Golf ball having reduced surface hardness

A golf ball comprising:

• a core and at least one cover layer disposed about the core;
• the core comprising a geometric center and an outer surface, the core further comprising an untreated region extending radially from the geometric center a predetermined distance DUTr, a treated region disposed about the untreated region and extending inward from the outer surface a predetermined depth DTr, and an intermediate untreated region disposed about the untreated region and adjacent the treated region, said treated region having been exposed to and comprising a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition,
• wherein the treated region comprises a first hardness, the untreated region comprises a second hardness, and said intermediate untreated region comprises a third hardness, and
• wherein the first hardness is greater than the second hardness and the third hardness.

A golf ball comprising:

• a core and at least one cover layer disposed about the core;
• the core comprising a geometric center and an outer surface, the core further comprising an untreated region extending radially from the geometric center a predetermined distance DUTr, a treated region disposed about the untreated region and extending inward from the outer surface a predetermined depth DTr, and an intermediate untreated region disposed about the untreated region and adjacent the treated region, said treated region having been exposed to and comprising a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition,
• wherein the treated region comprises a first hardness, the untreated region comprises a second hardness, and said intermediate untreated region comprises a third hardness, and
• wherein the first hardness is greater than the second hardness and substantially similar to the third hardness.

A golf ball comprising:

• a core and at least one cover layer disposed about the core;
• the core comprising a geometric center and an outer surface, the core further comprising an untreated region extending radially from the geometric center a predetermined distance DUTr, a treated region disposed about the untreated region and extending inward from the outer surface a predetermined depth DTr, and an intermediate untreated region disposed about the untreated region and adjacent the treated region, said treated region having been exposed to and comprising a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition,
• wherein the treated region comprises a first hardness, the untreated region comprises a second hardness, and said intermediate untreated region comprises a third hardness, and
• wherein the first hardness is less than the second hardness and the third hardness.