conforms to the Rules of Golf so it can remain in place during competitions. It can be purchased at www.pitchfixusa.com and through Pitchfix distributors worldwide.
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