Golf entrepreneur brings business, family to Iowa Lakes region

Midwestern values have undeniable worth, especially in the Iowa Lakes Corridor region.

Take David Brink's story, for example. Brink recently moved his family and his business, Golf Ball Country, to Spencer from Phoenix.

Brink started Golf Ball Country, a golf ball recycling and accessories business, 10 years ago with a $500 investment. Through a store on eBay, Golf Ball Country sold 1 million golf balls in 2016. Brink’s goal is to sell 3 million next year.

The decision to move the business away from Phoenix was made after his wife, Holly, gave birth to their first child this summer. They moved to northwest Iowa to be closer to Holly's family.

“We wanted to get out of the city life, more back to the Midwest way of living,” Brink said.

Area residents’ friendliness has helped during the transition.

“I’m walking into stores and people know me by name already,” Brink said. “It’s a great feeling.”

Golf Ball Country’s operations in Spencer began recently after it came under Great Lakes Communication Corp.’s expanding umbrella of businesses.

Brink and a team of three to four full- and part-time employees work out of Great Lakes Communication Corp.’s facility on 35th Ave. W.

It wasn’t easy to relocate a business with so many small moving parts, Brink said, but the move was worth it.

“It was interesting, to say the least,” he said. “It all worked out.”

Though Golf Ball Country is only on eBay at the moment, Brink said he’s considering expanding to Amazon and a standalone website. Brink has worked with On-Point Strategic Group in Spencer to create Web Sales Broker, an online venture that will help lead future expansion for Golf Ball Country.

We’d like to share your story

Stories like David Brink’s are exactly why the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation strongly believes we can succeed in growing our area’s population by 5 percent in 5 years. We’ve made that our priority through our Five by Five campaign.

If you have a story similar to David’s, or know of someone who does, please consider sharing it with the Iowa Lakes Corridor. You can call 712-264-3474 or email Tim Weideman.

If you live in the area and want to share all the great amenities and opportunities of the Iowa Lakes region, please sign up to become a Community Champion.