A Dutch backpacker claims he was paid as little as $5 an hour to wade through murky ponds and lakes retrieving thousands of lost golf balls.

Janeck​ Jansen​ says he spent up to five hours a day collecting golf balls on the Gold Coast while working for Advantage Golf Supplies.

Janeck Jansen says he spent up to five hours a day retrieving golf balls.

His partner Jose de Vries​ managed the Labrador business' shop front.

It was not the most glamorous task, but it was one of the few jobs Mr Jansen could find while he and Ms de Vries were in Australia on 417 visas.