If you’re looking for a fun and unique way to make some extra money this year, look no further than the hobby of “golf ball hunting”. I just discovered this little money maker last year, and I wish I thought of it sooner.
First, you need to scout out golf courses in your area. If it’s a public course, you shouldn’t have any problems going on the course after hours and searching for golf balls. However, I would highly advise against walking onto a private course if you’re not a member. This would be considered trespassing, and you would be subject to criminal penalties. If you do find a private golf course, there are still ways of recovering balls from the course. Look for woods surrounding the property, or a stream running through the course, and continuing through public land.
Once you’ve located an area to find the golf balls, you need to invest in some gear. Either a 5 gallon bucket or a strong mesh bag both work well for holding the golf balls as you’re collecting them. If you plan on hunting at night, get a flashlight with a UV bulb in it, this will make the white balls “glow”, while leaving the surrounding area darker. If there is a stream running through the course, invest in a good pair of waders with the quick release straps, so if for some reason they do fill up with water you can get out of them quickly. When you find a golf ball, do a quick inspection before putting it in your bucket. If it has any cracks, dents, or large scuffs, do yourself a favor and throw it back. Small imperfections are fine, but balls in bad condition will not sell.
When you get back home after a good hunting trip, pour some Lysol, pine sol, simple green, or a similar cleaner and hot water into your bucket with the golf balls. This will allow the balls to soak, making them much easier to clean. After about an hour of soaking, you will need to scrub each ball one by one to remove dirt and muck, and restore the color. I’ve found a small scrub brush, and a small amount of bleach from the spray bottle works best. After scrubbing, use a clean towel and polish the balls.
Now, you’ll need to sort the balls. Take out any balls that say “x-out”, “practice”, or “range”, or have a line going around them, and put them into a separate bucket or box. These balls can not be used in tournaments, and will not sell for nearly as much money. I would usually sell 100 range balls for $10 plus shipping. Next, separate any balls that say “Titleist Pro-V1”, or “Titleist Pro-V1X”. These are the “golden balls”, and will be worth the most money. You can easily get $50 for 100 if they are in mint or very good condition.
For the rest of the balls, you can either sort them by condition or brand. I usually just sold 100 ball boxes of each condition, with assorted brands in them. If you decide to sort them by condition, look for scuffs, scratches, dents, cuts, or pen marks. If there are no visible marks or discoloration, the condition is “mint”. You should be able to get $30 for 100 mint balls. If there are minor scuffs, small pen marks, and light discoloration, the condition is “Grade A”. You should be able to get $20 for 100 Grade A balls. If there are major scuffs, dents, cuts, or large pen marks, the condition is “Grade B”, and you should be able to get $10-$15 per 100.
After you get the balls sorted, you need to find a buyer. The easiest way is to list the balls on eBay. But, you can also sell them locally to individual golfers or even some pro shops. There are also online companies that will buy used balls, but they usually require large quantities. If you decide to list the items on eBay, use the USPS flat rate boxes to ship them in.
With these simple tips you should be well on your way to making money from golf balls!
