The Best Biodegradable and Eco-Friendly Golf Balls

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The Top Biodegradable Golf Balls for the Eco-Friendly Golfer

If you enjoy golfing, you might worry about the environmental impact of those errant golf balls that you can’t get back because they end up in the woods or water. Fortunately, when you make the switch to the best biodegradable and eco-friendly golf balls, you won’t have to worry about that anymore.

Biodegradable balls are typically made with natural materials such as corn starch, potato starch, or sugar cane. Unlike regular golf balls, these eco golf balls will break down over time when exposed to water.

If you want to go green when you hit the greens, learn how traditional golf balls are hurting the environment and then take a look at some of the best biodegradable golf balls.

Are Traditional Golf Balls Hurting the Environment?

While most golfers try not to lose their golf balls, one bad swing can send a ball flying into a place where it will never be recovered. For example, it’s estimated that around 60,000 golf balls end up in the ocean every year at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.

Since the course first opened in 1919, this means there could be millions of golf balls cluttering up the ocean floor and harming marine life.

Standard golf balls are made with plastic, zinc oxide, and zinc acrylate. They can take hundreds of years before they start to break down. However, when they do start to break down, they release heavy metal pollutants that hurt marine environments and the planet.

Best Eco-Friendly Golf Balls for an Eco-Conscious Game of Golf

Now that you know how traditional golf balls are hurting the environment, you’re probably ready to make the switch to something better. Fortunately, you have a variety of eco-friendly options. Take a swing at some of these top sustainable choices.

1. Biodegradable Golf Balls

These Biodegradable Golf Balls are made by a Canadian company based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, that has a love for golf and the environment. Since these golf balls are completely water-soluble, they’ll begin to dissolve in water in just a few weeks.

That makes them ideal to use on cruise ships, at seafront hotels, or near bodies of water. The company makes these dissolvable golf balls mainly out of corn starch with a polyvinyl alcohol coating for protection.

While these golf balls are excellent for a golf course or driving ranges near aquatic environments, it’s important to note they’re not for professional golf use.

2. Albus Golf

The ECOBIOBALL from Albus Golf is the first-ever biodegradable golf ball that has a fish food core. This unique, single-use product opens up entirely new possibilities for practice and play, including beaches, resorts, cruise lines, boats, yachts, near lakes and rivers, and more.

This golf ball is 100% safe for marine flora and fauna. It’s made with non-toxic, non-contaminating materials, and is certified as biodegradable.

Once the ECOBIOBALL lands in the water, its external layer biodegrades in less than 48 hours, and it releases the fish food into the surrounding water.

This golf ball doesn’t create any additional pollution. Instead, it actually helps marine life and lets golfers improve the sustainability and biodiversity of the marine environment while practicing their sport.

3. Dixon Golf

Most of the biodegradable golf balls on this list aren’t appropriate for professional play. So what should you do if you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative that’s good for real games? Check out Dixon Golf!

Dixon Golf offers several great eco-friendly balls that don’t contain heavy metals that can harm the environment.

The Dixon Wind is a high-performance golf ball that’s perfect for the serious golfer. It has a 428 Monster dimple pattern for outstanding distance and accuracy. In fact, the Wind is the world record holder for flight speed off the tee at 235.1 mph.

It’s an excellent choice for golfers with slower swing speeds, such as new players, junior players, or senior players. The ball has a resilient eco-cover for maximum durability and spin control. Plus, not only is the ball made from 100% recyclable and re-processable materials, but the packaging is also completely recyclable.

Unlike conventional golf balls, Dixon Earth golf balls don’t contain any harsh heavy-metal pollutants, such as tungsten, cobalt, and lead. Instead, the entire Dixon Earth ball is manufactured with recyclable materials that can be used to make other consumer products.

It features a 392 tour-proven dimple pattern for maximum control and distance. Plus, just like the Dixon Wind, the Dixon Earth also comes in packaging made from 100% recycled and recyclable materials.

No matter which one you choose, you can rest assured Dixon golf balls are PGA Tour approved and conform with USGA and R&A rules.

FAQs About Eco-Friendly Golf Balls

Golf club beside golf ball on grass preparing to shoot

Now that you’ve had a chance to review the best eco-friendly golf balls, here are answers to some common questions so you can learn even more about these sustainable swaps to normal golf balls.

How Do Eco-Friendly Golf Balls Compare to Regular Balls?

Biodegradable golf balls typically have lower compression ratings than normal golf balls. This means they don’t travel as far when you hit them, and they tend to bounce less when they hit the ground.

Are There Drawbacks to Using Biodegradable Golf Balls?

One drawback you might discover when making the switch to eco-friendly golf balls is that they may not perform like traditional balls. They might not travel or bounce as far as you’re used to.

Additionally, biodegradable balls might be more expensive than regular golf balls. However, the price difference is usually small, and the environmental benefits significantly outweigh the slightly higher cost.

How Can I Switch to Eco-Friendly Golf Balls Without Hurting My Game?

There are several ways you can make the switch to biodegradable golf balls without hurting your game. First, understand that there will be an adjustment period, and you won’t have the perfect game right away.

Second, don’t use different clubs and different balls at the same time. Instead, stick with your regular clubs to minimize the adjustment period.

Will Biodegradable Golf Balls Dissolve in Soil?

Biodegradable golf balls are designed to dissolve when fully submerged in water. While they’ll eventually break down in the soil, it will take much longer because they’re only getting water from the elements.

However, since traditional golf balls can take hundreds of years before they begin to break down, biodegradable balls are still a more environmentally responsible choice.

How Long Does it Take a Biodegradable Golf Ball to Decompose?

Some brands of eco-friendly golf balls will start breaking down in as little as 48 hours. Typically, they’ll only take a few weeks to completely decompose.

Hit the Links With the Best Eco-Friendly Golf Balls

The next time you decide to hit the greens for a game of golf, you don’t have to worry about harming the environment with any lost golf balls. Thanks to these top eco-friendly golf balls, you can keep harmful substances out of the environment and still enjoy your favorite sport!

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