What Are Biodegradable Golf Balls Made Of?

Ever dreamed of launching a golf ball into a stunning ocean vista from a cruise ship or a lakeside dock without a pang of environmental guilt? Biodegradable golf balls make that possible, offering a way to enjoy a unique shot while being mindful of nature. This article breaks down exactly what these eco-friendly orbs are made of, how they return to nature, and whether they have a place in your golf life.

Why Choose Biodegradable Golf Balls in the First Place?

Before we get into the specifics of their materials, it helps to understand why these balls even exist. Every year, an estimated 300 million golf balls are lost in the United States alone. A huge number of these find their way into water hazards, forests, and oceans. A standard golf ball is a tough piece of kit, built to withstand tremendous force, which is why it takes an incredibly long time - anywhere from 100 to 1,000 years - to even begin to decompose.

Traditional golf balls are typically made from a solid rubber core surrounded by a hard plastic shell, often made of Surlyn or urethane. While fantastic for performance, these synthetic materials are a form of plastic pollution, slowly leaching chemicals and microplastics into the environment as they eventually break down over centuries. For ecosystems, especially sensitive aquatic ones, this is a serious problem.

Biodegradable golf balls were created as a direct answer to this issue. They are purpose-built for scenarios where ball retrieval is impossible - think hitting off a boat, a cliffside, or at a special event near a body of water. They offer a single-use solution that doesn’t leave a thousand-year mark on the planet. Choosing one isn't about replacing your premium tour balls for a competitive round, it's about being a responsible golfer when fun and location take precedence over scorecard performance.

Breaking Down the Ingredients: What's Actually Inside?

So, what magical, earth-friendly substance are these golf balls made from? The answer isn't a single thing, but a clever combination of natural, non-toxic materials. While different brands have their own proprietary formulas, they generally share a common approach. They are typically split into two main designs: those that are fully water-soluble and designed for aquatic use, and others that are made to biodegrade in soil.

The Eco-Friendly Cover: Starch and Bioplastics

Instead of the durable petroleum-based plastics found on regular golf balls, the cover of a biodegradable ball is almost always made from a plant-based bioplastic. The most common material used is Polylactic Acid (PLA), a polymer derived from renewable resources like cornstarch or sugarcane.

• Cornstarch-Based Polymers (PLA): This material is the star player. It can be molded and hardened to mimic the feel of a real golf ball cover, complete with dimples. It's tough enough to take the impact of a club, but it’s designed to be broken down by microorganisms in water or soil over a relatively short period.
• Other Vegetable Derivatives: Some manufacturers use other hardened vegetable or food-based materials to create the outer shell, all prioritizing non-toxicity and organic decomposition.

The key here is that the cover provides the temporary structure and playable surface but transitions from "durable plastic" to "microbe food" when its job is done.

The Vanishing Core: Deconstructing the Center

The core of a biodegradable ball is where the real innovation happens, and it's what truly sets different types apart. There are primarily two types of cores you’ll find on the market.

1. The Fish Food Core (For Aquatic Use)

This is easily the most popular and ingenious type of biodegradable golf ball. Specifically engineered for hitting into lakes, rivers, or the ocean, these balls have a solid core made from compressed food pellets.

That’s right - fish food. The main active ingredient in the core is materials like wheat, corn, or rapeseed meal combined with a binder. When this type of ball lands in water, the outer PLA shell begins to break down or dissolve over a few hours. Once water reaches the core, the compressed food pellets swiftly expand and disperse, becoming a safe and edible treat for fish and other aquatic life. The entire ball typically disappears completely within 48 hours, leaving nothing behind but a happy ecosystem.

These are the go-to balls for cruise lines, lakeside events, and anyone wanting to tee off into the deep blue without causing harm.

2. The Wood and Paper Pulp Core (For Land Use)

The other variety of biodegradable balls is made for use on land where a lost ball might end up in the woods, a field, or deep rough. These balls aren't designed to dissolve rapidly in water. Instead, their cores are made from materials that decompose efficiently in soil.

