Recycling process transforms mishit golf balls into profit

"Hawks" retrieve balls from ponds, wooded areas and other out-of-the way places.

By Barb Valiukenas
Editor

Have you ever played with an "experienced" golf ball?

Representatives of two Chicago companies which recycle golf balls indicate that the average weekend player may have unknowingly hit many used balls.

"They wouldn't know the difference between the top line of (recycled) balls and new ones," explained J.R. Berlinger, owner of the Northern Golf Ball Company.

"Some of the used balls have a few visible marks, but they really don't play much differently than the new ones."

Ronald Dudzik, vice-president of marketing and sales for Wittek Golf Supply Company, agrees, but adds that performance could vary according to the age of the ball and the types of weather conditions to which it was subjected.

"For example, a ball that has been setting out all summer in extreme heat and then goes through a winter of extreme cold will probably lose some of its playability," he said.

"However, a golf ball will sooner be lost than worn out," he said. "A better golfer is going to be able to play an entire round of golf with one ball depending on how well he (or she) is playing that day, the difficulty of the course and any trouble there, such as water holes and out of bound areas which make ball retrieval difficult."

Recycling process

Both companies depend on ball hawks for their supply of used balls.

The recycled golf ball business is competitive.

These private contractors have been known to dive for them in ponds and other bodies of water, since golfers are less likely to retrieve them from those areas. Northern Golf Ball pays ball hawks a fair price for the golf balls, depending on the condition of the product.

Northern Golf Ball begins the recycling process during the fall and winter by soaking and washing the balls in a scrub cycle, and then sorting them into categories according to their condition and type. The company has established five grade categories for driving ranges and another five for retail store sales.

Those balls which are heavily marked are repainted and/or restriped before they are sold. At the time of this writing, the company had a wide range of balls in storage.

Wittek follows a similar recycling process, first washing the balls to remove mud and algae stains and then drying them under large commercial fans.

Each ball is then individually hand graded by sight rather than by performance, and put in a bin with others of similar condition. Those of good quality are then packed either in cartons of 25 dozen or in sacks of 50 dozen for shipping. The remainder are re-striped or repainted before leaving the plant.

Competitive market

While Berlinger and Dudzik both contend that recycled golf balls is a

Illinois Parks and Recreation 17 March/April 1987

"Our business does not detract from their sales," Berlinger explained, "because they have the new market.

"People want to buy new balls for gifts, but people who play golf want the used ones for themselves."

In addition, Dudzik notes that the manufacturers of new golf balls are always trying to research and develop new ways to make golf balls perform better.

"They are continually trying to make the longest ball with the best click and feel . . . the one that will go the farthest and require the shortest shot to reach the green," he said.

The manufacturers of new golf equipment do not object to the recycled balls.

Product improvements have included both new style dimples and dimple patterns for the balls and also, in recent years, the addition of extra dimples. Another major breakthrough in golf ball technology was the development of the Surlyn® cover, a very strong material that cannot be cut during mishits.

Will these product improvements adversely affect the companies' recycling business? Dudzik doesn't think so.

"We're recycling at least as many, if not more, golf balls due to the fact that there are more golfers and golf courses today than in past years," Dudzik stated.

"While technological innovations have improved the product, there are more people playing the game," he said, "and they will undoubtedly mishit the ball a few times during a round of play.

"These balls can then be retrieved in perfect or near perfect condition."

(Continued on page 25)

For Your Information Sports and activities accident insurance Boockford and Co., Oakbrook Terrace, is the Illinois representative for a new sports and activities insurance policy. This coverage is offered by Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, which is an A+ rated carrier. Each park district is covered under an individual policy, and this coverage can be written on all participants in a district's sports and activities programs. Coverage and benefits The policy can be issued on a blanket basis to cover all sports and activities for the district, or it can be purchased on an individual activity basis. Coverage can include parades, clinics, special events, senior groups, day camps and other specific activities. Coverage can also be written to include volunteers, counselors, and other chaperones and sponsors. The policy covers all accident medical expenses incurred by a covered participant while either participating in the sponsored activity or while traveling to or from the activity. This policy can be written as the primary coverage which pays immediately without regard to any other insurance coverage that may be in force, or it can be written on an excess basis which pays after other medical expenses have been exhausted. If there are no other medical benefits in force, this policy will act as the primary carrier. In addition, the policy provides dental, disability and accidental death benefits. Additional information Additional information is available from James F. Schuster, Vice-President of Employee Benefits, Boockford and Co., One Oakbrook Ter., 22nd St. at Butterfield Rd., Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181. Phone (312) 932-4000. Tennis grants The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Center for Education and Recreational Tennis has announced the availability of research grants. The purpose of these grants is to encourage people who are independently, or in conjunction with academic institutions, exploring information that is related to the teaching or playing of tennis. Research can be done on any number of topics, but the primary interest is in original research being done with tennis players which will benefit the playing public at large. The results can be presented in the form of a report, thesis paper or project summary. Information gained from these efforts will be widely disseminated by the USTA to all tennis players and coaches to help enhance the game. For 1987, the USTA has set aside $10,000 in grant money. In most cases, awards will range from $250 to $750. Application forms are available from the USTA Center for Education and Recreational Tennis, 729 Alexander Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540. Phone (609) 452-2580. (Continued on page 31)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 18 March/April 1987

A price issue

The difference in cost between new and recycled golf balls also impacts the marketplace. While actual price varies according to the condition of the ball, a dozen recycled balls can range between $3.10 and $9.70 as compared to the $15 to $20 range for a dozen of new balls.

