System for improved golf flag stick stability and reduced golf cup and/or flag stick ferrule wear

The subject matter described herein includes a system for improved golf flag stick stability and reduced golf cup and/or flag stick ferrule wear. The system includes a ferrule locatable on an end of a golf flag stick that is inserted in a golf cup. The ferrule has a top portion, a bottom portion, and a sidewall located between the top portion and the bottom portion, where the sidewall tapers inward at an angle selected from the range of 5 degrees to 30 degrees from the top portion to the bottom portion. The system further includes a golf cup having a central aperture for receiving the flag stick. The central aperture is defined by a sidewall that is tapered inward at an angle corresponding to an angle of the ferrule.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter described herein relates to golf cups and flag sticks. More particularly, the subject matter described herein relates to a system for improved golf flag stick stability and reduced golf cup and/or flag stick ferrule wear. As well, the subject matter described herein relates to providing more consistent golf ball entry due to the stabilization of the flag stick.

BACKGROUND

Golf cups typically comprise cylinders with central cylindrical holes or bores for receiving golf flag sticks. A problem with this design is that the flag stick end, which often includes a ferrule, and/or the central bore in the golf cup that receives the flag stick is subject to excessive wear. For example, frictional wear caused by movement between the ferrule and the flag stick bore caused by wind, repeated insertion and removal of the flag stick, and gravity, can make the fit between the ferrule and the golf cup bore degrade over time. As a result, the golf flag stick will not sit vertically in the golf cup and the entire assembly must be periodically replaced. Periodic replacement of the cups and flag sticks increases the cost of golf course maintenance.

Accordingly, in light of these difficulties, there exists a long felt need for system for improved golf flag stick stability and reduced golf cup and/or flag stick ferrule wear.

SUMMARY

The subject matter described herein includes a system for improved golf flag stick stability and reduced golf cup and/or flag stick ferrule wear. The system includes a ferrule locatable on an end of a golf flag stick that is inserted in a golf cup. The ferrule has a top portion, a bottom portion, and a sidewall located between the top portion and the bottom portion, where the sidewall tapers inward at an angle selected from the range of 5 degrees to 30 degrees from the top portion to the bottom portion. The system further includes a golf cup having a central aperture for receiving the flag stick. The central aperture is defined by a sidewall that is tapered inward at an angle corresponding to an angle of the ferrule.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter described herein includes a system for improved golf flag stick stability and reduce golf cup and/or flag stick ferrule wear.FIG. 1is a sectional view of such a system including a golf cup and a flag stick ferrule according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. Referring toFIG. 1, a golf cup100comprises a generally cylindrical member insertable in a putting green on a golf course for receiving golf balls, such as golf ball102. A flag stick104is insertable into golf cup100for alerting golfers as to the position of golf cup100. Flag stick104includes a ferrule106located on the end of the flag stick that is insertable in to golf cup100. Ferrule106includes a top portion108, a bottom portion110, and a sidewall112.

To reduce wear between sidewall112and the corresponding surface of an aperture114of golf cup100, sidewall112tapers inward at an angle selected from a range of between about 5 degrees and about 30 degrees from top portion106to bottom portion110. In the illustrated example, the taper angle is 12 degrees.

In order to further promote flag stick stability and reduced wear between ferrule106and aperture114, aperture114also includes a sidewall116that tapers inward at an angle corresponding to the angle of ferrule106. As such, the taper angle of sidewall116may range from 5 degrees to 30 degrees. In the illustrated example, the taper angle of sidewall116is 12 degrees.

In the illustrated example, sidewall112is multifaceted. That is, sidewall112may have a number of sides or faces118that reduce the likelihood of rotational movement of flag stick104. The number of sides or faces may range from one side or face in an inverted conical design to any number of faces or sides to form an inverted n-sided pyramid structure, where n is an integer of at least 3. In the illustrated example, three faces118are shown, where each face has a substantially triangular shape. The remaining three faces are not visible inFIG. 1. Thus, inFIG. 1, ferrule has a six-sided top portion108and triangular sidewalls118, forming an inverted hexagonal pyramid structure. It can be seen fromFIG. 2that the number of faces of central aperture114corresponds to the number of faces of the tapered portion of ferrule106.

According to another aspect of the subject matter described herein, ferrule106has a lipless design. That is, top portion108does not include a lip that extends over the bottom surface of golf cup100.

In one example, as illustrated inFIG. 3, ferrule106may be detachably insertable onto existing flag stick ends. That is, ferrule106may be sold as a detachable flag stick attachment along with corresponding golf cup designs. In an alternate embodiment, flag stick104and ferrule106may be integrally formed and sold as an integral unit.

Accordingly, by providing a flag stick ferrule and golf cup design as illustrated inFIG. 1, improved flag stick stability and reduced golf cup and/or flag stick ferrule wear are provided.