A ball lifting device having an elevator is attachable to a flagstick for enabling easy removal of a golf ball that is holed while putting with the flagstick in place in the cup. The elevator may be attached to a handle portion that extends up along the pole portion of the flagstick allowing the elevator to be raised by way of the handle portion. The handle portion may have a hook portion for hooking up with a golf club so that hand contact with the device is eliminated. The handle portion may be a thin member. The handle portion may be a tubular portion. The elevator may be spring loaded with the spring manually loaded by a golfer and released to eject the golf ball from the cup.