The earliest kind of golf ball was called the Feathery. The outside of the ball was made of leather and it would have been stuffed with feathers. They were very difficult to make and were also expensive. They were easily damaged and became soft in wet conditions.

From about 1848 a new type of golf ball was made. This was called a Gutty. It was made from a substance called gutta percha. This was a thick black rubber-like substance that was shaped into a ball. It was harder, cheaper to buy and lasted much longer than a feathery. They took a while to become popular with golfers who found them more difficult to hit. At first they were made by hand, but then presses were used. An advantage of the gutty was that it was easy to repair.

The rubber core ball was patented in 1898 in America by Coburn Haskell and Bertram Works. This was made by winding elastic around a core and covering it in gutta percha. The ball was much bouncier and travelled further when it was hit with an iron club. It was also very expensive to buy. There was a lot of discussion about the ball when it was first produced and many people did not like it. It became very popular when people realised that some of the professionals of the day were using it. By 1914, the gutty ball was no longer used by golfers.

Today the golf balls used are made in two pieces with a solid centre or core. This makes the ball easier to play with. The dimple pattern on the ball has also changed. The patterns are now marked on the outside of the ball in geometrical patterns rather than in straight lines. The pattern on the outside of the ball helps it to fly through the air better. Some balls even have a liquid core which is wrapped in thread rubber or yarn and then covered with a substance called surlyn or balata.

Things to think about:

Design your own pattern for the outside of a golf ball. Try and find out more about the people who made the Feathery and Gutty balls - how did they do it? What were the differences between the older and modern balls. Can you find any pictures which show these different kinds of balls?