Featherie Golf Ball c1600

In the early 1600s, a leather ball stuffed with feathers was invented
They were hand made from cowhide and goose feathers
The making of a first-class "Featherie" was almost a science
In 1836, Samuel Messieux drove a feather ball 360 yards in St Andrews
The first feather balls cost almost as much as a set of golf clubs
This hand made authentic Featherie ball can be used to play golf

Harbouring its roots on the Eastern Coast in Scotland, the first golf balls were made of wood. In 1618 a new type of golf ball was created by handcrafting a cowhide sphere stuffed with goose feathers. Thus, the 'Featherie' golf ball was invented. The artisans made the balls while the leather and feathers were wet. As the leather dried, the feathers expanded to create a hardened, compact ball. Once coated with paint, these balls were sold, often for more than the price of a club. The time-consuming processes involved in creating a Featherie ball ensured that the price was out of reach of the masses. Though expensive, this type of ball had excellent flight characteristics and almost immediately made the wooden ball obsolete. For over two centuries, the Featherie was the standard. This ball closely resembles the authentic Featherie ball and can be hit. Due to worldwide constraints on exporting bird feathers, we have had to use a different material inside but with similar characteristics. Handmade in St Andrews, Scotland