Old Golf Balls

[Carl3]

When I first started golfing at age 16, I would often play balls that I found in the hazard. Once a high school buddy and I waded into a water hazard after searching for a ball and ended up hauling out about 600 balls in 30 minutes. We split the booty after being run off the course. I have been hooked ever since on ball hunting. I can't help myself when I am alone on the course and get in the mood to search. Fast forward to where I never play these balls as I have only been playing new balls of the same type for the past 10 years. I now have 2,000 balls in my garage (they don't take up much space at all; I am not a hoarder by any means). I have range privileges at my club so I don't need to beat them into a field somewhere. I could sell them on Craigslist perhaps, but not sure if anyone would be interested. Any ideas?

[dennyjones]

Donate them to First Tee.   The kids could use them.

[Patch]

As @dennyjones posted, donate them. First Tee, and Highscool teams could use them.

Quite a while back I donated several thousands of balls to our local course's teaching pro. He also managed the driving range. Some went for range use, others went to other local golf groups.  He comped me a few rounds,  and range time for the donation. 

On another note, there use to be a company in Phoenix AZ who would buy used balls. They only dealt with sellers with huge quanties of balls. (golf courses) They would clean, and bag them up to sell to various outlets, who in turn sold them to the public. I am just not sure if they are still in business. 

I had previously contracted with a developer to clean up a few golf courses that had been closed down in the area. That's where the balls I donated came from. 

Edited April 14, 2019 by Patch

[Buckeyebowman]

If they've been in the water, get rid of them. If they are high and dry, give them a look and if they seem OK, maybe play them. I'm amazed at how many new Pro V-1's I find out there! Top Flites I just chuck back in the woods. 

[shanksalot]

I have read that if the balls have been in water for a long time they are not really good anymore. I guess there is no way to know how long they were in the water, but I would not take the chance on playing them except for just your fun rounds. With 2000 balls it seems you are a bit of a hoarder. Either keep them, donate them or just throw them away.  If you decide to donate them I would suggest to look for a program that works with Veterans. I had about 5 boxes or golf clubs, drivers, FW woods and three sets of irons that I donated to the Vet program here in my area. They were very happy to receive them. 

[JeepXJ98]

My dad lived one block over from the one course in their town. He was a member and played, but I think he spent more tome collecting balls than actually playing. For the 10 years they lived there before he passed away, the local HS never had to worry about practice balls for the kids. He kept them supplied with plenty of balls for practice and put together nice dozens for all the kids each week before their tournament. I’m sure if you weren’t overly concerned about making money on them, you could easily find somewhere who could use them.