• Compressed Wood Dust: Sawdust or fine wood pulp is a common core material. It's packed tightly to create a solid center that provides some weight and rebound.
• Recycled Paper: Some balls use a core of pressed, reinforced paper products.

When left in a natural, soil-based environment, microorganisms, moisture, and fungi get to work breaking down both the biodegradable cover and the organic core. This process is much slower than the fish food balls, taking anywhere from six months to a few years depending on conditions. While not instant, it's a monumental improvement over the thousand-year lifespan of a standard ball.

The Life Cycle: From Tee to Tree Food

Understanding what these balls are made of is one thing, but how the breakdown process unfolds is what makes them a truly sustainable choice.

For the water-soluble fish food balls, the process is quick and simple:

1. Impact and Submersion: You hit the ball into the water.
2. Shell Breakdown: The outer PLA shell softens and begins to dissolve, allowing water to penetrate the ball. This usually occurs within a few hours.
3. Core Dissolution: The compressed food core rapidly absorbs water, breaks apart, and disperses into countless tiny, edible particles.
4. Gone Without a Trace: Within 24-48 hours, the ball has disappeared, and its components have been consumed or absorbed back into the ecosystem harmlessly.

For soil-biodegradable balls, the journey is longer:

1. Lost in Action: The ball is lost in a natural, non-aquatic environment.
2. Microbial Attack: Soil microbes begin feasting on the bioplastic cover, slowly breaking it down. This is accelerated by moisture and favorable temperatures.
3. Core Decomposition: As the cover weakens, moisture reaches the wood or paper core, and the natural process of rotting and decomposition takes over.
4. Return to Earth: Over many months or a handful of years, the ball entirely breaks down into biomass and organic matter, enriching the soil instead of polluting it.

The Big Question: Do They Perform Like a 'Real' Golf Ball?

This is the part where, as a coach, I have to be completely straight with you. If you’re expecting a biodegradable ball to feel and fly like a Titleist Pro V1 or a Callaway Chrome Soft, you need to adjust your expectations. Because they're made from softer, less resilient materials, their performance characteristics are different.

• Distance and Compression: They are significantly less "hot" off the clubface. You can expect them to travel 50-70% of the distance of a standard golf ball. The compression is much lower, so they feel softer at impact.
• Flight and Spin: The flight is generally lower and they won't generate the same kind of spin you’re used to with a high-performance urethane ball.

But here’s the thing: they aren't meant to be high-performance balls. You a buying them for the experience and the eco-consciousness, not to shoot your personal best.

When Biodegradable Balls Are the Perfect Choice

Performance limitations aside, there are plenty of incredible situations where these balls are not just a good option, but the only responsible one. Think of them as specialty tools for a specific job. Here are the perfect scenarios to tee up a biodegradable ball:

• On a Boat or Cruise Ship: The classic use case. There's nothing quite like hitting balls into the immensity of the ocean or a large lake from a moving vessel.
• From Waterfront Property: If you're lucky enough to live on a lake or coast, these allow you to hit shots from your backyard dock or beach guilt-free.
• Special Events & Parties: For weddings, corporate retreats, or golf-themed parties held near water, they are a fantastic and memorable novelty.
• "Aqua" Driving Ranges: Hitting into a floating range on a natural body of water is made sustainable with these balls.
• Training Your Mindset: For practicing full swings over a daunting water-carry on a course at home, using one of these can reduce the mental pressure of losing a premium ball. Just be sure to tell the course what you are doing!

Final Thoughts

Biodegradable golf balls are an impressive piece of eco-engineering, using materials like cornstarch and compressed fish food to solve the problem of golf ball pollution in delicate ecosystems. While they don't replace your go-to ball for a serious round, they open up a world of fun, memorable, and environmentally responsible opportunities to enjoy the game in a new way.

Making smart decisions is at the heart of improving your golf game, whether it's choosing the right ball for a shot into the ocean or picking the right club for a tough approach. We built Caddie AI to help you with the on-course part of that equation. If you're facing a intimidating shot over a water hazard - the very type that swallows millions of golf balls - you can get instant, expert advice on strategy and club selection, giving you the confidence to commit to the shot and keep your premium ball dry.