Patent ID: 7056230

Claim:
A golf ball comprising: a body comprising a spherical outer surface having a first shape, first diameter, and first hardness which cooperatively cause the golf ball to have a first performance characteristic; at least a portion of the spherical outer surface comprising a material that changes from at least one of the first shape, first diameter, and first hardness upon being immersed in water continuously for a time period less than one hundred eighty days so that the golf ball has a second performance characteristic that is different than the first performance characteristic, said portion of the spherical outer surface maintaining the at least one of the first shape, first diameter, and first hardness such that the golf ball does not undergo a change from the first performance characteristic with the golf ball exposed to water for the duration of a round of golf, a difference between the first and second performance characteristic being such that the golf ball with the second performance characteristic is not practically usable to play golf with.