The Villages - February 2021 - 5

" A few years later (in the mid-1800s), they started
making balls out of gutta-percha, which was a tree
sap, " he said. " See how dark they are?
They would take the tree sap, dip it
in hot water and mold the balls with
their hands. These were easier to
make, so they could make more than
a few in a day. "
As with so many inventions in
history, trial and error paved
the way for progress.
" After several rounds with
the gutta percha, the balls got
little nicks and grooves, and
they realized this made it fly
higher and farther, " Stewart
said. " That's when they
started experimenting with
different patterns. "
Manufacturers began hammering,
chiseling and carving designs onto golf balls to
create texture.

" Then came the bramble ball, see the bumps, like
pimples? " Stewart asked, rolling the nubbed dome in
his palm. The protrusions forge a berry-like surface
resembling fruit in the bramble family - blackberries,
raspberries and dewberries.
" So this was the evolution, " Stewart continued.
Autographed balls make up a good portion
of his collection, including those signed by
Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tiger Woods,
Nancy Lopez, Arnold Palmer, Fuzzy
Zoeller, Greg Norman and dozens of
other pros. Surrounded by golf history
books and catalogs, a hole-in-one
award sits on the coffee table - his
grandfather's prized ball.
" He won this in 1955, " Stewart
said, examining the date etched on the
ball. " Back then there were ashtrays
everywhere. " Stewart runs his hand along
the shiny brass base that holds the tee and golf
ball in its center - an ashtray.

Stewart's grandfather's prized ball and
ashtrays hole-in-one award.

MAGAZINE

5



The Villages - February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - February 2021

Contents
The Villages - February 2021 - Cover1
The Villages - February 2021 - Cover2
The Villages - February 2021 - 1
The Villages - February 2021 - Contents
The Villages - February 2021 - 3
The Villages - February 2021 - 4
The Villages - February 2021 - 5
The Villages - February 2021 - 6
The Villages - February 2021 - 7
The Villages - February 2021 - 8
The Villages - February 2021 - 9
The Villages - February 2021 - 10
The Villages - February 2021 - 11
The Villages - February 2021 - 12
The Villages - February 2021 - 13
The Villages - February 2021 - 14
The Villages - February 2021 - 15
The Villages - February 2021 - 16
The Villages - February 2021 - 17
The Villages - February 2021 - 18
The Villages - February 2021 - 19
The Villages - February 2021 - 20
The Villages - February 2021 - 21
The Villages - February 2021 - 22
The Villages - February 2021 - 23
The Villages - February 2021 - 24
The Villages - February 2021 - 25
The Villages - February 2021 - 26
The Villages - February 2021 - 27
The Villages - February 2021 - 28
The Villages - February 2021 - 29
The Villages - February 2021 - 30
The Villages - February 2021 - 31
The Villages - February 2021 - 32
The Villages - February 2021 - 33
The Villages - February 2021 - 34
The Villages - February 2021 - 35
The Villages - February 2021 - 36
The Villages - February 2021 - 37
The Villages - February 2021 - 38
The Villages - February 2021 - 39
The Villages - February 2021 - 40
The Villages - February 2021 - 41
The Villages - February 2021 - 42
The Villages - February 2021 - 43
The Villages - February 2021 - 44
The Villages - February 2021 - 45
The Villages - February 2021 - 46
The Villages - February 2021 - 47
The Villages - February 2021 - 48
The Villages - February 2021 - 49
The Villages - February 2021 - 50
The Villages - February 2021 - 51
The Villages - February 2021 - 52
The Villages - February 2021 - 53
The Villages - February 2021 - 54
The Villages - February 2021 - 55
The Villages - February 2021 - 56
The Villages - February 2021 - 57
The Villages - February 2021 - 58
The Villages - February 2021 - 59
The Villages - February 2021 - 60
The Villages - February 2021 - 61
The Villages - February 2021 - 62
The Villages - February 2021 - 63
The Villages - February 2021 - 64
The Villages - February 2021 - 65
The Villages - February 2021 - 66
The Villages - February 2021 - 67
The Villages - February 2021 - 68
The Villages - February 2021 - 69
The Villages - February 2021 - 70
The Villages - February 2021 - 71
The Villages - February 2021 - 72
The Villages - February 2021 - 73
The Villages - February 2021 - 74
The Villages - February 2021 - 75
The Villages - February 2021 - 76
The Villages - February 2021 - Cover3
The Villages - February 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol6
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol5
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol4
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/DreamALittleDream-RRO
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol3
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol2
https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com