If you aren’t into the golf scene, you might think it’s a sport that older people play. You might think that it’s not all that popular nowadays, especially with the rise of so many forms of entertainment.
But you would be wrong. In 2019, 441 million rounds of golf were played in the United States alone. There has been a 20% increase in Google searches involving “golf balls” and “golf clubs” compared to highs within the last 5 years. During a pandemic, no less!
It’s obvious that golf is still very popular. And with a projected 20% increase in junior golfers by year’s end, more and more beginners are taking their golf clubs to the courses.
But unfortunately, golf as we know it isn’t all that great for the environment. Its production consumes a ton of natural resources, and the balls themselves can leach toxins while forming microplastics.
So we want to explore options that are better for the environment. We rounded up a list of the best eco-friendly and biodegradable golf balls so that you don’t have to waste your time with painstaking research.
With all that said, let’s jump right into it!
Note: We are committed to extensively researching and recommending the best products on the market. We are partnered with Amazon’s affiliate program and may receive commissions from affiliate links within our content, which comes at no extra cost to you.
Best Biodegradable & Eco-Friendly Golf Balls
#1 – Dixon Wind Eco-Friendly Max Distance Golf Balls
Key Features:
- No harsh heavy metal pollutants.
- 428 monster dimple pattern fuels aerodynamic capability.
- 100% recyclable and made from re-processable materials, including the packaging.
- Densified precast green core.
- Resilient eco-cover.
Dixon is the only company that has managed to make a high-performance, eco-friendly golf ball at this time. There are different balls for different kinds of players, but the Dixon Wind balls are the most well-rounded.
So what does this ball do to make itself eco-friendly? For starters, it isn’t made with any heavy metal pollutants found in some other golf balls. This means that there is no danger of these toxins being released into natural environments when the ball starts to break down.
The balls are also fully recyclable. Dixon will provide you with the means to send them back for recycling once you are done with them.
Dixon doesn’t stop there. All balls, equipment, apparel, and packaging are made of 100% recyclable materials. You don’t have to worry about generating any waste when you purchase their products.
As for performance, this ball has a lot going for it.
The 428 Monster™ dimple pattern and densified precast green core allow your ball to easily cut through the air, soaring far with even a slow swing. This makes it a suitable choice for hitting long distances as a beginner, junior player, or senior (60-80 MPH range, 20+ handicap).
The hardy eco-cover creates a straighter, longer shot, which optimizes distance while controlling the spin. You can expect a medium trajectory by using this golf ball.
People have had great success using this golf ball. Many have reported that:
- The balls have a soft feel and generate great distances.
- They are cheaper than other high-performance golf balls.
- They are an excellent choice for seniors.
- The balls helped improve their game.
The downsides? Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
- These golf balls are not biodegradable.
- They can still form microplastics.
Overall, Dixon Wind golf balls are a great choice for people who are looking to get into the game while still being eco-friendly. While it isn’t biodegradable, it’s still designed to be better for the environment than traditional golf balls. And that is something that we can all get behind.
#2 – ECOBIOBALL – Eco-Friendly Golf Ball for Marine Environments
Key Features:
- Great for playing golf close to marine environments.
- Ecological and 100% biodegradable.
- Single-use golf ball – hit and forget.
- Safe for marine flora and fauna.
The Ecobioball is a golf ball that puts the environment first. Everything about this ball is made to be as eco-friendly as possible, which is great news for us!
To start, the ball is completely biodegradable. When exposed to water, it will fully decompose within just 48 hours. That’s no time at all when compared to plastic’s thousands of years.
The balls are also single-use, so you don’t have to feel bad when you hit a ball somewhere not worth retrieving it from.
There is a special surprise hidden in the core, too. Once the ball has degraded, a ball of fish food will be released. This food is obviously great for the fish, but it’s also a non-issue even when it’s not consumed. You should check with your local course to make sure that it’s safe to feed the fish this way, however.
Unfortunately, this ball sucks in terms of performance. It’s closer to hitting, well, a ball of fish food rather than your traditional golf ball. There are no metrics or stats on these balls. You just swing the club and see what happens.
If you compete outside of friends and family, then this ball just won’t cut it. But if you just want to take a swing while doing your best to support the environment, then these balls are perfect for you.
People have generally enjoyed using this golf ball. Some of reported that:
- It’s fun to hit them into the water.
- They enjoy the good feeling that comes with being eco-friendly.
- They enjoy the fact that they don’t have to go and retrieve the balls.
The downsides? A couple of people have reported that:
- These balls only fly about 1/3rd the distance of a traditional golf ball.
- These balls do not perform as well as traditional golf balls.
Overall, these golf balls are a fun, eco-friendly alternative. While you won’t be winning any championships with them, you can walk away knowing that you did right by the environment.
#3 – Value – Color Recycled Golf Balls Mix
Key Features:
- A collective mix of slightly used golf balls – different brands all-in-one.
- Great value – 50 balls for a low price.
- Little to no performance loss when compared to new golf balls.
- Supports recycling balls and keeping balls out of natural environments.
The Color Recycled Golf Balls Mix is an interesting assortment. These balls are the result of a method to clean up our natural environments while also providing a solid service to golfers.
