During the pandemic, many students found new ways to pass time. For junior Pratt Blair, that meant turning an unexpected discovery on the golf course into a business. After finding hundreds of golf balls in the woods, Pratt decided to sell them online.
“When I started, it was during COVID and I was playing golf with my friends,” Pratt recalled. “We were on the golf course every day because we had nothing really better to do. Sometimes we would hit balls in the forest and lose our golf balls. One day, I missed a ball, hit it in the forest, and when we went to look for it, we discovered hundreds of balls in the forest. After we stuffed our bag with the golf balls, I was like, I could actually do a little side gig off of this thing.”
Pratt’s journey into entrepreneurship was also influenced by his father, who works in the golf industry. Growing up surrounded by golf, Pratt had a strong connection to the sport, which made the idea of selling lost golf balls even more appealing.
Starting in August of 2020, Pratt’s first step in turning his newfound collection of golf balls into a business was setting up an eBay account where he could sell his products. “I knew eBay would be a strong marketplace,” he explained. “And then, of course, sourcing the products. So my friends and I would go out into the forest when the course was closed and get golf balls there.”
Gathering the golf balls is the first step, but there’s also the cleaning process. “My goal when cleaning them is to make them look as presentable as possible and as close to new as I can, which appeals to the customers,” Pratt shared. In order to achieve this, he washes the golf balls with bleach, then handwashes them to reduce any staining or scuffing.
Reselling used golf balls isn’t as simple as just cleaning and listing them online. Pratt explained that the brand and model of the ball play a huge role in determining the price. Popular brands like Titleist and Callaway tend to sell for higher prices, especially models like Titleist’s Pro V1, which is widely considered the most desirable. The quality of each ball also factors into pricing, on the scale from 1A to 5A, with 1A being poor condition and 5A being mint condition. Pratt organizes the balls by brand, model, and quality to maximize the price and appeal to buyers.
Pratt’s passion for his business is clear, but balancing it with school, sports, and other activities hasn’t been without its challenges. In the beginning, it wasn’t exactly easy to manage everything. “Over time I’ve worked on it and almost perfected it to where my parents don’t really bother me about it,” Pratt reflected, “but when I was younger, it was more difficult. I was playing sports and had school along with extracurriculars and the business, so I had to figure out when to focus on each.”
Pratt also reflected on his growth throughout the process, especially regarding the connections he’s made along the way. Going out and collecting golf balls has allowed him to strengthen his relationships with his friends and brother who join him on the course, as well as form relationships with other resellers. “Just getting to hear and see other people doing the same thing as me is always a unique and rewarding experience,” he said.
Although Pratt has gained valuable entrepreneurial skills, he emphasized that his passion for the business has been the key. “I chose golf balls because I’m passionate about it,” Pratt shared. “If there’s something you’re genuinely interested in that will bring you happiness, you should do that, no matter what the outside influences are.”
Looking back, Pratt has few regrets. “Honestly, I don’t hold many regrets regarding the business,” he said. “I’ve learned so much and it’s been a great experience.”
Pratt’s golf ball business serves as a testament to the power of passion and persistence. What began as a simple hobby during the pandemic grew into a successful side hustle. Whether it’s turning a golf course mishap into a business or learning time management skills, Pratt’s experience shows that the best ideas can form in the most unexpected places.
