Patent Publication Number: US-7223178-B2

Title: Golf ball putter including golf ball alignment indicia

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/713,945, filed Nov. 14, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,878,072. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention pertains to the field of golf putters. More particularly, this invention is a golf ball putter head having golf ball alignment indicia for assisting a golfer in aligning the golf ball with respect to the putter head prior to putting. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In the field of golf, it is desirous for several reasons to be able to retrieve a golf ball without bending over. Once a ball has been hit into a cup, it is also desirous to remain as far away from the cup as possible in order to cause minimal disturbance to the green immediately around the cup. This is, for one reason, to maintain the green for golfers to follow. It is also desirous in certain circumstances to retrieve a ball from the green surface, from a deep rough, from a water hazard, or from other locations where bending to retrieve the ball may be difficult. 
   In any of these situations, the golfer may have a physical disability, injury, or other limitation that prohibits—or at least makes difficult—bending over to pick up the ball. Such golfers are limited in their ability to play in that they may require another golfer or a caddy to retrieve their ball, or they may be prohibited from playing altogether. 
   Similar situations arise for those same golfers when retrieving a golf club or flag stick lying on the ground. It is well known that many golfers carry more than one club when leaving the golf cart and playing toward the green. For example, a ball having a lie in a sand trap requires a sand wedge. However, once the ball is hit onto the green, the golfer will require a putter. Depending on the particular hole, it may also be desirous to carry a pitching wedge. Instead of having to walk back to the cart to exchange clubs, the golfer will often take both clubs and lay down whichever club(s) not in use. 
   It is also common to remove the flag stick from the hole and lay it on the ground away from the hole once the hole is in the golfer&#39;s sight when addressing the golf ball for a putt. Golfers with physical disabilities or limitations often find it difficult to bend to retrieve golf clubs and flag sticks that are lying on the ground. 
   Several combined putters and golf ball retrievers and/or holders have been provided in the prior art. Typical of the art are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. patents and published applications: 
   
     
       
         
             
             
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               Patent No. 
               Inventor(s) 
               Issue Date 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               D257,869 
               A. S. O. MacDougall 
               Jan. 13, 1981 
             
             
                 
               D364,666 
               E. Nagy 
               Nov. 28, 1995 
             
             
                 
               D388,853 
               R. W. Minami 
               Jan. 6, 1998 
             
             
                 
               D402,724 
               R. W. Minami 
               Dec. 15, 1998 
             
             
                 
               D424,145 
               R. W. Minami 
               May 2, 2000 
             
             
                 
               1,960,110 
               A. S. Iles 
               May 22, 1934 
             
             
                 
               2,465,124 
               S. Quattrin 
               Mar. 22, 1949 
             
             
                 
               3,300,241 
               F. D. Eberwein et al. 
               Jan. 24, 1967 
             
             
                 
               3,374,027 
               C. D. Jacobs 
               Mar. 19, 1968 
             
             
                 
               3,632,112 
               C. D. Jacobs 
               Jan. 4, 1972 
             
             
                 
               3,708,172 
               J. F. Rango 
               Jan. 2, 1973 
             
             
                 
               3,841,639 
               F. D. Werner 
               Oct. 15, 1974 
             
             
                 
               4,248,430 
               D. L. Kepler 
               Feb. 3, 1981 
             
             
                 
               4,580,784 
               E. F. Brill 
               Apr. 8, 1986 
             
             
                 
               4,934,702 
               S. Serizawa 
               Jun. 19, 1990 
             
             
                 
               4,976,436 
               S. Serizawa 
               Dec. 11, 1990 
             
             
                 
               5,102,139 
               R. S. Greig 
               Apr. 7, 1992 
             
             
                 
               5,368,302 
               F. L. Thomas 
               Nov. 29, 1994 
             
             
                 
               5,417,426 
               S. L. Bayer 
               May 23, 1995 
             
             
                 
               5,485,999 
               H. L. Hull et al. 
               Jan. 23, 1996 
             
             
                 
