How To Recycle Golf Clubs: Sell, Donate, Or Scrap 2025

That old set of golf clubs collecting dust in the corner of your garage or closet represents a decision waiting to be made. Throwing them in the trash isn’t just wasteful; it’s a missed opportunity. You might be wondering how to responsibly dispose of them, whether they still hold any value, or if they could benefit someone else. This guide provides the definitive answer.

To decide what to do with old golf clubs, assess their condition: sell or trade-in good clubs for value, donate usable clubs to charities like The First Tee, and recycle broken or old clubs for their scrap materials.

Leveraging extensive analysis of data from leading recycling experts and trade-in platforms, this guide unpacks the three proven paths for your old equipment. We’ll explore specific services, detail the donation process, and clarify the critical differences in recycling various club materials. You’ll gain the confidence to choose the best option for your clubs, your wallet, and the environment.

Key Facts

Trade-in Value Varies: Online trade-in services often offer more value in store credit than in cash, providing an incentive to upgrade your gear through their affiliated shops.

Charitable Partnerships Exist: The First Tee, a major youth golf organization, partners directly with retailers like 2nd Swing to process donations of used adult clubs, streamlining the charitable process.

Material Matters for Recycling: According to experts at Cohen Recycling, standard steel-shafted clubs are recyclable as scrap metal, but clubs with graphite or titanium shafts require specialized recycling services due to their different composition.

Recycling Conserves Resources: Responsibly recycling golf clubs allows for the reuse of valuable materials like aluminum, titanium, and steel, reducing the energy and pollution associated with producing new materials from raw ore.

Eco-Friendly Disposal is an Option: For clubs that are not sellable or donatable, junk removal services like LoadUp specialize in finding the most environmentally sound disposal methods, aiming to keep them out of landfills.

Contents show

Your Top 3 Options for Old Golf Clubs: A Quick Guide

The first step in knowing how to recycle golf clubs is to determine their condition. Are they modern and in great shape, still playable but outdated, or completely broken? Answering this simple question will point you down one of three clear paths.

To simplify your decision, here is a quick breakdown of the best options based on the state of your equipment:

Club Condition	Best Option	Potential Outcome
Good to Excellent	Sell or Trade-In	Cash or Store Credit
Usable but Old	Donate	Community Support & Tax Deduction
Broken or Unusable	Recycle or Scrap	Environmental Responsibility

Which path best fits the clubs sitting in your garage? Let’s find out. The following sections will dive deep into each of these choices, giving you the specific names, services, and steps you need to take action today.

Option 1: Selling or Trading In Your Clubs for Cash or Credit

If your clubs are from a reputable brand and are still in good condition, selling them is the best way to recoup some of your initial investment. The market for used golf equipment is robust, and several convenient avenues exist to turn those old clubs into cash or credit for new gear. For many, this is the most financially savvy way to handle unwanted clubs.

The best way to get money for old clubs is to use online trade-in services like 2ndSwing.com for cash or credit, or visit local retailers like Golf Galaxy for immediate store credit. This approach maximizes either your financial return or your convenience, depending on the platform you choose.

Here are the primary methods for selling or trading in your equipment in 2025:

Online Trade-in Services: These specialized websites offer a streamlined process for valuing and selling your clubs from home.
Local Golf & Sporting Goods Stores: Ideal for those who prefer an in-person assessment and want immediate store credit.
Online Marketplaces: Platforms like eBay allow for direct-to-consumer sales, though they require more effort.

Pro Tip: Websites often offer more in store credit than cash. Consider what you need more before mailing in your clubs.

Online Trade-in Services

For those seeking the highest possible value, online trade-in services are often the best choice. These platforms specialize in used golf equipment and have refined the process to be as simple as possible. As noted by Forbes, services like ValueGuide.PGA.com have become a standard for determining the market rate for used clubs.

The process generally follows these simple steps:
1. Look Up Your Club’s Value: Visit a site like ValueGuide.PGA.com, 2ndSwing.com, or CallawayGolfPreOwned.com. Use their search tool to find your specific model and determine its estimated trade-in value.
2. Complete the Trade-in Form: Fill out the necessary information about your club’s condition and select whether you prefer cash or store credit.
3. Print a Pre-Paid Shipping Label: The service will provide a shipping label, so you don’t have to pay for postage.
4. Mail Your Clubs: Box up your equipment securely, attach the label, and drop it off with the designated carrier.
5. Receive Payment: Once the company receives and inspects your clubs, they will issue your payment or store credit.

