Money doesn’t grow on trees, but can it be found at your local scrap yard? If you’re sitting on a bunch of old clubs, you may have asked yourself the following question – do scrap yards take golf clubs? Surely you could make back a buck or two if you found the right place to take them?
But dear reader, before you dump your old irons faster than you can yell “fore!,” we recommend reading through the tips outlined on this page. In this article, we’ll be exploring how much money you can make by scrapping your old clubs.
We’ll cover the type of clubs that fetch the most and how well golf equipment holds its value over time.
In a Nutshell – Do Scrap Yards Take Golf Clubs?
The only honest answer to this question is, ‘it depends.’ We know it sounds like a cop-out, but it really does come down to the materials your clubs are made from and the scrap yards in your area.
Got a load of copper, cast iron, or steel clubs? You’ll probably be able to find someone to pay for them as scrap.
Trying to get rid of your old carbon fiber or aluminum set? We wish you luck, but you may have a bit more trouble. In some cases, a scrap yard may agree to take your clubs and recycle them for free, but won’t necessarily offer you any money for them.
What Materials Can Golf Clubs be Made From?
To get a better idea of how much money you can make from your old clubs, it’s necessary to determine what they’re made from. In this section, we’ll be discussing the various materials that golf clubs can be made from.
The TLDR here is that copper and titanium will fetch the best bang for your buck by far. Steel isn’t too shabby and other metals might get you something but you shouldn’t hold your breath.
Cast Iron
If you’re rocking a newer set of ‘irons,’ you might be disappointed by the amount of actual iron present in your club’s head or shaft. One ‘quick and dirty’ way to test for iron is to hold a magnet up to your club. Sticks instantly? You could be in the clear. Doesn’t stick at all or only with a weak amount of force? You might be dealing with a composite club.
If you’re offloading an older set of irons, however, you could be looking at a decent amount of scrapable metal. Old club heads in particular were made from solid lumps of iron. Your best bet will be to take your clubs to a scrap yard and have their iron content estimated.
Scrap cast iron can get around $300 per gross ton. Your clubs will of course garner far less metal than this so don’t expect to become a millionaire.
Aluminum
Lighter clubs sometimes use shafts made from aluminum for an end result that’s easy to swing and super portable. Keep in mind that your shaft might not be pure aluminum but a mixture of materials.
This all comes down to the make and model you’re dealing with so check with your manufacturer if you’re unsure. Aluminum can be scrapped at the right yard but it’s not a great money earner. Expect around $0.90 per lb of scrap aluminum at most willing locations.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber is a super common material used for a wide variety of golf clubs. The main advantages to using this kind of material to make clubs are its durability and lighter weight. When it comes to scrapping your golf set, however, it’s not the material you want.
It’s now possible to recycle carbon fiber, but the process can be expensive depending on the resources and equipment at your disposal. For this reason, you shouldn’t expect much when trying to scrap your carbon fiber clubs.
Copper
It’s not exactly the most common golf club material, but if your club heads or shafts are made from copper, you could make a fair few bucks at the right scrap yard. It’s not uncommon to see scrap prices of around $3.20 per lb for copper.
If you’re just dealing with a tiny copper coating, don’t get too excited. If you’re offloading a solid copper club head, your returns might be worth the effort.
Steel
Steel is a ‘middle of the road’ material when it comes to making money at the scrap yard. It’s not a huge earner but it’s nothing to turn your nose up at either. Stainless steel is another common material used in all kinds of golf clubs.
If you’re unsure what your club is made from, the weight is usually a good giveaway. Steel clubs tend to be significantly heavier than their graphite or carbon fiber counterparts.
Titanium
More premium clubs sometimes use titanium for its superior strength and durability. If you’ve got a set of titanium clubs, you may be able to get some cash for them at your local scrap yard.
You could get anywhere between $4 and $6 for a pound of scrap titanium. We recommend giving your local yard a call and asking them before making the drive.
How To Know if It’s Worth Scrapping Your Clubs
Before you rush to your local scrap yard and throwing away your clubs, we recommend the following:
- Check second hand prices for your make and model of club
- Call your scrap yard and describe the materials of your clubs to them
- Get a clear idea of the materials your set is made from to avoid disappointment
- Keep in mind that not all scrap yards will give money to recycle old clubs; they’ll simply take them off your hands to recycle the metals.
The more you get clued up about what certain metals go for in your area, the easier it will be to avoid disappointment and secure a good deal.
More: Why do you cover golf clubs?
Scrapping Golf Clubs for Cash – Conclusion
We hope you’ve found the information above helpful. Some scrap yards do indeed take golf clubs but it’s far from guaranteed. It will come down to the materials used for your specific clubs and how valuable they are to your local yard.
Remember to look into second hand prices for your clubs too. Sometimes you may be able to make a touch more by reselling your clubs instead of scrapping them.
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