What is a golf ball diver and how does it bring sustainability to golf? Unfortunately, golf carries with it a hidden downside for our environment: the harmful deposit of golf balls. Anyone who immediately thinks of plastic waste exports and littered Asian seas when they think of water pollution caused by plastic waste will be surprised to learn how much "plastic waste" ends up in the waters in this country - and it is all hidden and inconspicuous thanks to the sport of golf. Without this really being questioned or criticized.
In this article today, I want to describe to you how becoming a golf diver brings more sustainability to golf.
Sustainability in golf? The first impression is deceptive
One would like to think that golf courses in themselves are quite environmentally friendly. Many trees, which release oxygen to nature, large green spaces that are true natural wonders with their countless protective functions, and idyllic waters, which make the golf course a small resort. A plant against the global warming so to speak.
But unfortunately this is only half the truth. Because a closer look reveals that these very waters in some golf courses are sometimes filled to the brim with small, white plastic balls - the golf balls! They were bought for a lot of money, gambled away by golfers and then simply forgotten - to the detriment of the environment.
Very few people think about the effects. Yet those responsible pretend that the complex chemical bombs are quite easily compostable. However, up to 1,000 years would pass before such a ball of highly developed, tightly compressed plastics would compost completely. So in the end, they are nothing more than Plastic waste in the environment.
So while nature laboriously works to decompose the golf ball, highly toxic substances escape from the ball, slowly but surely destroying flora and fauna. Yet waters are home to rich plant and animal life, as well as countless microorganisms that are important to our natural ecosystem. Their habitat is severely affected by the toxins released. So sustainable golf is different!
How does the environmental impact of golf balls occur?
Waters serve the golf courses primarily not for idyllic, but for tactical construction of the game. They are used as water hazards in the form of lakes or streams and make the course more difficult for players. On the way to the flag, where the goal is located, players are exposed to some of them. In the process, rarely everything goes according to plan and the ball lands here and there in the dreaded water obstacle instead of the focused landing zone.
And there it lies. And the golfer? Briefly annoyed, quickly forgotten, and already unpacked the next ball. Three to four golf balls per round It's all part of the sport to gamble away. The ball is then simply gone, out of sight, out of mind. What happens to it afterwards? Well, someone will take care of it! Or?
But neither golfers nor golf course operators really care about the balls they play with. The golfer certainly does not dive after the ballFor the site operator, the effort would be too high and not economical. One looks in vain for regulations.
Instead, it's others who are advocating for sustainability in golf and cleaning up the waters: independent golf ball diver. They regularly free golf balls from the water hazards and thus help to protect the sensitive nature - sometimes even on a grand scale. Why? Because no one else is doing it. And because it opens up a whole new market: the market for used golf balls, also known as "used golf balls. Lakeballs called.
The golf ball diver - a real profession?
For most, it sounds amusing at first, that there are actually people who make a living diving for golf balls. But the golf ball diver is a true, yet very challenging job! While others enjoy the summer on the golf course, they find themselves at the bottom of dark waters, wearing oxygen masks and exposed to some dangers. At the same time, they dive very regularly to make the balls' stay in the water as short as possible.
There are not yet very many golf ball divers who choose this rather exotic profession, but their job is of great importance for the sustainability of golf. A green and profitable profession, in other words.
On a good day, a team of two divers retrieves up to 10,000 balls from the waters. That's about 500 kilograms of toxic waste from Plastic, which no one else would care about!
The recovered balls are carefully cleaned after the dive and then resold to golfers at favorable prices. In addition to the environmental aspect, the divers therefore ensure that golfers are offered sustainable solutions to obtain their golf balls. Because buying used is always the most sustainable. Especially if it also protects the environment!
I am a golf ball diver myself at Out of Bounds - we are a well-coordinated team of passionate golfers and environmental enthusiasts. For a little over 10 years we have been dipping, washing, sorting and selling golf balls on a full-time basis in an efficient manner. We produce about 2,000,000 golf balls a year! A number we are proud of and which sheds light on the inconspicuous darkness of the sport.
Tip: At sustainable job portal you will find such and similar jobs. Jobs with real added value for yourself, our environment and also our society.
Golf ball diver - hope for the golf sport
When we think of water pollution, we may have the image of dead coral reefs or polluted Asian seas in our minds. The world has a plastic problem, even if we only know it from far away on television. The luxury of practicing a sport like golf is unfortunately not questioned at all, but it also puts a strain on the environment at home. The golf ball seems to be a good metaphor for the origin of our plastic waste problem: out of sight - out of mind.
Golf ball divers are seen as hopefuls for making golf more sustainable and green. Those who want to use their Golf balls used refers, makes his personal sporting activity green and environmentally friendly. Although the majority of players resort to used golf balls for cost reasons, therein lies the strength of the business model: environmental protection that is easy on the wallet at the same time. You can't get more convenient for the environment.
Best regards,
Marco
PS: Do you like sports in general? Then take a look at these Push-up grips made of ecological wood at Plastic free store from CareElite.
