Andy Jorgensen said: Worn ferule on the stick, or worn cup.
We only get about 18 months out of each here, but can stretch it to two years if need be. We tend to alternate each year replacing the cups or the sticks. If we do both the same year, they tend to stick and the golfers will pull the cup up while removing the stick causing the old "volcano cup" complaint.
Andy,
Do you use aluminum cups or plastic?
I know in the past and even now, we replace flags sticks every year in the spring due to worn ferules, plus all the scratches from bringing them in every night all summer (if we don't they end up missing).
We have been getting 3 years out of our aluminum cups, when I use plastic at my last course, we put out new cups every year as well.
Never got into replacing ferules, figured with the cost of labor and still scratched poles, (which we could fix with vinyl guard) it is about the same cost in my book, and we have enough winter projects to stay busy.
I remember working at a place the flag sticks and cups were so worn, there was no way to possibly cut a straight cup.
Mel