Here is the McIntyre mold. Our molds are modern reproductions of the old style press molds used in the 1800's

The fact is that pure gutta percha has a specific gravity of less that than water, therefore gutta percha floats.

Here is a ball of organic and McIntyre gutta floating side by side in water.

Here is a glob of organic gutta percha ready to go into the press. It weighs 41.4 grams before processing

The warmed glob of gutta percha is soft and pliable and is formed into the shape desired to place into the mold.

Here the glob is placed into the mold cavity.

The lid is placed on top.

The mold is placed in a hydraulic press and then given time to cool the gutta percha.

The glob takes on the shape and detail of the grooved mold cavity.

There is a distinct "ring" of excess material that is necessary to assure that there is enough material to completely fill the cavity and form a full ball.

Here is a glob of the McIntyre gutta. It weighs 42.2 grams.

It is now placed into the mold.

And the lid it placed on top.

Again, it is compressed in the hydraulic press and allowed to cool.

The ball is formed and the excess "ring" is similar.

The organic ball with it's ring weighs 41.4 grams as it's glob did.

The McIntyre ball with it's ring weighs 42.2 grams as it's glob did.

The organic ball with it's ring removed weighs 39.4 grams.

The McIntyre ball weighs 38.1 grams, 97% comparable weight to the organic sample.

It is assumed that the organic gutta percha is slightly more dense molecularly to produce this result.

Both balls as they look in the condition after molding and removing the ring.

The McIntyre mold is producing what was described as a 27 pennyweight golf ball in the 1800's.

Historically, at this stage the organic golf balls were stored for up to 6 months to allow oxidation of the outer portion of the ball.

This image shows what takes place after this process has taken place.

We also store the raw McIntyre

ball, and our experiments produce a slightly yellowish surface color over time.

The remaining ring excess is removed and:

The molded gutta percha golf balls are positioned on nail boards for painting.

The first of three very thin coats of paint is applied by rolling the ball around in a gloved hand.

Gutta golf balls take quite a beating. Here are some images of old gutta percha golf balls found to have been cut by iron blades and beaten quite out of shape...it was all part of the game in 1885 !

The McIntyre ball shows similar marks and characteristics after harsh play. If they didn't, they wouldn't be true to form.

A brand new McIntyre gutta percha golf ball is a piece of art, made by hand, with processes just as they were 130 years ago. The ball must be appreciated for what it is, the closest thing possible to play in honor of the old game of the gutta era.

The old clubs are meant for play and now there is the ball to complement them perfectly.

Willie Park Jr. stated that most players used between 26 and 28 sized golf balls, with 27 or 27 1/2 being the favorites. He stated that a player should use the heaviest golf ball that they could handle, as it became more difficult to play as the balls got larger and heavier.

My investigations and written references point to the 27 1/2 ball at 42 grams being the historical standard.

So why is the McIntyre gutta a 27 sized ball? Well, it takes much investigation, design, experience and investment. Had I known a little more it probably would have turned out at 27 1/2. But I still think we are at a great size and playable golf ball, and there is no guarantee that a bigger ball would be better for everyone.

There really wasn't anything wrong with the original #25 ball. After the bigger ball was made it did make the small ball seem too light to me.

In references to hitting distances, most of the time it is made to the "winner" of the contest...what about the others?

In St. Andrews, 1892 a contest was held. Laurie Auchterlonie won at 225 yards, next was 210, then positions 3 thru 13 were from 195 down to 170 yards.

No one in our playing over the last year has come close to hitting 225 yards...but we are not playing St Andrews, and there was no reference to conditions.

In the same year, 1892, Members of Ardeer club held a long drive comp.
Winner = 170 yards

2nd = 165 yards.

In Niagra on the Lakes, 1895 long drive on the first hole was won at 179 yards 6 inches.

