the biggest problem is how this would work. i'm thinking have the innards of the ball replaced with a sturdy and elastic substance, maybe a big ball of wire made out of flexon memory metal alloy. ill the center with gasoline and have the dimples in the ball drilled a little deeper. the advantages include the fact that the ball is easier to find when it goes out of bounds, easier tracking, and it would just look really cool. handling might be difficult, tho. and i doubt course owners would appreciate having paths burned into their greens.
-- nick_n_uit, Apr 08 2001

Perfect for use here... http://www.halfbake...e_20driving_20range
...at the Target Practice Driving Range. [PotatoStew, Apr 08 2001, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Night golf ball. http://www.us3produ...ties.html#glowgolf1
A small cyalume stick and away you go. [StarChaser, Apr 08 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Exploding Golf Ball http://www.fakecrap...ding_golf_ball.html
Not QUITE what you're talking about, but pretty close [AfroAssault, Apr 08 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Lighting thermite http://www.youtube....t3E&feature=related
Don't try this at home [Mony a Mickle, Nov 20 2008]

US Military's Incendiary Fireballs http://memebox.com/...reblogger/show/1278
Your idea has been baked, but as a weapon. [Club Ed, Nov 20 2008]

A wonderful idea. You could sell them at the Target Practice Driving Range [see link].
-- PotatoStew, Apr 08 2001


There are translucent golf balls that you put a small chemical glow stick in to light up for night golf.

No wildfires, but it still lights up...
-- StarChaser, Apr 10 2001


From what I've read (of ninja obscura), limestone chunks soaked in fuel do quite a nice job of burning without being consumed and simultaneously allowing airflow. Limestone might prove less than ideal as material for golf balls, but AfroAssault would still buy them, I'm sure. Maybe have a core of small flint/steel scraps, surrounded by a fuel-soaked limestone layer, with an outer layer of holey hard plastic, like a wiffle golf ball. The original smack would rattle the scraps enough to make a few sparks, which would ignite the fuel, while the plastic would be enough to hold the whole thing together and weather that initial blow.
-- absterge, Apr 10 2001


I'd buy em too.
-- iuvare, Apr 10 2001


yeah, I would too. :)
-- absterge, Apr 10 2001


That looks fun. I'd stand back too if I were the guy in those photos. (by the way, nice apostrophe in "photo's" :)
-- PotatoStew, Apr 11 2001


I love seeing my name in other people's annotations... and here's a cheap way (that probably won't work so well, I'll try it sometime) to make one: make napalm using gasoline and styrofoam (just put the styrofoam in the gas and it'll dissolve into syrup), then put some on the ball. Be sure to leave the part you're about to hit clean, otherwise it'll stick to your club. Light and swing.
-- AfroAssault, Apr 18 2001


Flaming Golf Balls isn't what you get after an unconsumated make-out session with a lady golf pro?
-- Dog Ed, Apr 18 2001


Wouldn't other players in Tournament get suspicious if you're using a Flame retardant Golf Bag while wearing safety equipment?
-- thumbwax, Apr 18 2001


//All it needs is a good, solid blow//

Are we sure about that? In fact, thermite is a right bugger to ignite - you need some serious heat. You can sit on it all day with a butane or propane torch, no dice. I'm told oxy/accetylene is not normally successful either. Normal method is using a magnesium ribbon. Apparently an arc works okay, never had luck myself. Otherwise, you need some other highly energetic reaction, like some of the more dodgy fuel/oxidiser mixes popular with the chemistry students.
-- Custardguts, Nov 20 2008


Try a sparkler [link] Maybe a percussion cap on the club face?
-- Mony a Mickle, Nov 20 2008


Ping pong balls are made from highly flammable nitrocellulose, perhaps something similar could be adopted for golf balls.
-- Spacecoyote, Nov 22 2008



random, halfbakery