Golf club head with composite face

A golf club head comprising:

• a face cup comprising an exterior face surface and a face recess disposed within the exterior face surface;
• an aft body affixed to the face cup;
• a composite face insert comprising an exterior insert surface and an insert recess disposed within the exterior insert surface;
• and
• a cap,
• wherein the face cup is formed separately from the aft body,
• wherein the composite face insert comprises a first plurality of prepreg plies, a second plurality of prepreg plies, and a variable thickness core that is permanently sandwiched between the first plurality of prepreg plies and the second plurality of prepreg plies,
• wherein the variable thickness core comprises a sheet molding compound comprising carbon fiber bundles having random orientations,
• wherein the carbon fiber bundles are pre-spread prior to being processed into the sheet molding compound,
• wherein the composite face insert is disposed within the face recess,
• wherein the cap is disposed within the insert recess,
• wherein the cap is smaller than the composite insert so that a portion of the exterior insert surface is visible when the golf club head is fully assembled, and
• wherein the cap, exterior insert surface, and exterior face surface form a smooth striking surface.