               5,524,889 
               R. Rush 
               Jun. 11, 1996 
             
             
                 
               5,628,696 
               J. E. Frye 
               May 13, 1997 
             
             
                 
               5,692,968 
               R. S. Shine 
               Dec. 2, 1997 
             
             
                 
               6,332,457 
               R. A. Klein 
               Nov. 27, 2001 
             
             
                 
               6,435,975 
               N. M. Middleton 
               Aug. 20, 2002 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   
     
       
         
             
             
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               Publication No. 
               Inventor(s) 
               Publication Date 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               2002/0169030 
               C. Chun-Sheng 
               Nov. 14, 2002 
             
             
                 
               2003/0008724 
               R. E. Griffin 
               Jan. 9, 2003 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   Of these patents, the &#39;869 design patent issued to MacDougall illustrates a golf club head defining planar parallel top and bottom surfaces. A cylindrical opening is vertically oriented and centrally disposed in the club head. There is no disclosure as to the function of the opening. The club head defines a planar face and a semicircular trailing edge. 
   Similarly, the &#39;666 design patent issued to Nagy defines a triangular club head having a centrally disposed opening. However, Nagy illustrates a curved bottom surface. Further, the centrally disposed opening defines a substantially hemispherical configuration. Like the MacDougall club head discussed above, there is no disclosure as to the function of this opening. 
   Minami (&#39;853 design, &#39;724 design and &#39;145 design) discloses several golf putter heads configured to retrieve a golf ball. Each club head defines a through opening defining a substantially cylindrical side wall through which the golf ball is received. 
   The &#39;110 patent issued to Iles discloses a golf club having an opening in the sole of the head for retrieving a golf ball. A flexible annular disc is disposed in the opening such that as the club head is forced down over a ball, the disk is deformed to allow the ball to pass through. After the ball passes through the annular disc, the disc returns to its original shape and holds the ball above the opening. There is no disclosure as to whether the ball is retained once received above the annular disc. 
   S. Quattrin, in the &#39;124 patent, discloses a club similar to a golf club designed to retain a ball such as a golf ball. The &#39;124 club is designed to release the ball at a certain point of a swing so that the ball is thrown from the club head in the direction of the swing. The &#39;124 club is disclosed as being useful in practicing the user&#39;s golf swing. There is no disclosure for retrieving an d retaining a golf ball. 
   The &#39;241 device disclosed by Eberwein et al., is a golf ball retrieving device having two oppositely disposed striking surfaces. A dome shaped pocket is defined in the bottom surface of the head for partially receiving a golf ball therein. A compression spring is provided to retain the golf ball when received in the pocket. The ball is removed by applying tangential pressure on the golf ball. 
   In his &#39;639 patent, Werner discloses a golf ball retrieving club similar to that of the &#39;241 device disclosed by Eberwein et al. However, in lieu of a compression spring, Werner incorporates a flexible tubular member for retaining a golf ball in a golf ball receptacle. 
   The &#39;027 golf ball retrieving club disclosed by Jacobs includes a golf ball holding cavity. The golf ball holding cavity defines rigid walls spaced apart a distance to slightly compress a golf ball inserted therein. The cavity is elongated such that a ball retained therein is removed by rolling to ball toward an end thereof. Thomas (&#39;302) discloses a golf putter including ball retrieving device similar to that disclosed by Jacobs (&#39;027). 
   In his &#39;112 patent, Jacobs discloses a golf ball retrieving club defining a gall ball holding cavity extending completely through the putter head and further opening on the rear wall of the club head. The wall of the cavity is tapered inward from the bottom to the top to compress a golf ball when received therein. 
   Rango, in his &#39;172 patent, discloses a golf putter having a generally vertically extending opening having a circular cross section extending entirely through the head. The hole is dimensioned to match or be slightly greater than the diameter of a golf ball and is provided for dividing the head into substantially equal masses in order to counterbalance tendencies of the head to twist when the ball is struck at a location other than the center of the head. The hole is further provided to serve as a gauge for measuring the diameter of a ball, and to detect the roundness of a ball. Middleton (&#39;975) discloses a golf club similar to that disclosed by Rango (&#39;172). 
