However good your golf is, losing balls is par for the course.
Many end up in our waterways, where they pollute and block the flow of water.
This has been a concern of Gil Pollock’s for many years. He and his family have been voluntarily removing golf balls from waterways for around eight years and last year he turned it into an online business, 2nd Hand Golf, selling recycled golf balls.
Gil says that the average golfer loses three balls in a waterway, every round they play. In 15 months his team has removed 8500 balls from waterways at Takapuna Golf Course.
The company’s goal is to clear golf course waterways of all non-biodegradable and hazardous material, and provide ongoing maintenance to eliminate weeds. This will improve stormwater capacity and infrastructure while delivering environmental, economic and social benefits to the community.
Local resident Tania Collins works for the company and recently turned her attention to the course she belongs to, Whangaparāoa Golf.
She expects this to be a big project, beginning by cleaning up the holding pond on the 14th tee.
“It’s full of silt and waterlilies that strangle and suffocate the waterway,” she says. “The gully on the course is approximately 1.5km long and improving it will assist in the migration of birds from Shakespear Regional Park into the wider community and provide a resting place for birds.”
Her team began collecting golf balls from the pond on the 14th tee recently, and selling them will help fund the cleanup. Tania is also approaching the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board for funding assistance. A fundraising golf event is also planned.
Tania says she plans to approach other local clubs regarding possible work on their waterways.
“I believe there is a huge opportunity to bring together the local community, to work together to improve the environment. There is a lot of housing surrounding local golf courses whose runoff flows onto the course. It’s not about pointing fingers, it’s about stepping up and finding a solution to the problem.”
Info: email Tania, 2ndhandgolfnz2@gmail.com
