When golfers send balls sailing into water hazards, they typically consider them lost forever. But for golf ball divers, these submerged spheres represent valuable treasures waiting to be recovered, refurbished, and resold.
Professional golf ball divers specialize in retrieving balls from the ponds, lakes, and waterways that line golf courses worldwide. Working in murky waters with limited visibility, they collect thousands of balls during each diving expedition—turning discarded equipment into a sustainable business model.
The profession combines commercial diving skills with entrepreneurial spirit. Most golf ball divers operate as independent contractors, establishing relationships with multiple golf courses in their region. Divers typically arrange to keep all or most of the balls they recover in exchange for providing regular clearing services for the course's water features.
The physical challenges of the work shouldn't be underestimated. Divers operate in zero-visibility conditions, navigating by touch as they collect balls from muddy bottoms often tangled with weeds and debris. Standard equipment includes a wetsuit or dry suit (depending on water temperature), diving mask, air tank, mesh collection bags, and sometimes metal detectors for locating balls buried in sediment.
Beyond the basic challenges of underwater work, golf ball divers face unusual occupational hazards. Alligators present genuine dangers in southeastern U.S. courses, while snapping turtles, water snakes, and even discarded fishing hooks create additional risks. Most divers learn to systematically sweep areas with tools before inserting their hands, and some work with spotters who monitor for wildlife from shore.
After collection, the business shifts to processing and distribution. Divers grade recovered balls based on condition, with nearly-new balls commanding the highest prices. Most operations use specialized cleaning equipment to remove algae and stains before selling the balls through retail outlets, online marketplaces, or directly to driving ranges.
The economics can be substantial for committed professionals. Top divers can collect 3,000-5,000 balls during a productive day, with premium balls worth $0.50-$1.00 each after processing. Allowing for expenses and lower-value balls, successful operators can generate annual revenues exceeding $100,000, though the seasonal nature of the work in colder climates affects consistency.
From an environmental perspective, golf ball diving represents an unusual form of recycling. Studies estimate that over 300 million golf balls are lost each year in the United States alone, and the rubber and plastic in these balls can take centuries to decompose. By recovering them, divers prevent the zinc compounds and other materials in the balls from gradually leaching into aquatic ecosystems.
As veteran golf ball diver Glenn Berger—who claims to have recovered over 15 million balls during his career—once told Golf Digest: "It's not the most glamorous job in the world, but how many people get paid to hunt for treasure while helping the environment? Every day underwater is an adventure."