The McIntyre grooved Gutta Percha golf ball process...with a comparison to very hard to come by (and expensive) organic gutta percha.








































































It is here that I would like to discuss the legitamacy of the McIntyre Gutta Golf Ball: When I first started, I used an authentic mold that produced a smaller 1.635" diameter ball. This ball weighed 35 grams with the McIntyre gutta (this would have produced ~ 36 grams with comparable organic gutta according to the above experiments). This chart will give you the observed and calculated weights of different sized gutta golf balls: Size #25 ------- 1.635" dia - 35 grams MG - 36 grams OG Size #26 Size #27 ------- 1.680" dia - 38.1 grams MG - 39.4 grams OG (current golf ball) Size #27 1/2 -- 1.710" dia - 40.5 grams MG - 41.7 grams OG (calculated from experiments) Size #28 Size #29 Calculations show that if I were to have made (or to make) a 27 1/2 size golf ball with McIntyre gutta it would weigh 40.5 grams (97% of 41.7). It has been discussed how authentic the McIntyre gutta ball is and how accurate it's play and distance is to historical records. I contend they are quite authentic. First, I have been able to make and play organic gutta balls and observe their distance and tendencies. I have been able to hit side by side the OG and the MG and there was no noticable difference. Second, I have compared data from Alfie Ward, Scotland...who with his brother and the help of Dr. David Hamilton (gutta historian and author "Precious Gum"), rebuilt an 1892 golf course and made gutta percha golf balls for play.. Here are his observations: ----- Distance ; excluding daft conditions - a good player could attain 150 - 170 yds with a good drive, with occasional "boomers" . ----- Durability ; Our guttas were highly durable and never broke up. But they did hack up and go out of shape. ----- One the most famous properties of gutta percha balls, viz ; they didn't like paint and throughout the entire history of the gutta ball, that problem was never fully solved ! ----- * Interestingly, these comments could easily have been written about the McIntyre gutta today! I feel very good about matching their results. Third, there are numerous written references to gutta percha. In reference to those who have played the McIntyre ball and the comments having been made, "distance" seems to be the subject that lacks in accordance to written references to how far the ball was hit. There are many references to long drives, 200-225 yards, even further. If you focus on the extremities these numbers make it seem something is wrong. But there are many other records of long drive contests being won at 170-190 yards. My contention is that conditions prevail when playing gutta golf and it is not always clear what it was like at the time of the writings. I am able to experience today, variances in conditions that produce different results. I have hit drives from 140 to 185 yards with the McIntyre gutta ball. These results depended on temperature, pressure, plushness, wet or dry air, and course firmness. I am not a weak hitter, but there are definately others that can outdo me. I do believe that a larger, heavier ball would travel further off the tee if the player could product the swing speed and pure contact. *Fourth, durability (cost of authenticity) has been discussed. This is a topic that just needs to be a subject of consequence...it happened then and it will happen now. Reference the images above and you will see that poor striking will produce ball damage. The pounding of ball with clubs will produce imperfections, potential irregularities. Interestingly, modern golfers freak out at this concept because modern balls are practically indestructable, high performance pills. Couple this with perfectly tailored golf courses, turf, and greens and without education on this subject can wonder "what is wrong with this ball?". The cost of the gutta ball, one bad strike and a modernized, uneducated player might comment "I hate this ball!". The ball is what it is, and what it was. Fifth, playability has been discussed. For the most part, players have discovered that the gutta golf ball actually plays very well, and interestingly! Historical records all reference pure gutta percha golf balls having the best playing charteristics...putting, pitching, ability to stop the ball by lightly cutting the shot and dropping it dead (on thick, slower greens of the times). The McIntyre gutta rates 100% in my eye for producing these qualities. The grooved line pattern was the standard for the day and though the best, it still produces occasional irregular ball flight. This I believe just had to be the case in the day as well. The golf ball kept developing and improving, bringing on brambles, dimples of all sorts, and had a long way to go from 1890. Finally*, one must ask themselves "what are we accomplishing by playing with the gutta ball?". McIntyre Golf Company & Play Hickory Events has been dedicated to sharing the hickory experience and developing hickory ball products for seven years. I have been engulfed in hickory golf for 12 years. There have been changes, but most interestingly has been the growth and expansion of the game. The gutta ball has added value to the experience...authentic value. The common experience is 1920's golf with hickory clubs and ball of choice (usually modern high-end golf balls). There are many players who have embraced the modern gof ball converted to the square mesh style ball (the FLASH & ACE) but it is still an essentially modern ball in durability and performance. The gutta ball is the best opportunity for the hickory enthusiast to experience the authentic way the game was played in that earlier era...an experience that I treasure every time the opportunity arises. I hope this document helps in the education and understanding of the McIntyre Gutta Ball.
	Chris McIntyre