The Great Crisis of Our Generation

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**Frazzled**

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/11/04/littering.golf.balls/index.html

Golf balls: 'Humanity's signature litter'By Christina Macfarlane, for CNN
November 10, 2009 9:20 a.m. EST
Concern is growing in some corners that golf-ball litter is a growing problem.STORY HIGHLIGHTS
It takes 100 to 1,000 years for a golf ball to degrade
Golf balls are composed of a zinc rubber filling
UK lawmaker says golf balls are "humanities signature litter"
London, England (CNN) -- Research teams at the Danish Golf Union have discovered it takes between 100 to 1,000 years for a golf ball to decompose naturally. A startling fact when it is also estimated 300 million balls are lost or discarded in the United States alone, every year. It seems the simple plastic golf ball is increasingly becoming a major litter problem.

The scale of the dilemma was underlined recently in Scotland, where scientists -- who scoured the watery depths in a submarine hoping to discover evidence of the prehistoric Loch Ness monster -- were surprised to find hundreds of thousands of golf balls lining the bed of the loch.

It is thought tourists and locals have used the loch as an alternative driving range for many years. The footage shot by underwater robotics team SeaTrepid, can be seen below.

With an increasing number of golf balls discarded each year, the Danish Golf Association devised a number of tests to determine the environmental impact of golf balls on their surroundings.

From the moon to the bottom of Loch Ness, golf balls are humanity's signature litter

--UK lawmaker Patrick Harvie
It was found that during decomposition, the golf balls dissolved to release a high quantity of heavy metals. Dangerous levels of zinc were found in the synthetic rubber filling used in solid core golf balls. When submerged in water, the zinc attached itself to the ground sediment and poisoned the surrounding flora and fauna.

Course manager for the Danish Golf Union, Torben Kastrup Petersen, said the scale of the problem is unknown: "There has been very little research on the environmental impact of golf balls, but it's safe to say the indicators are not good. We are planning to collaborate with environmentalists in America to conduct more tests to fully explore the extent of the problem."

Video: The lost balls of Loch Ness

Video: Golf on the moon
RELATED TOPICS
Golf
U.S. Open - Golf
Women's Golf
GOLF Magazine
Local government ministers in Scotland have also complained about the level of golf ball littering. UK lawmaker Patrick Harvie told CNN: "From the moon to the bottom of Loch Ness, golf balls are humanity's signature litter in the most inaccessible locations."

And he's not wrong. On 6th February 1971, Commander Alan Shepherd was filmed taking a swing with a six iron on the surface of the moon. According to Shepherd, the balls flew off in the distance and landed a few kilometers away. Although the balls were left for future golfers to discover, it is believed the extreme temperatures on the surface would have dissolved the balls many moons ago.

In many cases, removing a partially degraded ball from a lake or woodland area could result in further damage to the wildlife. So what is the solution? Harvie had this advice: "Keep your balls on the fairway or invest in a stock of biodegradable balls."

**Kilkrazy**

Yes, this is an issue I have been worried about for a long time. Thank goodness someone is standing up at last.

When will they think of the kids?

**Lord-Loss**

So...put the golf balls on the moon?

**GoFenris**

This does expose the real problem. Our own inability to get behind any issue we don't feel strongly enough about, (Too many grays, damned propaganda!

) unless it is a relatively simple issue with a black/white solution.

On the flip side; I can't even get behind this issue. Curse my ambivalent nature.

**IvanTih**

Nelson Muntz:Haw-haw you can't care about your waste haw-haw.

**generalgrog**

Well they need to develop a biodegradeable golf ball.

Great strides are being made in the sustainable engineering field. If golf balls are a problem, Titleist, Ping, et.al need to get on the ball and design a ball that won't poison the environment.

GG

**Frazzled**

Actually I didn't see anything stating that the balls actually harm the environment. It takes a long time for rocks to degrade too but no one seems to care much.

**agnosto**

generalgrog wrote:Well they need to develop a biodegradeable golf ball.

Great strides are being made in the sustainable engineering field. If golf balls are a problem, Titleist, Ping, et.al need to get on the ball and design a ball that won't poison the environment.

GG

They already have them; ever see those giant jawbreakers?

**generalgrog**

Frazzled wrote:Actually I didn't see anything stating that the balls actually harm the environment. It takes a long time for rocks to degrade too but no one seems to care much.

I guess you missed this part:

"It was found that during decomposition, the golf balls dissolved to release a high quantity of heavy metals. Dangerous levels of zinc were found in the synthetic rubber filling used in solid core golf balls. When submerged in water, the zinc attached itself to the ground sediment and poisoned the surrounding flora and fauna."

:-)

GG

**Black Blow Fly**

OMFG!!!

**Frazzled**

generalgrog wrote:
Frazzled wrote:Actually I didn't see anything stating that the balls actually harm the environment. It takes a long time for rocks to degrade too but no one seems to care much.

