Editorial – A Brief History Of The Golf Ball
When golf was first played in Scotland in some form that would be familiar to us today, the ball might have been made out of wood, although this is speculation. A ball stuffed with hair in a leather pouch was played, and then the featherie became the norm. It consisted of wet feathers stuffed in leather. When the feathers dried, the ball expanded into a hard, playable sphere. The first mention of a featherie was in the 1600s, although there is evidence the ball was played at least 100 years prior.
The featherie lasted a long time, until the 1840s, when a Scottish divinity student named Robert Paterson came across a shipment of gutta percha and attempted to make some golf balls out of it. He was eventually successful, and as the gutta percha ball went farther, was more durable and cheaper than the featherie, the featherie’s long era came to an end. Gutta percha balls didn’t last long as in the 1890s, American businessman Coburn Haskell invented the wound golf ball, and in 1901 the Haskell Golf Ball Company was founded. The wound ball with a balata cover became the ball of choice for decades.
The balata ball was popular on the professional circuits until 2000, but in 1972 Spalding introduced the two-piece Top Flite golf ball with a Surlyn cover, revolutionizing the game yet again, especially for amateurs. Weekend warriors now had a durable ball that spun less and produced more distance. In 2000, Callaway Golf came up with the modern tour ball, the Rule 35, with a layered ionomer core and a urethane cover. Titleist and every ball manufacturer soon followed suit, and this construction is still considered premium.
OnCore Golf began as an idea in 2008 with a metal-core golf ball, another innovation, and since then has only grown bigger. Today the company has three balls, the Elixr, Vero X1 and the Avant 55 to appeal to all ranges of golfers. With OnCore and others leading the way, golf ball innovation is sure to continue.
The Rudy Project, a longtime industry partner of the USGTF, specializes in performance eyewear for athletes. Discounts are available for USGTF members. According to The Rudy Project, “All our sunglasses blend wide field of vision, state-of-the-art lenses, superior fit factor and advanced materials to provide maximum eye protection, sharp vision and outstanding comfort.” Also available are helmets, apparel and gear, and goggles and accessories.
Please contact the USGTF National Office for your Rudy Project code and go to 
The name Christopher Richards is well known to competitors at the annual United States Golf Teachers Cup, but his son Christopher Richards Jr. is also making a name for himself. The younger Richards is the reigning champion of the Trinidad and Tobago Open, with one media outlet proclaiming he has replaced his dad as king of T&T golf. In addition, in 2021 as a 16-year-old, Richards won the Pointe-a-Pierre Junior Tournament. He recently represented Trinidad and Tobago in the Hoerman Cup as part of the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship. He has also shot as low as 65 in official competition.
It’s not often a son lives up to a successful father’s accomplishments, but Richards Jr. might be the exception. And truth be told, the old man would be more than proud if his accomplishments were surpassed.
Since the unexpected loss of my only child Stephanie Jude in 2008 at age 18 while living in Boca Raton, Florida, and New Jersey, my focus in life became more challenging and less as a competitive player as I all but walked away from this great game. Since then, I have geared a continued journey towards making a positive mark as I strive to grow this game teaching players of all levels from tour pros to club champions, to aspiring collegiate athletes, to men and women, to disabled children and beginning amateurs alike.
I feel gifted to be able to play both righty and lefty, which affords me easier teaching assimilation to each unique player skillset. Working as the head pro from several facilities, I can reach more students and assist them in this journey throughout life, to teach them to swing effectively and efficiently while learning to respect this sport and play at their highest possible level. With a diverse background, I can easily translate the swing, making it simplified for players to learn how to shave strokes off their game playing at their highest level, pro and amateur, or help beginners break 100. I teach the rules, the history of the game and what makes each of us unique, using my sports psychology background. It brings me great pleasure seeing students able to create a positive mindset, efficient swing and tour-player mentality, even if it’s just for recreational use. This attitude breeds respect of self and the game. I strive to ensure each student is properly fitted with correct equipment and respect of opponents alike, and to teach all how to win with dignity and lose with great humility.
My mantra is we all make mistakes, but never make the same mistake twice. I use my unique background in sports, law, computer science, and fitness and nutrition to help others play their best.
By: Steven Pezzino, USGTF Member
Members who have not paid their dues for 2022 are now past due and a $25 late fee will be applied, which will increase to $50 on March 1. USGTF members who wish to remain in good standing and enjoy the benefits of membership, especially the right to identify oneself as a USGTF member and use the logo, are reminded of this most important professional obligation. In addition, being able to take advantage of the Member Search feature, job opportunities postings and more are available with keeping your membership current. Renew online at 
When the World Golf Teachers Federation was founded in 1993 with a collaboration between the United States and Europe, the goal was to form a worldwide body of golf teachers to better serve the profession. Twenty-nine years later that mission has been accomplished. Today there are over 40 member nations in the WGTF, with individual members in 85 countries, and the organization is as strong as ever. The World Golf Teachers Cup is the largest international competitive event for golf teaching professionals, first played in 1997.
Individual members of the WGTF can also be found on the Member Search function on the site. Searches can be done by either first or last name. Please visit