‘Billions’ of golf balls could be lost every year. Where do they end up?

With some estimating that billions of balls are lost annually around the world, efforts are being made to tackle this environmental hazard.

—

TigerWoodsscruncheshisfaceinfrustrationashewatcheshisballsplashintothePacificOcean. Themomentaryaberrationislittlemorethanafootnotetowhatwillberegardedbymanyasthegreatestperformanceinthehistoryofthesport.Woods’staggering15-shotvictoryatthe2000USOpeninPebbleBeach,California,showedalevelofamasterythatmayneverbematched. Andyet,Woodslostaball.Hishookedshotfromthe18thteesanksome40feettojointheotherwhite,pinkandyelloworbsscatteredacrosstheseafloorofStillwaterCove. IftheworldNo.1andfuture82-timePGATourwinnercouldsurrenderaballtotheenvironmentatthepeakofhisnear-superhumanpowers,justhowmanydothemillionsofmeremortalgolfersacrosstheglobeloseeachyear? Theshortanswer:Alot. Woodsplaysfromtheninthfairwayduringthe2000USOpenatPebbleBeachinMonterey,California.–JonathanFerrey/GettyImagesHeavylossesArecord45millionpeopleplayedthesportintheUSduring2023,accordingtotheUnitedSta

Must Read