Circa 1898 Red Maponite Golf Ball

In 1898, Maponite was the future. Finally a substance to replace gutta percha and usher golf into a new age! Only one problem…it didn’t really work.

From the March 21, 1902 issue of Golf Illustrated:

Golfers will be sorry to hear that the Maponite Company which started about four years ago under such promising auspices has got into difficulties. The Maponite golf ball did not prove a success, and this was greatly due to the difficulty experiences in producing a ball of uniform quality.

Offered here is a rare red Maponite golf ball. The stamp a little indistinct, but some letters are still legible.