I guess you missed this part:

"It was found that during decomposition, the golf balls dissolved to release a high quantity of heavy metals. Dangerous levels of zinc were found in the synthetic rubber filling used in solid core golf balls. When submerged in water, the zinc attached itself to the ground sediment and poisoned the surrounding flora and fauna."

:-)

GG

Zinc? Give me a break.

**Gitzbitah**

IvanTih wrote:Nelson Muntz:Haw-haw you can't care about your waste haw-haw.

I am thoroughly impressed. Ivantih, you found a poop joke in a thread about the metal in golf balls poisoning the surrounding ecosystem before someone made a balls joke. Bravo sir (or Ma'am, as the case may be)!

There was an article I have read many times (it is on the 10th grade released FCAT) about reclaiming golf balls and selling them from clubhouses. Apparently this is a fairly large business, so I don't think golf balls on a golf course would pose any environmental hazard. The issue would only appear where people are driving balls into large bodies of water, which already shows a distinct lack of concern for the environment. Even if biodegradable alternatives were available, I don't think the folks driving balls into Loch Ness are going to be convinced to use them.

**reds8n**

Well the video certainly made things much clearer.....

**generalgrog**

Frazzled wrote:
generalgrog wrote:
Frazzled wrote:Actually I didn't see anything stating that the balls actually harm the environment. It takes a long time for rocks to degrade too but no one seems to care much.

I guess you missed this part:

"It was found that during decomposition, the golf balls dissolved to release a high quantity of heavy metals. Dangerous levels of zinc were found in the synthetic rubber filling used in solid core golf balls. When submerged in water, the zinc attached itself to the ground sediment and poisoned the surrounding flora and fauna."

:-)

GG

Zinc? Give me a break.

Oh ok..Mr. Apathetic..... so your all for someone backing up a truck full of Zinc and piling it up on your lawn? Cool!!

GG

edit....zinc link http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/zinc.htm

**Frazzled**

generalgrog wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
generalgrog wrote:
Frazzled wrote:Actually I didn't see anything stating that the balls actually harm the environment. It takes a long time for rocks to degrade too but no one seems to care much.

I guess you missed this part:

"It was found that during decomposition, the golf balls dissolved to release a high quantity of heavy metals. Dangerous levels of zinc were found in the synthetic rubber filling used in solid core golf balls. When submerged in water, the zinc attached itself to the ground sediment and poisoned the surrounding flora and fauna."

:-)

GG

Zinc? Give me a break.

Oh ok..Mr. Apathetic..... so your all for someone backing up a truck full of Zinc and piling it up on your lawn? Cool!!

GG

edit....zinc link http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/zinc.htm

That would not work. The amount of heavy metals I would reply with on general principles would be impressive. Lead and copper at high velocity is way more toxic.

My mother in law works with zinc plates to etch art works. No big deal. Zinc is a naturally occurring mineral. To think people freak out about this is like people freaking out because cows exhale, er wait...

**Kilkrazy**

Compared to the amount of water and pesticides used by golf courses, the tonnage of zinc from lost balls must be negligible.

**Frazzled**

They are correct. Golf ball retrieval is big business. Outside of balls eaten by gators (yes I have seen this more than once erp), they are typically recylced by the club or a 3rd party for resale.

**Kilkrazy**

When the wife and I went to the driving range in Richmond Park, there was a Jack Russell who ran up and down recycling balls one at a time.

**Frazzled**

Kilkrazy wrote:When the wife and I went to the driving range in Richmond Park, there was a Jack Russell who ran up and down recycling balls one at a time.

I had a gigantic horse affectionately called a bird dog that would do the same. More gathering though. He'd snarl and growl if you tried to take one back. My kind of dog.

**Kilkrazy**

Two guys are playing golf and one of them has a fantastic new ball which he claims can never get lost.

At the third hole the ball gets hit into a water hazard. It floats the the surface and lets out a yellow dye marker.

At the fifth hole, the ball gets hit into a bunker and buried in the sand. It pushes up a little flag and waves it.

At the seventh hole, the ball gets hit into the deep rough. It starts to broadcast a pinging location noise.

At the ninth hole, the ball is hit well off the fairway and lands in a dark copse of pine trees. It starts an orange strobe light.

Back in the clubhouse (they were only playing nine holes) the first guy says: “That’s a fantastic ball. I’d really like one -- where on earth did you buy it?  Second guy: “Buy it? I found it!”

**generalgrog**

Frazzled wrote:My mother in law works with zinc plates to etch art works. No big deal. Zinc is a naturally occurring mineral. To think people freak out about this is like people freaking out because cows exhale, er wait...

Does she produce millions of these art works? The level of unresponsibilty you are promoting is saddening...I mean really.... comparing zinc pollution to cows exhaling?

