Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining paired articles together including a male member having a skewer with a pointed end, a female member having a axial hole for receiving the skewer therein, and an elastic tether configured to maintain the skewer in the axial hole, wherein the elastic tether is attached to the male and female members, and wherein the elastic tether has a length such that the elastic tether is under tension when the skewer is engaged in the axial hole.

Abstract: A portable golf ball washer is characterized by a container having a top end and a bottom end. A plunger is connected to the top end and is opposed by a return assembly mounted on the bottom end. The ball washer also has a scrubbing material inside the container. The plunger pushes a golf ball through and against the scrubbing material and then the return assembly automatically pushes the golf ball back through and against the scrubbing material to produce a clean golf ball. The ball washer may also include an ejection mechanism to facilitate removal of the golf ball from the ball washer, and the bottom end may be detached to facilitate cleaning and repairing the golf ball washer.