By: Wyles Daniel

Family-owned and operated business Buy Buy Golf Balls has recently launched, with a focus on cleaning up the game of golf, both literally and figuratively. Longtime entrepreneur Kelly Huether is best known for his over 35 years of experience in the professional beauty industry.

Raised on a farm, he developed a strong Midwestern work ethic, a knack for spotting opportunities where others might not, and a desire to create something better. He is now combining his passion for business and his newfound enthusiasm for golf in the launch of this new venture.

Based in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, Buy Buy offers a fresh approach to the growing used golf ball market. With three main arms: Buy Buy Golf Balls, Wise Ass Golf, LLC, and Developing Young Entrepreneurs (DYE), the company is doing more than just selling balls. It aims to reduce waste, add fun to the fairway, and help inspire the next generation of business leaders.

Born out of Kelly Huether’s personal golfing experiences after joining a country club in semi-retirement, Buy Buy offers used golf balls that are inspected, cleaned, and tested for quality at competitive prices. While many competitors rely on complex grading systems, Kelly Huether keeps it simple with just one grade and prices that are typically about 15 percent lower than average rates.

“After all, once a golf ball is hit once, it’s considered a used ball,” said Kelly Huether. “We clean, bounce-test, and inspect each one ourselves. Golfers have generally responded positively to the quality and find the pricing to be more accessible.” All orders are hand-packed by Kelly Huether and his two children, Riley and Reese, making it a truly family-oriented endeavor.

Wise Ass Golf is the company’s playful sister brand, offering novelty golf balls and merchandise, which are great for occasions like bachelor parties, birthdays, retirements, or just adding some humor to the game. Each ball comes with a unique twist, such as Blue Balls or Swamp Balls, which were developed during brainstorming sessions with family and friends. “We’re looking to add a bit of levity to the game,” Kelly Huether explained. “Golf can sometimes be a bit intimidating. This brings a fun, lighthearted element, and it’s perfect for gift-giving.”

Wise Ass Golf also offers other merchandise, like the popular Ball Hawker hat, designed for those who enjoy retrieving lost golf balls from the course.

The most heartfelt aspect of the business is Developing Young Entrepreneurs (DYE), a program designed to help children learn how to earn income through golf ball collecting, similar to the paper routes of earlier times. Kids living near golf courses can apply to become official Ball Hawkers. After collecting a batch of used golf balls from the course, Buy Buy provides a pre-paid shipping label, processes the balls, and compensates the kids directly via bank deposit. In this way, the business aims to foster a movement — one swing, one laugh, and one young entrepreneur at a time.

The primary concept behind this initiative is to offer children, especially those who live near golf courses, a way to earn money by safely collecting golf balls. “It’s about teaching responsibility, entrepreneurship, and the value of hard work at an early age,” said Kelly Huether. A forthcoming Ball Hawker Kit will include essentials such as a guide for golf ball retrieval, a retriever, a hat, a t-shirt, and a backpack.

Buy Buy is also committed to environmental responsibility. Every ball that is collected and resold represents one less plastic-wrapped product entering the market. The Ball Hawkers also help by picking up trash and returning any found practice balls to the courses, strengthening relationships with golf clubs, and encouraging environmental stewardship.