The present invention is directed to a golf ball heater comprising a rectangular container, the interior of which is outfitted with at least one heating element and rails for holding golf balls. One end of the container includes a sliding door for retrieving a heated golf ball. On one side of the container, a control box is outfitted with circuitry to cooperatively work with sensors in the container for purposes of selectively activating the heating element(s) according to whether or not the sliding door is open or shut and whether or not the temperature inside the container is within the optimal temperature range.