This is an amazing FYI for my golf buddies who have played Settindown (and several who haven’t yet). This guy is a great guy and a great player. He played for Harvey Penick at Texas with Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw.
He’s the greatest golf ball hunter I’ve ever known. He finds balls as he plays to his scratch handicap and doesn’t slow down his group. His MO is if you give him an egg carton and tell him your preferred ball he’ll give you a dozen. All of the Settindown regulars find numerous balls but this guy is the undisputed king. – Rick Eaton
By Alan Thielemann, Ansley Golf Club, Settindown Creek, Roswel, GA
Thanks for all of you putting up with me looking for balls this year, I realize I drag behind the group at times looking. New record of 3,150, which I doubt I will ever have the interest in duplicating. Here is the answer to some of your questions I often get asked.
1. Most brands found – Titleist ProV1 by a long shot – followed by Callaway Chrome Soft, Kirkland, ProV1X, Srixon, Taylor Tour Performance, Taylor TPX and TP, AVX, Vice, Snell, Bridgestone
2. What percentage are NOT keepers – Depends on how many I reject on the course, but about 15 – 20% end up in the recycle buckets. A lot are good balls, but with a scuff mark… I don’t pick up Titleist Practice Balls, which I find a lot of!
3. What percentage are good, but categorized as “others” (not big brands) like Bridgestone 812, Titleist Velocity, Titleist tour soft, Callaway Super Soft, Pinnacle, Kirkland, Maxfli, Nike, etc. – 25%
4. What brand name balls are least desired ? Callaway Chrome Soft (some with stripes, some not), Srixon, Pink, Red, Green and Orange name brand balls.
5. What percentage are brand name balls, but not good enough to get egg carton status? (off color, minor blemish, too old..) 5%
6. How do you clean them? When I get a big batch (50 or more) at one time, I use a brush attachment on an electric drill. But mostly I use a ball washer, scrubby pad and occasionally bleach. Takes about 1 minute per ball on average.
7. So how many were given away this year?
20% rejects
25% other brands, not desired by male golfers
5% others
So a little over 50% make it to egg cartons and are given away. (by the way, thank you all for your egg cartons. Last request brought in about 30, so I don’t need any now.)
50% of 3,150 = 1,575
1,575 divided by 12 = 131 dozen
For sake of discussion, everything I give away I try to have them be Grade A, which sells used for about $35 – $40 a dozen. So my guess is that I gave away about $4,500 worth of balls! That said, I love finding them and love giving them away.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and shout if you need balls!
Alan
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Golf Nuts come in all shapes and sizes. 🙂
The Head Nut
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