Golf ball retrieval apparatus

A ball retrieval apparatus comprising,

• (a) a putter type of golf club, said putter type of golf club having a club head and a handle, said handle having a first and a second end with said handle being attached at its first end to said club head, said handle having a hollow portion which extends longitudinally within said handle from its second end and said handle having an opening through its second end to said hollow portion within said handle,
• (b) a first plug being dimensioned to permit insertion through said opening in said handle and movement longitudinally within said hollow portion of said handle, said first plug being made of a flexible rubber and containing a plurality of holes on a side which faces said opening in said handle when said plug is positioned within said hollow portion of said handle,
• (c) a plurality of wires of generally equal length which is typically 4 to 6 inches, each wire having a first and a second end with the first end being anchored in one of said holes in said first plug, said wires being capable of being placed in a first position with the tips of said wires at their second ends extending a percentage of their length, which is less than 50 percent of their length, and more typically 10 percent or approximately one half inch, out of said hollow portion of said handle through said opening in said handle and also in a second position where more than 50 percent, and more typically 90 percent of their length is extended through said opening in the second end of said handle, said wires being moved manually from said first to said second position, said wires in said second position being oriented in said first plug to form a conical array with the second ends of said wires being spaced diametrically apart a distance generally equal to the diameter of a golf ball,
• (d) a plurality of beads, each bead being affixed to the second end of each wire, said beads being spaced diameterically apart when said wires are in their second position to grip and hold said golf ball between said wires and said beads,
• (e) a second plug referred to as the bottom plug being secured in said hollow portion of said handle at a distance from said opening in said handle which will prevent said first plug and said wires from penetrating said hollow portion more than that which will place said wires in said first position,
• (f) a third plug having a hole through its center to permit all of said wires to pass through said hole in said third plug, said third plug being secured in said hollow portion of said handle adjacent said opening in said handle at a distance which will prevent said first plug and said wires from being drawn towards said opening in said handle more than said second position of said wires,
• (g) a cap having a size capable of fitting over said wires and said beads when said wires are in said first position to cover said wires and grip the second end of said wires to hold said cap in its position over said wires, and
• (h) a thread encircling all the wires and being attached to each wire proximate the second end of said wires with sufficient thread laid out from wire to adjacent wire to permit said ball to fit between the second ends of said wires, but said thread being limited in length to prevent the ball from extending as a maximum more than 75 percent of the ball's diameter past the ends of the a wire in order to avoid the pressing of the ball against the wires and the resultant spreading of said wires apart more than is necessary to grip the ball.