Reusing products and extending their longevity is important to being eco-friendly. By doing so, you can keep trash out of landfills and cut down on carbon production, microplastic formation, and general wastefulness. This is exactly the idea behind this set of golf balls.
There is no one brand. Every bag is comprised of a variety of different golf balls, all of which have been used and retrieved. The quality of the balls ranges from “good” (3A) to “mint” (5A) condition. Included are also balls that have been refinished and balls that are made from recycled materials.
With such a unique collection of balls, you can discover new brands of balls that you otherwise would not have and support good eco-friendly business practices at the same time.
The company claims that its balls do not vary much (if at all) in terms of performance compared to a single brand of new balls. This was confirmed via in-house testing, according to the company.
People are definitely satisfied with this collection of golf balls. Many people have reported that:
- The general quality of the balls was above average.
- They are a cheap, useful starting mix for beginners.
- They have had no problems compared to their normal golf ball sets.
- These balls can be lost since they don’t retain much monetary value.
Not everyone was happy with this mix, however. Some people have reported that:
- There are too few “high-performance” balls in the mix.
- The assortment wasn’t always evenly distributed.
- There were some duds included in the mix.
- Some markings/scuffs were present from previous uses.
Overall, The Color Recycled Golf Balls Mix is a solid pick for people who need balls but aren’t picky about the brand.
This set is especially useful for beginners who may not want to lose premium, expensive balls while they are still learning.
What to Look Out for When Picking Eco-Friendly & Biodegradable Golf Balls
Here are a few things that you should keep an eye on when shopping around for “green” golf balls.
The Composition of the Ball
You should take note of the ball’s composition. Or rather, how the ball is formed and what it is made of.
In an article about the biodegradability of popular products (including golf balls), this was stated:
“Traditional golf balls are mostly made out of plastic and rubber raw materials. 2-piece balls have a core with a layer, 3-piece balls have a core with two layers, and so on. The core is made from a strong rubber material and is layered with a thermoplastic cover (usually an ionomer resin, which is just a form of plastic).“
The core, rubber, and resin are highly resistant to biodegradation. They are also all plastics that have the potential to form microplastics, which can be problematic for the environment.
And since golf balls tend to be made with harsh heavy metal pollutants, the soil and water are slowly being poisoned when lost golf balls start to degrade.
And with how many golf balls are lost each year (one estimate suggests 300 million), that’s a ton of pollution.
Instead, look for golf balls that are made of recycled plastic or biodegradable materials. These balls usually lack harsh chemicals and promote sustainability.
The Ball’s Performance
We will be honest. If you are looking for a golf ball that is 100% eco-friendly and offers top-tier performance, you are going to have a tough time finding it.
Biodegradable golf balls are made with materials that make them beneficial for the environment. In terms of environmental impact, these balls are not harmful whatsoever.
But since the core is not made from a dense rubber material nor contains any plastic, it cannot achieve the same performance level as traditional golf balls.
Golf balls made from recycled materials fare much better and can be a good substitute for hobbyists and low to medium-level golfers. While it isn’t as eco-friendly as biodegradable golf balls, they are still much better for the environment in general.
So if you are just having fun, biodegradable golf balls are the way to go. If you are still looking to perform, recycled golf balls will serve you well.
If you want to perform your best while still being eco-friendly, you might want to try Dixon Golf Balls.
The Eco-Friendly Nature of the Ball
Both biodegradable and recycled balls offer unique benefits for the environment.
If you are concerned about making sure that the environment is safe after a game of golf, then you should stick with biodegradable golf balls. These balls are made with an easily degradable exterior. Some even fill their core with fish food for when you leave your balls in the water.
Golf balls made with recycled materials are the compromise between eco-friendly and practical for performance. These balls will not harmlessly biodegrade, but they can be further recycled.
Recycled golf balls also do not usually contain harsh heavy metal pollutants. As stated earlier, this is good because it means that nothing nasty can leach into the soil/water and poison it.
Still, it’s best to double-check with the company to be safe.
The Company Behind the Ball
When a company dedicates its product to helping the environment, its actions can be very telling. In today’s age, companies that focus on going the extra mile are the ones that will produce the best results.
Because the landscape of eco-friendly and biodegradable golf is pretty scarce, there isn’t much incentive to try to be green. That’s why companies that do so are important to support.
Any company that offers eco-friendly golf balls should be closely examined.
Here are some questions that you can ask:
- Do they have an “about us” page that details their vision for a greener planet?
- Do they test to see if their product actually works? If so, who conducts the testing and how is it done?
- How are they attempting to bridge the gap between achieving professional-grade ball quality and being 100% good for the environment?
- Do they extend their eco-friendly practices outside of the product (i.e. eco-friendly packaging, donations to worthy causes, etc.)?
These are all important questions, and we are sure that you can come up with many more.
But the bottom line is that scrutiny will make sure that you don’t end up accidentally supporting a company that is focused more on looking eco-friendly rather than BEING eco-friendly.
Wrap Up
All right, that wraps up our list of the best eco-friendly & biodegradable golf balls. We hope you enjoyed it!
As always, thanks for reading! We appreciate you stopping by!
Let’s continue to strive for a greener, better way of living!