Money doesn’t grow on trees. But maybe it lurks in shallow waters. Glenn Berger says he earns about $15 million a year retrieving golf balls from water hazards in golf courses around Florida. He dives for balls, collects them, cleans them and resells them to driving ranges for a buck a piece.
How much can you make diving for golf balls?
When recovered and cleaned up, these used balls sell for as little as six cents wholesale and up to $1 or more retail. It’s a $200 million industry, and a golf ball diver can make $100,000 per year, according to Golf.com.
How to make money from scuba diving?
Just whack on a scuba-suit, jump in the pond, and start filling your bags with the ‘white gold’. You keep all the profit, but it’s a slower process. You’ve also got no-one to help with the heavy lifting; each sack can weigh around 30kg each on a good day.
Can you make money selling used golf balls?
Other sources of used balls include rummage sales, friends who no longer golf, and anyplace you can get them cheap. Paying for your product might mean making less profit per ball, but you’ll also spend less time in the water and cleaning. Your Turn: Do you know anyone who has collected and sold used golf balls?
How much do professional golfers get paid to pick up golf balls?
He gets 7 to 10 cents per ball, and the company he works for also pays the course for each ball recovered. In other words, Rothchild made somewhere between $630 and $900 for that day’s haul.
How much money do golf ball divers make?
between $50,000 and $100,000 annuallyOver the past couple of decades, golf ball retrieval and recycling has become a multimillion-dollar industry, in which hardworking divers can earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on the economy and a diver's stomach for harsh conditions. Still, the wealth does not come cheaply.
How do I start a golf ball diving business?
0:144:32How To Start A Golf Ball Retrieval Business - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCourse all right and go into a local course. And what you can do is you can build a relationshipMoreCourse all right and go into a local course. And what you can do is you can build a relationship with the owners all right as a third-party outsource. For retrieving the golf balls.
What do you need to become a golf ball diver?
To become a golf ball diver, an individual must be certified for unrestricted commercial scuba diving, which may require up to 200 hours of diving experience. They must also be certified in first aid and dive rescue, in good physical health, and should enjoy working outdoors at all times of the year.
How do reselling golf balls make money?
Go to the local golf course or country club and make a deal with management. Tell them you sell "after market" golf balls and that you would like to use their club as a resource. A deal like this should yield around 20 to 25 percent of your revenue to the golf club.
Can anyone dive for golf balls?
Golf ball divers must be at least 18 years old and be certified for unrestricted commercial scuba diving. Certification may require up to 200 hours of dive experience, including low visibility diving, underwater navigation, and search and recovery.
Are 20 year old golf balls still good?
So keep your balls in a cool, dry place and they will last for awhile. The golf ball researchers at Titleist state, "Today's Titleist golf balls can be safely stored for five years or even more, as long as they are kept away from excessive heat. ... Normal indoor conditions should be fine for storage."
How many golf balls are in a pond?
Weynand, 28, averages about 200 to 300 balls per pond but said many variables can affect the amount of balls in a lake, from the season to the location to whether they came from a left-handed or right-handed shot.
What do golf courses do with balls in the water?
A number of businesses have started to collect old golf balls and turn them into profit. The most common way to find success in the golf-ball-recycling world is to employ divers to scavenge the balls from the lakes on and around golf courses. John Weynand is one of those divers.
How does a golf ball retriever work?
0:432:54Super Small Golf Ball Retriever Review - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd it is being kind of pulled. In place by this spring now it'll rotate in either direction. And soMoreAnd it is being kind of pulled. In place by this spring now it'll rotate in either direction. And so when a ball hits this spring it kind of pushes up on it. And this traps it in there.
Is selling golf balls a good business?
There are even some companies that hire people to find them used golf balls. Selling used golf balls is a great way to make money. But before you sell them, it is important to know how much to charge and how to make sure that they are ready for sale. Golf Ball hunting is a very lucrative business.
What is a AAAA golf ball?
These balls have the appearance of a new golf ball with absolutely minimal marks if any at all and will be shiny in appearance. Please note that some balls may have a small logo or minor ink spot. This grade is ideal for the serious golfer. This grade is also known as "Mint", "Perfect" "Pearl" or "AAAAA".
Are old golf balls worth any money?
Because of the age and the craftsmanship put into these balls they are among the ones that have the highest price tag of collectible golf balls. These balls are referred to as antique, and goes for sums upwards of +$5000! See example from eBay below.
How much does a golf ball diver make?
It’s a $200 million industry, and a golf ball diver can make $100,000 per year, according to Golf.com. For that kind of money, you might not mind getting into a pond, at least not if it’s in Wisconsin or Maine in the summer.
How much do golf courses get paid for salvaged golf balls?
Usually a golf course is paid 6 to 10 cents for each ball salvaged, or paid with a portion of the balls, after cleaning. If you work as a contractor for one of the big outfits that buys used golf balls, they will help you make arrangements with golf courses. Don’t be a “poacher” and sneak onto courses at night.
What happened to golf ball divers in Florida?
Among the incidents involving golf ball divers in Florida, there’s an attack by an 11-foot alligator that cost the victim his shoulder. Then there are the stories of divers bitten by venomous snakes and snapping turtles in golf course ponds.
How to clean slimy golf balls?
Once you collect them, golf balls have to be cleaned, and they can be pretty slimy if they’ve been underwater for years. Rinse them with a hose, and then soak them in buckets of warm soapy water for a couple of hours. Use a scrub brush and rags to finish the cleaning process.
How much does Rothchild make per ball?
In other words, Rothchild made somewhere between $630 and $900 for that day’s haul. But it takes some serious preparation and work to do this well. For starters, you have to be a certified scuba diver.
How much does a golf course charge for divers?
But even before they even hit the water, there are significant outlay costs. In both the U.S. and UK, golf courses usually charge divers between 7-10c per ball they find.
What advice does Lovelace give to new divers?
Once in the water, you’re lucky to see more than a foot in front of you, and Lovelace has one piece of advice for new divers: “If you’re grabbing stuff down there and it’s not round – don’t pick it up!”
What is the most fearsome hole in golf?
One of the most fearsome holes in golf is TPC Sawgrass' "Island Green" (pictured.)As the name suggests, the notorious 17th hole is surrounded by water and has claimed many a victim over the years.
Dream Jobs for Scuba Divers
Our list above includes scuba diving jobs that are truly attainable with time, effort and patience. The jobs below require extraordinary talent and a bit of luck in addition to hard work:
What are you waiting for?
If you love scuba diving, there are plenty of ways to earn a living while pursuing your passion. Taking the first step is super easy. Contact your local PADI Dive Center or Resort and to learn more about becoming a PADI Professional. Some dive shops host special events where you can meet local dive professionals and learn about their career path.
