As all golfers know, it’s easy to accumulate a large stockpile of old, used balls that have been retired from play.

While the latest Pro V1s and Chrome Softs in your bag get all the attention, those tubs of faded range balls and scuffed lake balls collecting dust in your garage still have plenty of value and use left.

Here are some smart ways to repurpose, recycle or responsibly dispose of old golf balls.

Repurpose Old Balls for Practicing Specialty Shots

Rather than dumping those beat-up models in the trash, use old balls specifically for practicing specialty shots and challenging trouble lies where pristine, peak-performing balls aren’t necessarily required:

• Bunker Shots – Dig into the old ball pile for buried lies and explosion practice so you don’t have to sacrifice brand-new models to sand scratches.
• Punching Under Tree Limbs – Faded balls are perfect for rehearsing low punch shots to escape under overhead branches while still getting desired distance.
• Severe Lies – Don’t feel guilty gouging up crusty old balls from uphill or downhill slopes, deep rough, tight lies, and other awkward stances and surfaces.
• Water Hazard Shots – Use balls found in ponds and lakes to rehearse critical (yet often neglected) techniques like playing off docks, hitting floating balls, and other water recovery scenarios.
• Indoor Practice – Avoid damaging walls, televisions and furnishings by hitting only old, worn balls any time you practice indoor drills or work on your putting stroke.

Donate Old Balls to Charitable Causes

Rather than adding used golf balls to local landfills, donate them to nonprofit groups that support youth, community outreach, and growing the game initiatives:

• First Tee Chapters – The First Tee and other junior golf programs are always seeking donated range and recycled balls to make the game more affordable and accessible for young players just learning the game.
• Golf Course Military Support – Many courses located near military bases welcome contributed range and lake balls to provide complimentary use for service members and their families. This allows them to play more golf.
• High School Golf Teams – With frequently tight budgets, most high school golf teams appreciate donations of older model balls for practice sessions and to use in tournament play. This saves their limited funds for travel and other expenses.
• Driving Range Discounts – Some public driving ranges offer free small, medium or even large buckets of range balls in exchange for contributions of your used recreational balls to help replenish their inventory.
• Nonprofit Golf Ball Recycling – Organizations like eBalls Finance Youth Golf recycle used balls while also using proceeds to fund junior tournaments, clinics and college scholarships.

Sell Usable Old Balls to Used Golf Ball Companies

Rather than giving away all your once-prized but now out-of-rotation golf balls, you can actually sell playable quality lake balls, range balls, and mint-condition models no longer used to various used golf ball companies.

These businesses buy pre-owned balls in bulk, thoroughly process and inspect them, then resell recycled balls at discounted prices:

• Online Marketplaces – Sell directly to other golfers seeking good-performing used balls for value via eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and other platforms.
• Used Golf Shops – Some brick-and-mortar used golf equipment retailers may buy your higher-grade used balls if the condition is good enough for resale in their pro shops.
• Driving Ranges – Ranges sometimes purchase used bulk balls from golfers to freshen up their inventory of rental range balls. They may even trade an equivalent number of free buckets of balls for your used lot.
• Ball Refurbishing Companies – Well-known brands like LostGolfBalls.com actively purchase batches of used balls to thoroughly clean, grade for quality, then resell affordable recycled balls via their website.

While you certainly won’t recoup the full original retail cost, selling usable balls can provide some supplemental cash for golf expenses.

Properly cleaning balls and separating into condition grades beforehand helps maximize potential resale value.

Get Creative by Upcycling Unusable Old Balls

With a little imagination and effort, even old unusable golf balls destined for the trash can instead be creatively upcycled into practical or whimsical home projects:

• Paint to Create Vibrant Yard Art – Coat old balls with colorful spray paints or acrylics and arrange it into fun abstract shapes and sculptures to display in your garden.
• Craft Novel Wind Chimes – Drill small holes to string retired golf balls together in your favorite colors with fishing lines to create tune-filled wind chimes.
• Build Unique Furnishings – Affix old balls onto furniture legs, cabinets, headboards, corbels, table bases, and any other surface as novel knobs, feet, or accents.
• Form Vases and Terrariums – Use bonding cement to glue cut tennis and golf balls together into spherical or cylindrical vases for dried flowers. Ball halves with drainage holes also work great for housing mini-potted plants.
• Incorporate into Yard Landscaping – Bury and partially expose golf balls of different sizes and brands in patterns across your yard or garden to create a unique, on-trend mini-golf motif.

With some creativity and effort, faded balls can take on an exciting new purpose beyond the golf course. Give new life to your old golf balls.

Responsibly Dispose of Unusable Balls

For balls too badly cut, deformed, discolored or worn to creatively reuse, make sure to dispose of properly:

• Recycle – Check if your local municipal recycling center accepts older golf balls, as some will take them, especially if the rubber core is exposed. Call ahead to confirm.
• Trash – As a last resort if recycling is not possible, unusable balls may have to be tossed in the garbage can. Avoid burning old golf balls, as toxic chemical fumes may result from some ball coatings when incinerated.
• Return to Manufacturer – Both Callaway and Titleist run golf ball recycling programs where consumers can ship old, play-worn balls back to be reused for materials in manufacturing new balls.

Ultimately, repurposing old balls through donation, resale, creative projects or proper recycling keeps used golf balls out of oceans and landfills.

With smart usage or disposal, yesterday’s faded shag bag balls can bring joy to golfers today. Squeeze the last life out of those lonely old balls collecting dust in your garage.