These Gutta Percha balls are painstakingly made by hand using the same process as the ball makers used 130 years ago so that today’s hickory player can enjoy and appreciate how the game was played during the 1880’s to early 1890’s era when playing with pre 1900 clubs such a transitional woods and smooth faced irons.
 
For enquires from USA & Canada please contact us BEFORE ordering.

Gutta Percha is the sap (latex) produced by various tropical trees mainly found in Southeast Asia. The word ‘gutta-percha’ comes from the plant’s name in Malay, getah-perca, which translated means percha sap. For more information about how the gutta percha ball was invented please refer to the History of the Golf Ball page on this site.

This authentic ball is produced by Chris McIntyre who has spent many years at his workshop in Calafornia using gutta percha to develop the same characteristics of the original gutta percha ball. The balls are made by pressing the gutta percha material into a modern version of an old style mould as used by the ball makers in the 1880’s, the pattern being similar to the ‘Silvertown’ ball from this period. The rough ball is then taken out of the mould and trimmed and then left to cure for a period of time before finally applying three coats of enamel paint by hand rolling. Please refer to the images. These balls are a work of art.

Chris has an avid passion for the hickory game having played with hickory shafted clubs for many years to a high standard and felt that in order for the 21st century player to understand how the game was played in the late 19th century then it was necessary and important to produce an authentic gutta percha ball to test the players golfing prowess.

The following endorsements are given by two notable players from the modern era.

Ralph S. Livingston 111 who helped to pioneer the revival of hickory golf when he embraced the game in the early 1990’s. He was a renowned player, club restorer and the author of ‘Thomas Stewart Jr. Golf Cleek and Iron Maker’. He congratulated Chris saying ‘The work he has done to accomplish making them so authentic to the old real thing I find admirable, both the gutty and rubber ball eras.’ Ralph passed away on 17th August 2012 aged 54.

Randy Jensen has won more contemporary wood shaft golf tournaments than any other player including 8 time National Hickory Champion, 7 time GCS World Hickory Champion, 7 time Heart of America Hickory Champion, 2 time Scottish Hickory Champion, Scratch Division and Canadian Hickory Champion says ‘Chris McIntyre makes the most authentically accurate, vintage-style golf balls on the planet. I first played a Chris McIntyre mesh ball to win the GCS World Hickory Championship in 2006 and Chris has worked hard at producing these great balls ever since. His current ‘Victor’ mesh ball is his best ever and compares very favourably with the best modern balls. Chris’s gutty ball is the standard for those of us who enjoy playing pre-1900 hickory golf with its authentic ‘click’ sound and great gutty feel. There is no better way to enjoy playing hickory golf than with one of the authentic McIntyre Golf Company reproduction golf balls.’



Technical Information.

Willie Park Jr. stated that most players used between 26 and 28 sized golf balls, with 27 or 27 ½ being the favourites. The size of the McIntyre ball is 27, known as a 27 pennyweight golf ball in the 1800’s. The diameter of the ball is 1.68” and weighs 38.1 grams.

Distance off the tee very much depends on the prevailing weather conditions of the day, i.e. temperature, pressure, wet or dry air and course firmness. Chris has hit drives between 140-185 yards but the ‘ big hitters’ can go further if the perfect strike is made.

Durability. A poor strike with a heavy iron blade will dent or possibly cut the ball just as they did in 1885 and continual hitting will eventually produce imperfections but this is all part of the experience and enjoyment playing with these old style balls. If they did not then they would not be a true replica. The ball is what it is, and what it was!

Today’s modern golfer would probably freak out with this experience as they expect golf balls to last forever until they find a watery grave.

Playability. In fact historic records all refer to gutta percha balls has having the best playing characteristics for putting, pitching and ability to stop the ball by lightly cutting the shot when approaching the green.

The gutta percha ball offers the hickory enthusiast the chance to experience the authentic way the game was played in the 1880’s era.