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Out of the drink

  • Rawhide Golf Ball Co.'s remote-retrieval system can recover 900 golf balls in one pass. - Courtesy of Rawhide Golf Ball Co.

    Rawhide Golf Ball Co.'s remote-retrieval system can recover 900 golf balls in one pass.

  • A tractor and a wench are the workhorses that power the disk that scoops up the sunken balls. - Courtesy of Rawhide Golf Ball Co.

    A tractor and a wench are the workhorses that power the disk that scoops up the sunken balls.

  • Rawhide founder Mark Schmitt trains his tractor operators to aim for a 10,000-ball bounty off a single course. - Courtesy of Rawhide Golf Ball Co.

    Rawhide founder Mark Schmitt trains his tractor operators to aim for a 10,000-ball bounty off a single course.

  • Schmitt uses his ball-harvesting tractors on client golf courses from Ohio to Tennessee. - Courtesy of Rawhide Golf Ball Co.

    Schmitt uses his ball-harvesting tractors on client golf courses from Ohio to Tennessee.

  • Every few years, Schmitt gives a course a more thorough cleaning by diving to glean balls his tractors miss. - Photos by: Perry Reichanadter

    Every few years, Schmitt gives a course a more thorough cleaning by diving to glean balls his tractors miss.

  • Schmitt puts his diving wet suit on in the water. - Photos by: Perry Reichanadter

    Schmitt puts his diving wet suit on in the water.

  • He comes back to the water's edge to finish preparing and to collect his gear. - Photos by: Perry Reichanadter

    He comes back to the water's edge to finish preparing and to collect his gear.

  • Diving weights and mesh bags for the golf balls hang from his neck while he works underwater. - Photos by: Perry Reichanadter

    Diving weights and mesh bags for the golf balls hang from his neck while he works underwater.

  • Schmitt remains tethered to a backup supply of air resting on shore. - Photos by: Perry Reichanadter

    Schmitt remains tethered to a backup supply of air resting on shore.

  • His raft carries his air compressor and supplies. - Photos by: Perry Reichanadter

    His raft carries his air compressor and supplies.

  • Schmitt disappeared underwater about 30 seconds on this dive at Saddlebrook Golf Course. - Photos by: Perry Reichanadter

    Schmitt disappeared underwater about 30 seconds on this dive at Saddlebrook Golf Course.

  • His short dive netted two handfuls of golf balls. - Photos by: Perry Reichanadter

    His short dive netted two handfuls of golf balls.

  • His short dive netted two handfuls of golf balls. - Photos by: Perry Reichanadter

    His short dive netted two handfuls of golf balls.