Quick Fact: Store credit offers are often higher because retailers want you to upgrade your gear with them.

Local Golf & Sporting Goods Stores

If you prioritize speed and convenience over maximum value, taking your clubs to a local store is an excellent option. Retailers like Edwin Watts Golf Shop or large chains such as Dick’s Sporting Goods (which is affiliated with Golf Galaxy) offer on-the-spot trade-in services. You can walk in with your old clubs and walk out with store credit the same day.

Here’s a balanced look at this approach:

✅ Pros:
- Immediate Gratification: You receive your store credit instantly upon assessment.
- No Shipping Hassles: There’s no need to find a box, print labels, or wait for your clubs to be delivered.
- Versatile Credit: At larger stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, credit can often be used on non-golf items like shoes or apparel.
❌ Cons:
- Potentially Lower Value: Convenience comes at a cost. The trade-in value may be lower than what specialized online retailers offer.
- Store Credit Only: Most physical retailers do not offer a cash option, limiting you to purchases within that store.

Consider this: Is the convenience of immediate credit worth a potentially lower trade-in value? For many, the ability to immediately apply that credit toward a new driver or a fresh pair of golf shoes is a compelling advantage.

Option 2: Donating Used Golf Clubs to Support the Community

When your clubs are still perfectly playable but may not have significant resale value, donation is a fantastic and impactful choice. Donating keeps functional equipment out of the landfill and puts it into the hands of someone who needs it, helping to make the sport more accessible. This is a core part of the PGA’s “grow the game” initiative, which aims to bring new players into golf.

Donate usable golf clubs to benefit youth through The First Tee (via 2nd Swing), local junior golf programs, or high school teams. This supports the community and helps grow the sport. By giving your old clubs a second life, you are directly contributing to the development of the next generation of golfers.

Your old 7-iron could be the first club a future champion ever holds. Think about that for a moment.

Here are some of the best places to donate:
* The First Tee: A national organization that provides golf programs and character education to young people.
* Local Junior Golf Programs: Community-based programs are often in need of equipment for kids from all backgrounds.
* High School Golf Teams: Many public school teams operate on tight budgets and welcome donations to outfit their players.
* General Thrift Stores: Places like Goodwill may accept golf clubs, benefiting their broader community missions.

The First Tee and Junior Golf Programs

The First Tee is one of the most well-known and respected organizations for golf donations. However, their process is specific and important to understand. According to First Tee Minnesota, they have a streamlined system for handling different types of clubs:

Adult Clubs: To donate used adult clubs, you should bring them to a 2nd Swing retail location. When you drop them off, simply let the representative know that you want the value of the clubs to go to The First Tee. 2nd Swing will process the trade-in and direct the funds to the charity.
Junior Clubs: If you have junior-sized clubs in good condition, these can often be donated directly to your local chapter of The First Tee.

For a more direct local impact, consider reaching out to community programs.

Action Step: A quick search for ‘[Your Town] high school golf team’ or ‘junior golf program near me’ can connect you directly with local kids in need. A simple phone call is often all it takes to find out if they accept equipment donations.

Option 3: Recycling Clubs That Are Broken or Unusable

What about clubs that are truly at the end of their life? A driver with a cracked face, an iron with a bent shaft, or a putter from the 1970s with no resale or donation value. The answer is not the trash can. These clubs are made of valuable materials that can be reclaimed and repurposed through proper recycling.

Recycle broken clubs by taking steel-shafted ones to a scrap metal facility. For graphite or titanium shafts, use a specialized service like Green Golf Recycling or a junk removal company like LoadUp. Making this distinction is the most critical step in responsible recycling.

Ever wondered what’s inside a golf club? It’s a mix of valuable metals and materials that don’t belong in a landfill.

Steel Clubs: Most irons and wedges, as well as many older wood and driver shafts, are made of steel. Cohen Recycling confirms that steel is highly recyclable and can be processed at most scrap metal facilities.
Graphite/Titanium Clubs: Modern drivers, woods, and many iron shafts are made from graphite, while club heads are often titanium. These materials are not accepted by all standard scrap yards and may require a more specialized recycling program to handle them correctly.

Scrap Metal vs. Specialized Recycling Programs

Once you’ve identified your club’s material, you can choose the right recycling channel. A standard scrap metal yard is fine for an old set of steel irons, but a mixed set with graphite shafts requires a different approach. Services have emerged to handle the specific challenge of recycling modern golf equipment.