   Kepler (&#39;430) discloses a golf putter including a club body and a shaft connected to the club body. The club body includes a rear golf ball retrieval-retainer structure which includes at least one hook-shaped arm extending from a lower rear side of the club body. The hook-shaped arm lies in the phantom extension of the lower surface plane passing through the lower surface of the club body. The retrieval-retainer structure is used by sliding the hooked-shaped arm(s) under the golf ball and then lifting. The golf ball then rests on top of the hook-shaped arm(s). Brill (&#39;784) and Shine (&#39;968) disclose devices similar to that of Kepler. 
   Serizawa, in his &#39;702 and &#39;436 patents, discloses a putter for enabling picking up a ball within a hole in a standing posture. The putter head defines a circular hollow portion adapted to receive a golf ball by pushing the club downward on the ball. The elasticity of the surface of the ball and the friction between the ball and an inner peripheral edge of the circular hollow portion of the head abutting the elastic surface of the ball serve to retain the ball. 
   Greig (&#39;139) discloses a golf putter provided with means for enabling a ball to be lifted and replaced while the golfer remains in an upright posture. The putter head includes a pair of resilient tangs extending therefrom. The tangs have a spacing slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball and have convergent ends. The tangs are traveled down along opposite sides of the ball to a position below the center of the ball in order to grip the ball for lifting. To replace the ball on the ground, the putter is engaged with the ground, with the ball positioned at a desired location. The golfer uses his/her foot to engage the ball such that when the putter is lifted, the ball becomes disengaged from the tangs. 
   In the &#39;426 patent, Bayer discloses a golf putter having ball retrieval and ball marking features. The &#39;426 putter defines a through opening having a side wall tapering in from the bottom to a distance above the bottom, then tapering out from to the top. A reduced diameter is defined at the point the taper changes direction. A ball may be passed through the reduced diameter and received in the upper portion of the opening. 
   Hull et al., (&#39;999) disclose a golf putter including a golf ball retriever and ejection system. A recess is defined in the lower surface of the club head for receiving a portion of a golf ball. A rubber ring is provided at the opening to retain the ball in the recess. An ejection means including a plunger is provided in the top of the club head. When a ball is received in the recess, the plunger is extended above the club head. The ball is then ejected from the recess by pushing on the plunger. 
   Rush (&#39;889) discloses another putter having a ball receiver. The &#39;889 device defines an opening for receiving a golf ball. The wall of the opening is described as either defining a tapered arrangement similar to Bayer (&#39;426) described above, or including a rubber gasket as disclosed by Hull et al. (&#39;999). A retaining element is carried by the top of the club head for retaining the ball after being received through the opening. To remove the ball from the club head, the ball is forced back through the opening. 
   Frye (&#39;696) discloses a golf putter having a ball retrieval device configured similarly to that disclosed by Nagy (&#39;666 design). However, Frye does not disclose an opening in the top of the club head. Frye teaches, on the contrary, that the ball is received and held in the ball retrieval device by applying the weight of the golf club on the ball, the ball being held by friction. 
   Finally, Klein (&#39;457) discloses a golf putter head with a cutout for engaging and retrieving a golf ball. The cutout extends perpendicularly through both the front face surface and the rear surface of the putter head and has an upper surface and a pair of flat, opposing walls that terminate in lower edges to form an opening for receiving a golf ball into the cutout. The cutout walls are tapered toward each other at their upper edges to form a self-holding taper for engaging the golf ball. The cutout is positioned in the heel section of the putter head so that the cutout opens vertically through the sole of the putter head, or horizontally through the heel of the putter head, or at any angle between the vertical and the horizontal. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer. The putter is configured to assist the golfer in accurately swinging through a putt. After the ball has been successfully hit into a cup or otherwise when the ball is to be retrieved, the ball retriever and retainer is employed in such a manner as to not require the golfer to bend or stoop. Further, the putter is configured to retrieve another golf club and/or a flag stick lying on the ground. The combined golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer, and golf club and flag stick retriever is fabricated in a one-piece construction. 
