By Sydney Cohen
The biodegradable golf ball is a relatively new idea that is quickly taking off. They do not harm the environment and they can be recycled. This means that golfers who use these products can enjoy their game without worrying about what impact it will have on the environment.
Traditional Golf Balls
Golf is a popular sport that people play for fun, as well as competitively. One of the main concerns that players have is how their golf ball will affect the environment, particularly when golfing close to marine environments, once they are done playing it. Golf balls can be made from many different materials, but some of them are not biodegradable and others contain harmful chemicals.
Golf balls consist of hard plastic called polyurethane. This material is not biodegradable therefore can break down into harmful substances, affecting marine flora and fauna.
Traditional Golf Balls Harm The Environment
When traditional golf balls decompose, harmful minerals such as zinc can be released. Golf balls take centuries to decompose and slowly break down into microplastics that kill the environment and can also harm us in our consumption of seafood. As we continue to produce raw, wasteful plastic, there’ll be more plastic accumulated across the seas, lakes, and rivers than in recent decades.
What are Biodegradable Golf Balls Made From?
The material use to produce biologically degradable golf balls originates from corn. Unlike other plastic substances, especially polyurethane, sulfur is not an ingredient. Thus they deteriorate naturally into the environment.
Green Golf Balls
The balls are often colored green to identify them as being environmentally friendly and are usually made with natural materials like corn starch or sugar cane. They also don’t require petroleum products in the process.
Rubber Golf Balls
A biodegradable golf ball is made of pure rubber, not artificial material. Pure rubbers are more durable than recent new plastic materials. This pure natural rubber will end up breaking down when exposed to light and water, particularly marine environments. Biodegradable balls are environmentally friendly because they do not leave any toxic residue when decomposing.
The Biodegradable Golf Ball is Better for Beginners!
They also have a higher compressed rate than non-degradable ones making it easier for first-timers to learn golf. They come in varied forms with most being either more soft or tough depending on one’s skill level. There is a variety of colors so whatever you prefer, there is an option for you.
How Do Biodegradable Golf Balls Work?
Biodegradable golf balls work as normal balls but are made of organic materials that are compostable. The golf ball is made with eco-friendly ingredients such as cornstarch, which breaks down with weathering and exposure to sunlight or sulfur in the water and marine environments.
You can even make them at home, using one cup of cornstarch mixed with three tablespoons of vegetable oil.
The Best Brands of Biodegradable Golf Balls
Dixon Golf developed the first patented high-performance biodegradable golf ball. Dixon Golf has successfully removed all traces of lead and other harmful substances from its core.
Taylor made Racquetballs and Speed Balls that are designed to give you a perfect combination of distance and soft sensation.
The “ecobioball” is a golf ball created by Albus Golf, with an environmental focus at its core. When exposed to water, it decomposes immediately in just 24 hours. As the ecobioball degrades, it releases fish food into the water from its core. It is considered one of the best biodegradable golf balls on the market.
Golf and Religion
Perfect Liberty (PL) Kyodan is a Japanese religion that gained popularity in the 70s and 80s. PL has a large focus on self-expression, especially through golf and other sports. In fact, according to Trivia Library, “it is also called the “Golf Religion” because several PL churches feature rooftop driving ranges so members don’t have to travel to practice self-expression”.
A New York Times article, from 1975, describes PL’s perspective on golf in more detail. According to Rev. Seiki Sakiyama, the church’s chief minister for North America, golf “is a little miniature of life. We can learn about ourselves through golf. Our teachings say that in life, anger, worry, and sorrow destroy success, just as in golf. Like golfing, life is an individual game, where you seek individuality; in golf, as in life, it’s always the next shot, another chance for perfection”.
Why Use Eco-Friendly, Biodegradable Golf Balls?
Biodegradable material is non-toxic and is decomposed by natural processes. Biodegradable golf balls that are buried underground or in nature will decompose without damaging animals or plant species. Since they don’t contain hazardous chemicals. you won’t feel guilty about causing environmental contamination while you play golf.
Environmentally conscious people playing golf, who naturally care about lakes, rivers, marine life and oceans can no longer allow themselves to play normal golf. They need to search for and purchase a good value pack of biodegradable golf balls at a great price in order to stop the environmental damage related to traditional golf balls. Eco friendly golf balls leads to eco friendly golf!
A friendly golf ball is the only option for people who enjoy golfing and have an environment-friendly agenda.
* Featured image source