This table compares your main options for end-of-life clubs:

Method	Best For…	Key Consideration
Scrap Metal Yard	All-steel clubs (irons, wedges)	Call ahead to confirm they accept them; value is minimal.
Specialized Recyclers	Mixed materials (graphite, titanium)	Ensures eco-friendly disposal with a transparent chain of custody.
Junk Removal Service	Convenience, large quantities	Services like LoadUp handle pickup and find the best disposal route (recycling or donation).

Local Tip: Before you drive to a scrap yard, call ahead and ask if they accept golf clubs, especially if you have graphite shafts. This quick call can save you a wasted trip. For specialized services, Green Golf Recycling sometimes partners with local pro shops to provide convenient drop-off points.

Understanding the Environmental Benefits of Recycling Golf Clubs

Choosing to sell, donate, or recycle your golf clubs does more than just clear out clutter. It has a tangible, positive impact on the environment. When you prevent a club from going into a landfill, you are participating in a much larger cycle of resource management.

By recycling golf clubs, you prevent them from entering landfills, conserve raw materials like steel and aluminum, and reduce the pollution associated with manufacturing new products. As highlighted by recycling experts, the benefits are clear and significant.

Here’s why it matters:

Waste Reduction: Landfills are a finite resource. Every item that can be recycled, from a steel shaft to a plastic grip, saves valuable landfill space.
Resource Conservation: Golf clubs contain steel, aluminum, titanium, graphite, and plastic. Recycling these materials reduces the need to mine new ore and manufacture new plastics, which are energy-intensive processes.
Pollution Prevention: Producing metals and plastics from raw materials can cause significant air and water pollution. Recycling uses a fraction of the energy and dramatically reduces this environmental impact. Furthermore, it ensures potentially hazardous chemicals sometimes used in manufacturing, like lead or copper, are handled properly instead of leaching into the soil from a landfill.

Quick Fact: Recycling steel and aluminum uses significantly less energy than producing them from raw ore, a benefit that starts right in your garage.

To make transporting your clubs for sale, donation, or recycling easier and safer, consider investing in a durable shipping box or travel bag.

FAQs About how to recycle golf clubs

Here are answers to some of the most common questions people have when deciding what to do with their old golf clubs.

Are golf clubs worth anything in scrap?

Yes, but the value is minimal. Clubs with steel shafts and heads can be sold as scrap metal, but you should not expect a large payout. The primary benefit of scrapping is environmental responsibility, not financial gain. Clubs with graphite shafts or titanium heads are generally not accepted at standard scrap yards.

Can old irons be recycled?

Absolutely. Old irons are typically made of steel, which is one of the most recyclable materials. You can take them to any local scrap metal recycling facility. This is often the best and most responsible way to dispose of very old or damaged irons that have no resale or donation value.

Does Goodwill or Salvation Army take golf clubs?

Yes, many general thrift stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army will accept donations of used golf clubs that are in usable condition. Donating to these stores is a good option for general community support. For a more golf-specific impact, donating to a youth program like The First Tee ensures the clubs go directly to new players.

What’s the best thing to do with a single, old golf club?

The best option depends on its condition. If the single club is usable, consider donating it to a local junior golf program or a driving range that might have a collection bin for beginners. If it’s broken, the right choice is recycling—a scrap yard for a steel club or a specialized service for a graphite one.

How do I find a place to recycle golf clubs near me?

For steel clubs, a simple online search for “scrap metal yard near me” or “metal recycling near me” will provide local options. For graphite or mixed-material clubs, search for “specialized sports equipment recycling” or check the websites of services like Green Golf Recycling for partner drop-off locations, which may include local golf pro shops.

Final Summary: Making the Right Choice for Your Old Clubs

Knowing how to recycle golf clubs is about understanding your options and choosing the one that best fits your equipment’s condition and your personal goals. Whether you want to make some money, support your community, or protect the environment, there is a responsible path forward for every club. By moving beyond the landfill, you give your old gear a new purpose.

Let’s recap the key takeaways:
* Assess First: The condition of your clubs—good, usable, or broken—is the primary factor that determines the best disposal method.
* Sell for Value: If your clubs are modern and in good shape, use online trade-in services for the best return or local stores for the most convenience.
* Donate for Impact: Give playable but older clubs a second life by donating them to youth organizations like The First Tee or local high school teams.
* Recycle Responsibly: For broken clubs, take steel components to a scrap metal yard and use specialized recycling services for graphite and titanium.

Take the next step today. Assess the clubs in your closet and choose the responsible path that best fits their condition and your goals.

Last update on 2025-11-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How to Recycle Golf Clubs: Sell, Donate, or Scrap 2025