   The putter defines a substantially symmetrical configuration such that the weight from heel to toe is symmetrical. The ball retriever and retainer is centered with respect to the striking face of the putter. A shaft retriever is defined proximate the trailing edge of top surface of the putter. The shaft retriever is provided for retrieving elongated objects such as a golf club or flag stick that is lying on the ground. Ball alignment indicia are carried on the top surface of the putter. The ball alignment indicia include a substantially C-shaped indicium used for centering the ball with respect to the striking face of the putter and for aligning the putter with the initial direction of travel of the golf ball once struck. In an alternate embodiment, the ball alignment indicia further includes at least one line segment disposed orthogonally to the striking face, and coincident with the initial direction of travel of the golf ball once struck. 
   The ball retriever and retainer is defined by a spherical recess formed in the sole of the putter and an opening defined on the top surface thereof. The opening defined in the top surface of the putter is provided for engaging a golf ball received within the ball retriever and retainer in order to push the golf ball out of engagement therein. The spherical recess is further defined by an opening on the sole of the putter, the sole opening defining a diameter slightly less than the diameter of a conventional golf ball. In order to receive a golf ball into the ball retriever and retainer, at least one resilient tab is defined in the sole to enlarge the sole opening. A raised portion is defined at the distal end of each of the tabs to provide additional restraint from the golf ball being removed from within the spherical recess. When a golf ball is received within the ball retriever and retainer, the tabs are returned to their initial, natural disposition so that if the ball is left in place for an extended period of time, the putter is not permanently deformed as a result of flexion. Further, the ball is not damaged as a result of continuous compression. 
   The putter defines a curved transition from the sole of the putter to the trailing edge to assist in placing putter in the cup. If the putter engages the lip of the cup, the curved transition guides the putter over the edge of the cup, thereby preventing damage to either or both of the putter and the green immediately surrounding the cup and under the putter. The curved transition further serves to reduce drag in rough or fringe areas, and reduces stubbing through a golfer&#39;s back swing. The sole defines an angle of approximately 7° such that the bottom is relatively flat at the natural extension of the golfer&#39;s forearm. 
   The ball retriever and retainer is positioned in the putter relative to the striking face such that the ball retriever and retainer is substantially centered over a golf ball when placed in conventional cup. When the putter is inserted into a cup to retrieve a golf ball, the golf ball is easily engaged within the ball retriever and retainer. The trailing edge defines a radius less than the radius of a conventional cup so that the putter is readily received within the cup. 
   The top surface of the putter defines a shaft retriever proximate the trailing edge for engaging a golf club shaft or flag stick for lifting the same from the ground. The shaft retriever is a longitudinal groove disposed parallel to the striking surface. The shaft retriever defines a distal end adapted to be received under the exemplary devices having a shaft or staff. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer showing various features of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer showing various features of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2A  is a top plan view of the alternate embodiment of the golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer of  FIG. 1 , further illustrating the ball retriever and retainer; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view, in section, of the golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer, taken at  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevation of the golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer of  FIG. 1  illustrating the curved transition on the trailing edge assisting in the insertion of the golf putter into the hole in the instance where the trailing edge of the putter engages the lip of the cup; 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer of  FIG. 1  showing the leading edge of the golf putter head assisting in the centering of the putter as it is inserted in a conventional cup and over a golf ball received therein; and 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation of the golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer of  FIG. 1  showing the shaft retriever engaging an elongated object such as a golf club shaft or a flag stick. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A golf putter head, ball retriever and retainer is disclosed. The golf putter head is illustrated at  10  in figures. The golf putter head, or putter  10 , defines the ball retriever and retainer  22  as will be described below. The putter  10  is configured to assist the golfer in accurately swinging through a putt. After the ball  50  has been successfully hit into a cup  52 , or otherwise when the ball  50  is to be retrieved, the ball retriever and retainer  22  is employed in such a manner as to not require the golfer to bend or stoop. Further, the putter  10  is configured to retrieve another golf club and/or a flag  56  lying on the ground. The putter  10  defines a one-piece construction, thereby requiring no assembly, and minimizing potential for failure. 