Millions of those balls decomposing at the bottom of lake, where the fish could become toxified, then the fish get eaten, then the people get toxified. Just remove the zinc from the balls.... problem solved.

So yeah lets just make a big joke about it, like lets make jokes about mercury contained in light bulbs or lead contained in paint. That's real Funny... hahaha.

GG

**squilverine**

There realy are bigger issues out there than worrying about golf balls

Thousands of Africans dying in Darfour springs to mind.

If they take so long to break down why don't we just use them as power station fuel? That or seeing as they are luxury item tax them massively until a manufacturer comes up with a more eco friendly version which will recieve tax breaks?

**Frazzled**

generalgrog wrote:

Millions of those balls decomposing at the bottom of lake, where the fish could become toxified, then the fish get eaten, then the people get toxified. Just remove the zinc from the balls.... problem solved.

So yeah lets just make a big joke about it, like lets make jokes about mercury contained in light bulbs or lead contained in paint. That's real Funny... hahaha.

GG

Ok, but my stand up is not so hot.
-If you're eating fish from a golf pond-where hey there aint no fish, then 1. you're a thief 2. you're taking food from the poor innocent gators. Won't someone think of the gators?!? (the sweet tasty gators)

-Mercury in light bulbs. How many treehuggers does it take to screw in a halogen lightbulb? 15. 10 to protest. 3 to chain themselves to the light. 1. to cry to the TV reporter and 1 to sue.

-lead in paint. Which color paint is for rock n rolla? Heavy Metal...

**generalgrog**

squilverine wrote:There realy are bigger issues out there than worrying about golf balls

Agreed, but that doesn't mean you just ignore the problem, especially if it's an easy fix like removing the zinc. Not sure if it is in fact an easy fix, as the article didn't say. But it may be.

GG

**sebster**

squilverine wrote:There realy are bigger issues out there than worrying about golf balls

Thousands of Africans dying in Darfour springs to mind.

Because there is a single Department of Problem Solving for the whole world, and it can only do one thing at a time, therefore it needs to choose between Darfur and bio-degradable golf balls.

Finding an engineering solution to environmentally friendly golf balls and finding a peaceful solution to Darfur can both be achieved, without one problem affecting the other.

**darkkt**

http://www.ecogolfballs.com/aboutecogolfballs.html

and 'Yay wikipedia'!
Toxicity
Although zinc is an essential requirement for good health, excess zinc can be harmful. Excessive absorption of zinc suppresses copper and iron absorption.[153] The free zinc ion in solution is highly toxic to plants, invertebrates, and even vertebrate fish.

Poisoning
In 1982, the United States Mint began minting pennies coated in copper but made primarily of zinc. With the new zinc pennies, there is the potential for zinc toxicosis, which can be fatal. One reported case of chronic ingestion of 425 pennies (over 1 kg of zinc) resulted in death due to gastrointestinal bacterial and fungal sepsis, while another patient, who ingested 12 grams of zinc, only showed lethargy and ataxia (gross lack of coordination of muscle movements).[171] Several other cases have been reported of humans suffering zinc intoxication by the ingestion of zinc coins.[172][173]

Pennies and other small coins are sometimes ingested by dogs, resulting in the need for medical treatment to remove the foreign body. The zinc content of some coins can cause zinc toxicity, which is commonly fatal in dogs, where it causes a severe hemolytic anemia, and also liver or kidney damage; vomiting and diarrhea are possible symptoms.[174] Zinc is highly toxic in parrots and poisoning can often be fatal.[175] The consumption of fruit juices stored in galvanized cans has resulted in mass parrot poisonings with zinc.[49]

"WONT SOMEONE THINK OF THE PARROTS!"

**Wolfgang**

squilverine wrote:There realy are bigger issues out there than worrying about golf balls

Your right, there is! golfing Squirrels.

**Mad Monk's Mekshop**

the world as we know it will come to an end in 2012 anyway so who cares...

**warpcrafter**

HIPPIES!!! GAAAHHH!!!

**squilverine**

sebster wrote:
squilverine wrote:There realy are bigger issues out there than worrying about golf balls

Thousands of Africans dying in Darfour springs to mind.

Because there is a single Department of Problem Solving for the whole world, and it can only do one thing at a time, therefore it needs to choose between Darfur and bio-degradable golf balls.

Sometimes it really does feel that way.

sebster wrote:Finding an engineering solution to environmentally friendly golf balls and finding a peaceful solution to Darfur can both be achieved, without one problem affecting the other.

I dont know about that ,apparently the whole conflict stemed from the Sudanese military and the Janjaweed, all keen golfers, hitting their balls over the golf course fence and into a pond belonging to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army. The zinc in the balls killed all their prize winning coy carp and before you know it everyone was chopping each other up with machettes.