Buzz
Many claim to earn over $1 million a year by diving for golf balls, facing dangers that threaten their lives.
Earning over a million annually from golf ball retrieval comes with its share of life-threatening risks.
Earning millions annually from golf ball diving
Golf ball divers: real-life treasure hunters, with golf balls as their treasure, originating in the US amid a surge in golf among the elite but with high costs for balls, making diving a lucrative job.
With 18 holes and 4-12 water hazards in a large golf course, non-professional players often lose balls in the water. According to CNN, out of 400 million golf balls played yearly in the US, only a quarter are recoverable, the rest depend on the divers' skills.
Golf balls, resistant to water and damage, are recycled by golf courses and manufacturers if dirty or smelly. Divers like Sam Harrison in London, UK, can collect up to 5,000 balls from a single pond, selling them at 75 cents each.
A day's haul for a golf ball diver can range from 3,000 to 5,000 balls, equating to 150,000-300,000 balls a year.
Parker, a 30-year-old from Florida, USA, has a permanent contract to dive for balls at five golf courses, retrieving over 4,000 balls daily, topping 20,000 weekly.
Working 5 days a week, 4-6 hours a day, Parker earns over $2,000 weekly by selling each ball for at least 10 cents.
Ordinary golf balls are refurbished and reused, while premium balls can sell for $20-$40 each. Collectibles, like balls from celebrities or presidents, fetch much higher prices, often sold as memorabilia or for their collection value.
For instance, Parker has amassed over 300 memorable golf balls, valued at over $10,000.
In 2015, Glenn Berger, a Florida-based diver, claimed an annual income of $1.3-$1.7 million, with each golf ball fetching around $1.
USD Today verified Glenn's claim, confirming a $1 million annual income from golf ball retrieval is feasible, given the average loss of 1.5 balls per 18-hole round and 300 million balls lost in ponds across the US annually.
Not a job for everyone
Earning millions annually comes with its hazards. Steve Martinez, a diver in Florida, reports encounters with turtles, snakes, and alligators.
Golf ball divers often work in teams for safety, requiring scuba certification and nearly 25kg of standard equipment.
Typically, a team of three is involved, with two setting up nets and the third diving into the pond to collect balls. For smaller ponds, specialized equipment is used instead of manual collection.
Scott, a veteran golf ball diver, finds the job rewarding despite its challenges. He highlights four key points for anyone interested in this line of work:
1. The working environment is harsh, requiring divers to search through murky, dirty ponds for golf balls.
2. Underwater hazards, including sharp objects and bacteria, pose a risk of injury or disease. Encounters with alligators or snakes can be dangerous, with incidents of divers being severely injured. The heavy diving gear increases the risk of drowning, making teamwork much safer than solo dives.
3. Diving for golf balls is physically demanding, monotonous, and repetitive.
4. Earnings fluctuate with the golfing season; fewer players mean lower income.
Scott, after years of dedication to his job, has miraculously survived two alligator attacks.
Sources: Kknews, CNN
