For some, there is nothing like relaxing on the links with a few friends, a couple of beers, and scenery that looks so nice. That is, of course, until it conceals the location of about 100 golf balls every year.

Golf is a great game, and like many worthy hobbies it can get expensive. A decent set of clubs, good shoes, and replacing grips, gloves, and spikes every year adds up. On top of this, there always seems to be a new brand of balls that comes out that is supposed to knock out the competition. For example, top of the line brands can run as high as $80 per pack of 12, and while they are fantastic to tee off with, hackers, whackers, slicers, and hookers are going to find that at such a price, the front nine can get really expensive. Players who are more controlled in their long game will find this particular ball to have a very thin skin, leading to less bang for the buck. And at $6.50 per ball, players are going to have to develop a thick skin for price sensitivity when these small fortunes end up lost.

This is why used golf balls are better than new ones. They can be purchased for a fraction of the cost. When they are gone, they are gone, and it is not a big deal. Players can let the stress of a week flow off of them as they move from the front to the back nine, even if they left so many balls in the woods that future archeologists may conclude a hailstorm struck this area many years before.

The money saved from purchasing used golf balls will save about $60 compared to a package of expensive new ones, which can be used for more golf, a fully stocked cooler, snacks, lunch at the pro shop, or maybe a club or two at the end of the year. After all, with all the playing one can do with the extra money, golf gear from head to toe may start to look worn.

Playing golf is not supposed to add stress to one's life, even for those who play badly. Between good friends, a great game, a few beers, and a round of exercise, this game should be the perfect precursor to enjoying the rest of the weekend with one's family and friends, and saving money playing with used golf balls can do just that.