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 experienced in producing a ball of uniform quality.

Offered here is a scarce red Maponite golf ball. This ball also contains an easily readable Maponite stamp, which is quite rare on these notoriously condition-sensitive balls.