By Leonard Finkel
With more than 2.8 billion wooden tees made annually in the USA alone, GelTees is the world’s only 100 percent biodegradable golf tee. GelTees is on a mission to lower the environmental impact of the game and create an eco-friendlier way to play golf. This 100% biodegradable golf tee will prevent the destruction of up to 70,000 trees per year and keep 1,600 tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Founded in 2009, GelTees is a green friendly innovation designed by Jonathan Gilinski, President and CEO of Capsuline, a leading manufacturer of gelatin capsules for the pharmaceutical industry. Having an in-depth knowledge of the biodegradable properties of gelatin and a love for golf, Gilinski was able to convert gelatin byproduct into an eco-friendly tee for golfers. Made of 100% pharmaceutical grade gelatin, GelTees are completely biodegrade within a few days of being left in the elements.
“Golf courses spend an average of 32 percent of their operating budgets on course maintenance and another 10 percent on labor alone,” said Mike Tinkey, Former Deputy Executive Director of the National Golf Course Owners Association. “GelTees provides a green friendly alternative for golf course owners that is good for the planet and the game.”
Tee boxes littered with broken wooden tees and plastic tees are a bone of contention for golf course superintendents and directors of golf around the globe. “More than an eyesore, broken tees represent both a safety hazard and extra expense for the golf course,” said Kevin Sternett, Head Golf Professional at the Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe in Orlando.
Tee it up, crush it, then forget it. Save your back and never pick up a tee again. Designed for one-time use, GelTees shatter into tiny pieces on impact. The moisture from the grass, daily irrigation and weather conditions dissolves the tees completely.
GelTees are available at Amazon, Jet.com and Walmart. For pricing and additional info, visit www.geltees.com.
Leonard Finkel is the author of The Secrets to the Game of Golf & Life and former editor in chief of Golf Journeys Magazine. His work has been featured in almost 200 publications including Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Golf Illustrated, Golf Tips and Player Magazine. He has written more than a dozen cover stories for Golf Today Magazine. He has written extensively about golf and travel and has added poker to his writing repertoire. Finkel also works as a marketing and public relations consultant. His specialty niche is writing advertorial copy. Prior to his career in golf, Finkel owned a chain of retail stores and a consulting and import company based in Asia. He attended the University of Utah.