So, I’m dating a golfer. You don’t know me, but trust me when I say that this is unexpected. Golf is such a preppy game ... and preppy I am not. But hey, opposites attract and really that has nothing to do with anything. The point is: golf balls.

I never thought about the life cycle of a golf ball until now, but you know -- those things aren’t indestructible. They get dented and torn on all that golf course landscaping and generally degrade, and then it’s all: “Bye bye little ball, off to the rubbish bin for you!”

Well, being the super-green eco-friendly DIY recycler girl that I am, I just couldn’t bear to see them thrown away. Can you imagine how many millions of golf balls must be buried in landfills across the country? No way, not cool. Always crafty and looking to upcycle, I looked into golf ball-related projects, and whataya know? There’re all sorts of fantastic things you can do with used golf balls! Things like:

1. The garden always provides excellent grounds for creative upcycling, and golf -- an outdoor lawn sport -- is a natural pairing for garden embellishments. If you’re patient enough to collect a whole bunch of balls, they’ll make an adorable edging for your flower beds, vegetable boxes, or garden footpaths.

2. Or, for a garden project that’s a bit more involved, how about taking a swing (just a little golf humor) at one of these golf-ball studded bird houses? Not only do they look cute, but they’ll attract beautiful birds to your yard as well! Need help making a birdhouse for your garden? Hire a handyman to help you elevate your project into a masterpiece.

3. You can also use golf balls in your garden for a less aesthetic, much more practical purpose. Before potting a plant, line the bottom of the flower pot with a few layers of golf balls, then proceed with potting soil as normal. The golf balls will make for excellent drainage and you won’t have to worry about root rot!

4. Gifts are always a good way to go when you’re trying to reuse a specialty item. Sporting equipment, for example, can be turned into a thoughtful present for a sports enthusiast. In this case, golf balls can be used to adorn items for your favorite golfer -- like gluing the balls around the outside of a large picture frame, and then filling the frame with a photo of your golfer (showing off their perfect technique, of course!).

5. Speaking of gifts, homemade ornaments are great for the holidays, and golf balls make for perfect little ornaments. Just glue a hook to the ball for the simplest version. Leave the balls white for a golf theme, and glue a tee to the side to add a little color and dimension. Or spray paint the balls red, green, and gold for a more traditional ornament. Another option is to glue three golf balls together to make a snow man! Decorate with little “coal” eyes, “carrot” nose, and a wee scarf wrapped around the neck. Easy and oh-so-adorable.

6. You know what blows? The wind! (More bad puns. My father would be so proud.) But seriously, nothing ruins a perfect picnic quite like a big ol’ gust of wind that catches your tablecloth, picks it right up, and upturns all your food along with it. Which is why genius grannies have been sewing weights into the corners of their tablecloths for years, in order to avoid just such a situation. So you see where I’m going with this? Yeah, sew golf balls into the corners of your outdoor tablecloths. Problem solved, bring on the wind. You’re welcome.

7. And finally, you can always pass them along to the kids. Golf balls are excellent for craft projects, such as this adorable "buggie" tutorial to make sweet and simple garden bugs, frogs or birds.

And please remember, if the issue with the ball is simply cosmetic, like a scuff or some discoloration, consider passing it along to a charity like Bunkers In Baghdad. This organization sends used golf equipment -- including balls -- to American troops stationed in 22 countries around the world, and they’re always accepting donations.

Sayward Rebhal writes for Networx.com.

Updated February 22, 2018.