The Economics of Everyday Things 32. Used Golf Balls
Jan 15, 2024
Zachary Crockett hosts the podcast exploring the business opportunity behind lost golf balls. The podcast discusses the financial burden on golfers from losing balls and the environmental impact. It delves into the different types of balls and the history of the used golf ball market. The story of Juan de Gautunga and the thriving ecosystem of collecting and selling used golf balls is explored. The process of collecting balls from water hazards, the dangers involved, and the environmental benefits of buying used are discussed. Clever business names and various sponsors are mentioned.
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Massive Scale Of Lost Golf Balls
- U.S. golfers lose an estimated 300 million golf balls each year, creating a huge secondary market.
- If aligned, that waste becomes a profitable resource for recovery and resale businesses.
Technology Enabled A Resale Market
- Modern golf-ball construction (e.g., Pro V1) made balls durable enough to be reused after water or rough exposure.
- That durability enabled a thriving used-ball market once e-commerce scaled distribution.
From Garage Stash To Online Business
- LeShawn Wanigatunga started Two Guys With Balls after seeing a neighbor's stash and building a simple website.
- He scaled by buying bulk pre-processed balls rather than collecting them himself.