   Several features of the putter  10  of the present invention are illustrated in the perspective view of  FIG. 1 , and more clearly in  FIG. 2 . The putter  10  defines a substantially symmetrical configuration such that the weight from heel to toe is symmetrical. The ball retriever and retainer  22  is centered with respect to the striking face  12  of the putter  10 . The ball retriever and retainer  22  defines an opening  26  through the top surface  14  of the putter  10  as will be described in greater detail below. Because the putter  10  is symmetrical, a club shaft  56  may be secured to the putter  10  at selected locations to use the putter  10  for both left- and right-handed golfers. 
   A golf club shaft and flag staff retriever  40 , or shaft retriever  40 , is defined proximate the trailing edge  16  of top surface  14  of the putter  10 . As will be described in greater detail below, the shaft retriever  40  is provided for retrieving elongated objects  56  such as a golf club or flag that is lying on the ground. 
   Ball alignment indicia  46  are carried on the top surface  14  of the putter  10 . The ball alignment indicia  46  defines a C-shaped configuration terminating at each end  48  proximate the striking face  12  and extending around the ball retriever and retainer top surface opening  26 . The ball  50  is visually aligned between the two ends  48  of the ball alignment indicia  46  to accomplish maximum control through a stroke. As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , when the golfer is looking at the putter  10  at an angle other than directly from above, the indicia  46  appear as distorted lines. However, once the golfer views the putter  10  from directly above, the indicia  46  appear as straight lines, as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the indicia  46  further serves to indicate when the golfer is positioned directly above the putter  10 . 
   Illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 2A  is an alternate embodiment of the putter  10 ′ of the present invention. In this embodiment, the ball alignment indicia  46 ′ includes the C-shaped indicia  46 A, and further includes at least one line segment  46 B disposed orthogonally to the striking face  12 ′, and coincident with the initial direction of travel of the golf ball once struck. A line (illustrated in  FIG. 2A  as a centerline) drawn through each line segment  46 B bisects the C-shaped indicia  46 A. As illustrated, the C-shaped indicia assists the golfer in centering a golf ball along the striking face  12 ′, while the line segments  46 B assist in aligning the striking face  12 ′ orthogonally with respect to the initial direction of travel of the golf ball. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, a first line segment  46 B is disposed between the striking face  12 ′ and the opening  26 ′. A second line segment  46 B is disposed between the opening  26 ′ and the trailing edge  16 ′ of the putter  10 ′. While illustrated, the opening  26 ′ is not required for the functions of the indicia  46 ′. However, the ball retriever and retainer top surface opening  26 ′ serves further as indicia to assist in the alignment of the ball and the putter  10 ′. As in the previous embodiment, when the golfer is looking at the putter  10 ′ at an angle other than directly from above, the indicia  46 ′ appear as distorted lines. However, once the golfer views the putter  10 ′ from directly above, the indicia  46 ′ appear as straight lines, as best illustrated in  FIG. 2A . Thus, the indicia  46  further serves to indicate when the golfer is positioned directly above the putter  10 . 
   As better illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the ball retriever and retainer  22  is defined by a spherical recess  24  formed in the sole  18  of the putter  10  and an opening  26  defined on the top surface  14  thereof. The opening  26  defined in the top surface  14  of the putter  10  is provided for engaging a golf ball  50  received within the ball retriever and retainer  22  in order to push the golf ball  50  out of engagement therein. The spherical recess  24  is further defined by an opening  28  on the sole  18  of the putter  10 , the sole opening  28  defining a diameter slightly less than the diameter of a conventional golf ball  50 . In order to receive a golf ball  50  into the ball retriever and retainer  22 , at least one resilient tab  34  is defined in the sole  18  to enlarge the sole opening  