“I haven't looked for a golf ball since mulligans were free, which was a law I passed in 1995.” - Dan Jenkins (an American author and golf journalist).
For those in the business of operating a golf venue, there is profit on the green, in the rough, and in ponds. A staggering 300 million golf balls are lost by golfers every year. As a result, millions of dollars are lost as well. Every make and condition can be found when retrieving abandoned golf balls. From high-end Titleist Pro V1 to lesser-known brands, banged up pretty badly or in mint condition.
Recycling, reconditioning and reselling used balls is estimated as a $200 million per year enterprise. Recycled golf balls--or “pond balls” as they are sometimes called--sell at a range from as little as 25 cents per ball to as much as $3 each for high-end brands in excellent condition. Golf courses that send their retrieved balls to LostGolfBalls.com can take advantage of this revenue stream.
Why Collect Used Golf Balls and Send Them to LostGolfBalls.com?
No golfer likes the feeling that accompanies watching his ball sink out of sight in a water trap. Golf balls are not inexpensive, and a moderate golfer can go through between 60 and several hundred in a year, easily. An avid player can go through considerably more. This can add up to a significant cash expenditure.
Then there is the ecological factor. For every lost ball recovered, there is one less taking up space in an environment that is not suited for them. The fairway is where they belong until they are put back in the bag. Recovering used golf balls on a large scale can positively impact a golf venue both financially and environmentally. Making a profit and cleaning up the environment is a win-win combination. As a result, it makes perfect sense for a golf course to send used balls to LostGolfBalls.com.
How is the Quality?
Golf ball manufacturing has seen numerous technological advances. Balls no longer lose compression when submerged or exposed to extreme weather, for example. Since a golf ball is technically considered “used” after a single hit, there are thousands and thousands of top brand balls that are lost and then recovered in almost mint condition.
After cleaning and restoration, used balls are divided according to the model, make, and the condition. The final state of every golf ball dictates the grade. This is the method for separating the “good” balls from the “excellent“ balls. Top quality, premium brand golf balls can be recycled to almost new condition. Although these balls command a higher price than their poorer quality counterparts, they are still a great bargain compared to new ball costs.
When a top brand can sell new golf balls for $50-60 a dozen, and recycled top brands go for significantly less, the choice is easy. A recycled ball in good condition can be used in regular play just as effectively as the new version.
What About Golf Balls That Are in Less Than Excellent Condition?
If the balls are in less than excellent condition for resale to retail consumers, they can find new life as driving range balls. It is a lot of fun to hit a bucket of balls at a range. With recycled golf balls, there is no need to use expensive “brand new” balls in what is essentially a one-off manner. A used ball with moderate wear and tear will still fly downrange. Golfers can work on their swing without breaking the bank, which ultimately encourages golf aficionados to hit the ranges more often, and ultimately can increase the range’s profitability.
Great Savings
The savings from recycled golf balls are felt directly by the venue as well as the consumer. This is a ready-made market with supply and demand in place. Sending used balls to LostGolfBalls.com is the smart choice. High-grade recycled balls are virtually impossible to tell apart from new, either by examination or play.
The golf balls that are retrieved from courses across the nation go through an environmentally friendly cleaning and restoration process that is designed to bring each golf ball back to its original condition. The savings are passed on to golfers across the country. This is especially relevant in times of recession. Golfers still want to play but may be loath to shell out the kind of money that new, brand-name golf balls demand. Having a less expensive alternative will make it easier for them to enjoy a round of golf on a regular basis at their favorite course.
Money Saved is Money Made
Used golf balls are recycled by LostGolfBalls.com, graded based on their condition and the original retail price and then resold. Empirical data gathered from a thorough analysis by industry-leading, independent research facilities has shown that used golf balls perform every bit as well as new balls. The upside from a courses’ perspective is that a percentage of these used balls will be lost again and then recovered again to be cleaned, graded and sold yet another time. This is a repetitive cycle that courses and consumers continue to reap the rewards from for years to come.
The bottom line is that lost golf balls are tantamount to leaving “green on the green.” LostGolfBalls.com affords golf venues an additional source of income, and individual golfers real savings, all while having a favorable impact on the golf course environment.
Outbound link:
https://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/recycled_golf_balls_are_big_business
Source links:
http://www.lostgolfballs.com/
https://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/recycled_golf_balls_are_big_business
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/04/sports/golf-at-the-bottom-of-golf-ponds-a-big-business-is-lurking.html
