Golf Balls Sell for Thousands

Golf balls are cheap and plentiful, but there are a handful in the world that are rare, expensive and steeped in rich history.

A billion golf balls

Golf balls are usually pretty cheap, so cheap in fact that we buy around a billion of them a year. We lose millions of them in the overgrowth and in water hazards, and specialized divers recover thousands of lost golf balls and re-sell or recycle them.

Manufacturing golf balls

Manufacturing golf balls today is a feat of technology, despite the fact golf balls are now near perfect flying machines they have never been cheaper. With rubber chemists designing the core, polymer chemists the cover and high-tech software optimizing the dimple patter, it's a complicated process, but mass production means accessibility.

Hand-made golf balls

But before the manufacturing of golf balls became big business, golf balls were hand-made. Allan Robertson was a Scottish maker of golf balls and was lucky to make 2,500 balls a year in 1844, now golf ball manufacturers churn out a billion every year.

Rare golf balls

Perhaps the rarity of older golf balls and the fact that golf, like all sports, inspires obsession and enthusiasm from fans and players world-wide, explains how one golf ball was sold at auction for an incredible £24,000.

18 th century golf balls

The golf ball was bought by Jamie Ortiz-Patiños, owner of Valderrama in Spain , one of Europe 's top courses. Dating from 1790, the golf ball was made by Wil Robertson who was the father of a famous golfer called Allan Robertson. As was common for golf balls at the time, it was hand-made out of leather and feathers and the ball was also inscribed, it says: �This ball was made by Wil Robertson, 1790, Father of Allan the famous golfer one of the early members of St Andrews Golf Club.�

The age, history and links with a famous golfer all added value to the ball, as well as the fact that there are very few 18 th century golf balls in existence.

America 's rich history

America may not be as old or ancient as Scotland when it comes to golf, but it too has a strong tradition of the game. An auction in May 2006 in Massachusetts saw a dollar coin sized Bramble-patterned golf ball fetch $10,516. These golf balls were dubbed Brambles for their distinct loganberry pimpled surface. It has the name Minikahada Golf Club on it and fittingly was bought by the renowned golf club based in Minnesota . It's the only Minikahada golf ball to have survived the club's 108 year history.

A division of Confidence Sporting Goods, inc., the famous manufacturer from Palm Springs , California , we have been making quality sporting goods for 35 years. We sell a huge range of sports equipment, including golf balls. Because we sell directly to you, you can expect to save up to 70% on normal retail prices when buying from us.

To order, phone 1-800-603-0004.