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, the sole  18  defines an arcuate recess  30  concentric with the sole opening  28 . A notch  32  is defined between the bisector of the arcuate recess  30  and the sole opening  28 . As a result, two resilient tabs  34  are defined between the arcuate recess  30 , the sole opening  28 , and the notch  32 . As a golf ball  50  is received into the ball retriever and retainer  22 , the tabs  34  are flexed to enlarge the sole opening  28 . After the equator of the golf ball  50  has been received through the sole opening  28 , the tabs  54  return to their initial position, thereby retaining the golf ball  50  within the spherical recess  24 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, a raised portion  38  is defined at the distal end  36  of each of the tabs  54 . The raised portion  38  extends toward the center of the spherical recess  24  to provide additional restraint from the golf ball  50  being removed from within the spherical recess  24 . 
   As illustrated best in  FIG. 4 , when a golf ball  50  is received within the ball retriever and retainer  22 , the tabs  54  are returned to their initial, natural disposition so that if the ball  50  is left in place for an extended period of time, the putter  10  is not permanently deformed as a result of flexion. Further, the golf ball  50  is not permanently deformed as a result of compression. For example, at the end of a round, one may leave the golf ball  50  in the ball retriever and retainer  22  and then place the putter  10  in the trunk of an automobile. In that case, even if the putter  10  is subjected to extreme and prolonged conditions, the golf ball  50  will not cause the putter  10  to be permanently deformed. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the putter  10  defines a curved transition  20  from the sole  18  of the putter  10  to the trailing edge  16  to assist in placing putter  10  in the cup  52 . As illustrated in phantom, if the putter  10  engages the lip  54  of the cup  52 , the curved transition  20  guides the putter  10  over the lip  54  of the cup  52 , thus preventing damage to the putter  10  and the green immediately surrounding the cup  52  and under the putter  10 . The curved transition  20  further serves to reduce drag in rough or fringe areas, and reduces stubbing through a golfer&#39;s back swing. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the sole  18  defines an angle of approximately 7° such that the bottom is relatively flat at the natural extension of the golfer&#39;s forearm. This is especially the situation when the golfer extends the putter  10  between his/her feet and into the cup  52  to retrieve the golf ball  50 . For a right-handed golfer, the golfer may use his/her right arm to retrieve the golf ball  50  while naturally extending the right arm and maintaining the sole  18  of the putter  10  in a substantially horizontally orientation. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the ball retriever and retainer  22  is positioned in the putter  10  relative to the striking face  12  such that the ball retriever and retainer  22  is substantially centered over a golf ball  50  when placed in conventional cup  52 . As a result, when the putter  10  is inserted into a cup  52  to retrieve a golf ball  50 , the golf ball  50  is easily engaged within the ball retriever and retainer  22 . To this extent, the trailing edge  16  defines a radius less than the radius of a conventional cup  52  so that the putter  10  is readily received within the cup  52 . 
   Referring specifically to  FIG. 7 , the top surface  14  of the putter  10  defines a shaft retriever  40  proximate the trailing edge  16  for engaging a golf club shaft or flag stick  56  for lifting the same from the ground. The shaft retriever  40  is a longitudinal groove  42  disposed parallel to the striking surface  12 . The shaft retriever  40  defines a distal end  44  adapted to be received under the exemplary devices  56  having a shaft or staff. 
   It will be noted that the composition used to fabricate the putter  10  may be altered to vary the weight of the putter  10  for varied conditions. For example, heavier putters  10  may be more desirable when the speed of the green is slower, whereas, in conditions where a golf ball  50  travels more rapidly across a green, a lighter weight putter  10  is desirable. 
   From the foregoing description, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that a golf putter head having an integral ball retriever and retainer has been provided. The putter is configured to assist the golfer in accurately swinging through a putt, while also providing a means for retrieving and holding a golf ball in a manner wherein neither the golf ball nor the putter is harmed due to flexion in the putter and compression of the golf ball. The ball retriever and retainer is employed in such a manner as to not require the golfer to bend or stoop. The putter is further useful for retrieving another golf club and/or a flag lying on the ground. 
   While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.