Lobster Golf Balls May Revive Ship Driving Ranges

Golfers can rejoice: a new golf ball made from lobster shells promises to revive the singular joy of smacking balls into the sea from your cruise ship or yacht.

University of Maine researchers have developed a golf ball made from the shells of lobster. Since they are biodegradable, that means ship-based driving ranges could be revived. The practice was banned by international treaty in 1988 because the plastic bad for sea life.

While biodegradeable golf balls exist, they cost upwards of $1. The raw material for one lobster golf ball costs about 19-cents since, besides some home composting, most lobster shells end up in landfills.

The flight properties are amazing. It doesn’t fly quite as far as a regular golf ball, they actually getting a similar distance to other biodegradable golf balls.

UMaine has filed a provisional patent for the lobster-shell mixture, which can also be used for such products as plant pots that decompose in the ground, surveying stakes and other applications.