A ball housing and dispensing apparatus comprises a housing container capable of housing a plurality of golf balls and a ball dispenser having a gate member to allow a golfer to selectively control the dispensation of a single golf ball at a time, without requiring the golfer to alter his stance prior to each swing or putt. The gate member has first and second portions attached through a connecting member, so as to allow the first and second portions to reciprocate in unison with each other across a passageway. The ball dispenser has a hold position and a dispensing position, according to which one of the reciprocating portions of the gate member is retracted from a passageway and which enters into the passageway. In one embodiment, the reciprocation of the gate member is driven by a solenoid which is attached to the gate member by a spring. In an alternative embodiment the dispenser is adapted to place a golf ball on a tee at the striking location. In the alternative embodiment the first and second gate member portions are curved in an arc and pivot relative to the passageway. The dispenser further comprises a ball placement assembly also. pivotably coupled to the passageway for placing a discharged golf ball on to the tee in the dispensing position.