They're real-life treasure hunters. And in this case, the treasure is golf balls. Divers like Sam Harrison (pictured) can find 5,000 balls in just one lake and sell them secondhand at 75 cents apiece.
Treasure hunters —
They're real-life treasure hunters. And in this case, the treasure is golf balls. Divers like Sam Harrison (pictured) can find 5,000 balls in just one lake and sell them secondhand at 75 cents apiece.
Courtesy Sam Harrison/Lake Ball Diving
One of the most fearsome holes in golf is TPC Sawgrass' "Island Green" (pictured.)As the name suggests, the notorious 17th hole is surrounded by water and has claimed many a victim over the years.
Fearsome "Island Green" —
One of the most fearsome holes in golf is TPC Sawgrass' "Island Green" (pictured.)As the name suggests, the notorious 17th hole is surrounded by water and has claimed many a victim over the years.
James Squire/Getty Images/File
But golf balls aren't the only thing divers come across in the water. Here, a diver retrieves John Daly's putter and ball at the 2002 Australian PGA Championship in Queensland.
Search and rescue —
But golf balls aren't the only thing divers come across in the water. Here, a diver retrieves John Daly's putter and ball at the 2002 Australian PGA Championship in Queensland.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images/File
But even before they even hit the water, there are significant outlay costs. In both the U.S. and UK, golf courses usually charge divers between 7-10c per ball they find.
Taking the plunge —
But even before they even hit the water, there are significant outlay costs. In both the U.S. and UK, golf courses usually charge divers between 7-10c per ball they find.
Courtesy Sam Harrison/Lake Ball Diving
Golf-ball divers can make a thriving business from other people's misfortune. Here, U.S. player Woody Austin falls while hitting his ball out of the water at the four-ball matches of the 2007 Presidents Cup in Montreal, Canada.
Waterfall —
Golf-ball divers can make a thriving business from other people's misfortune. Here, U.S. player Woody Austin falls while hitting his ball out of the water at the four-ball matches of the 2007 Presidents Cup in Montreal, Canada.
Timothy A. Clary/Getty Images/File
Two days later Austin returned better prepared, wearing a diving mask.
Aquaman —
Two days later Austin returned better prepared, wearing a diving mask.
Scott Halleran/Getty Images/File
Players hunt for a wayward golf ball during the 2006 Players Championship of Europe. The visibility isn't much better underwater. "The balls are on the bottom, so as you start picking them up you're stirring up all the silt. If you could see before you started, you can't see while you're working," says diver Paul Lovelace.
Lost cause —
Players hunt for a wayward golf ball during the 2006 Players Championship of Europe. The visibility isn't much better underwater. "The balls are on the bottom, so as you start picking them up you're stirring up all the silt. If you could see before you started, you can't see while you're working," says diver Paul Lovelace.
Stuart Franklin/Getty Images/File
Lovelace admits he looks like a creature from the black lagoon emerging from the water. "One time I was coming up to the surface, and I could see someone on the edge," the American says. "And I thought, 'I'm going to come up and scare them a little bit.' I had weeds all over me and I just stood out of the water real quick and kind of moaned and groaned -- and there were these little old ladies. I thought I was going to give them a heart attack right there and then! I felt terrible about it afterward."
A sight to behold —
Lovelace admits he looks like a creature from the black lagoon emerging from the water. "One time I was coming up to the surface, and I could see someone on the edge," the American says. "And I thought, 'I'm going to come up and scare them a little bit.' I had weeds all over me and I just stood out of the water real quick and kind of moaned and groaned -- and there were these little old ladies. I thought I was going to give them a heart attack right there and then! I felt terrible about it afterward."
Warren Little/Getty Images/File
On the golf course, there's a fine line between skipping towards glory and falling flat. Here, former British Open champion Darren Clarke skips the ball over the water during a practice round prior to 2012 Masters Tournament at Augusta.
Hop, skip, jump —
On the golf course, there's a fine line between skipping towards glory and falling flat. Here, former British Open champion Darren Clarke skips the ball over the water during a practice round prior to 2012 Masters Tournament at Augusta.
David Cannon/Getty Images/File