Country clubs, park districts, driving ranges and other businesses are among Wittek's and Northern Golf Ball's largest customers. In addition, some of the balls are sold as hitaways; that is, to steamliners and other entities which offer golf on large lakes and the oceans.

Diverse products

Wittek is the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of driving range and miniature golf course equipment. The company was founded in 1946 by Clem Wittek, and it continues to sell a wide selection of new products for every commercial golf operation. In addition to golf balls, Wittek also recycles some equipment — ball washers, pickers and dispensers — which it manufactures.

Northern Golf Ball was started by Dutch Wheaton in the early 1930s, and it was one of the first companies to deal in the used golf ball market. It was continued as a family enterprise until recently when it was purchased by J.R. Berlinger.

Northern Golf Ball handles used clubs in addition to the recycled golf balls. The company also sells a wide variety of new products to commercial golf operations.

Illinoisans play active role in NRPA

Editor's Note: Some of the following information was released by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) after the publication of the January/February IPR magazine. This article is intended to supplement the material which was presented in that issue.

Tom Richardson, director of the Glencoe Park District since February, 1980, and past president of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), recently began his term as chairperson of the National Recreation and Park Association's (NRPA's) Council of Affiliate Presidents (CAP). This 150-member organization is comprised of each state affiliate's president, president-elect and past president. Its purpose is to enhance the lines of communication between the NRPA and the leadership of the state organizations.

Richardson also sits on the Great Lakes Regional Council and, as CAP chair, he is a member of NRPA's National Forum Committee. This committee serves as a clearinghouse for all issues directed to the NRPA board of trustees from affiliates, branches and regional councils.

Steve Cherveny, Western Illinois University, is president of NRPA's Student Branch.

Branch representatives

Carolyn Mallaney Nagle, director of the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA), is the National Therapeutic Recreation Society's spokesperson on the Great Lakes Regional Council (GLRC), and Robert Espeseth, University of Illinois, represents the National Society for Park Resources. Harry Koca of the Ralph Burke Company, Park Ridge, is the commercial representative.

The Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) is represented on the Council by Ralph Cianchetti, Park District of Highland Park; Bonnie Noble, Peoria Park District; Susan Rizzo, Park Ridge Recreation and Park District; Sandra Fernstrom, Arlington Heights Park District; Ted Flickinger, Illinois Association of Park Districts; Roger Toohey, Wheaton Park District, and Arlene Mulder, Arlington Heights Park District. Mulder also serves as the GLRC secretary.

The Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) is represented by Robert "Skip" Dunsmuir, Wheaton Park District; Angelo Capulli, Arlington Heights Park District; Steve Hartman, Lisle Park District; Connie Skibbe, Park District of Highland Park; Fred Hall, Palatine Park District; Joe Doud, Northbrook Park District; Tom Richardson, Glencoe Park District; Ken Kutska, Wheaton Park District; Kevin Kendrigan, Northwest Special Recreation Association; Kay Kastel Forest, Illinois Park and Recreation Association; Keith Frankland, Woodridge Park District, and Robert Porter, Lernont Township Park District.

Peter M. Murphy, IAPD's legal/legislative counsel, and Kendrigan are Illinois' legislative chairmen. Trustees from the Great Lakes Region are Michael Pope, NRPA president, Elmhurst Park District; Dan Newport, Winnetka Park District; Eugene Pomerance, Elmhurst, IL; Peter J. Koukos, Park District of Highland Park; Jerry Handlon, Schaumburg Park District, and Morgan C. Powell, Champaign Park District.

Other trustees are Joseph Bannon, University of Illinois; Donald Bresnan, Champaign Park District, and Robert Toalson, Champaign Park District.

Connie Skibbe, Park District of Highland Park, is the membership coordinator for Illinois.

Other posts

Robert F. Cole, president of the Decatur Park District, is president of NRPA's Citizen Board Member Branch and IAPD Exec. Dir. Ted Flickinger is president-elect of the American Park and Recreation Society (APRS).

llinois Parks and Recreation 25 March/April 1987

(For Your Information continued)

Safety inspections The Illinois Department of Labor, Division of Safety Inspection and Education, began making general safety inspections of local government facilities in early February. The statutory mandate for this program comes from the Safety Inspection and Education Act and the Health and Safety Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, Ch. 48, Par. 591 et. seq.) Further impetus comes from a circuits court decision (85CH11947) rendered on May 24, 1986, in Cook County. Types of inspections The Safety Division has two primary types of inspection programs. One is an unannounced general safety inspection conducted at worksites in descending order of anticipated hazard. Citations are issued for observed hazards. The other is a safety advisory inspection program. This service is provided only when the Labor Department receives a written request from the public employer. This consultative program gives the public employer an opportunity to determine what needs inspection, when the inspection should take place and who will constitute the inspection team. Citations are not issued when non-serious hazards are observed during the advisory inspection; however, safety recommendations are made. Additional information Additional information is available from the Safety Inspection and Education Division, Illinois Department of Labor, One W. Old State Capitol Plaza, Room 300, Springfield, IL 62701. Phone (217) 782-9386.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 31 March/April 1987