PickCup is a ball retrieval product recently developed by Pitchfix, the global market leader in divot repair tools and other products. It enables golfers to remove their ball from the cup without causing damage to the hole’s edges and is now also being used by golf clubs as a way to help keep players safe during the Covid-19 pandemic and demonstrate steps being taken by their club to make their golf course safer to re-open!
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 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 cup. When used conventionally 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 easily moved up or down the flagstick which has proven to be quite effective for golf courses during the Covid-19 pandemic. By moving the position of the PickCup slightly below the lip of the cup, golfers can now remove the ball with their thumb and index finger, thus eliminating the need to the surfaces of the cup and flagstick and risk spreading infection.
“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 maybe be able to open sooner and keep players safe.”
PickCup is made from weatherproof polyurethane plastic with a flex-rubber edge that helps to protect the edges of the hole. 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 as legal and conforms to the R&A and USGA guidelines so it can remain in place during competitions. It can be purchased at www.pitchfix.com and through Pitchfix distributors worldwide.
