Plated magnesium golf club head

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body composed of a magnesium alloy material, the body comprising at least a portion of a sole and a portion of a crown of the golf club head; and

a plating deposited on the portion of the sole of the body, the plating comprising a layer composed of a nickel or a nickel-based alloy material, and at least one additional layer composed of a material selected from the group consisting of zinc, chromium, tin-cobalt and copper, wherein the plating has a mass ranging from 1.0 gram to 3.0 grams and a thickness ranging from 0.0002 inch to 0.002 inch;

wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 465 cubic centimeters, and a moment of inertia about the Izz axis of the golf club head is greater than 3000 g-cm 2 .

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the nickel or nickel-based alloy material comprises a layer of MAGENTA electroless nickel and a layer of medium or high phosphorus electroless nickel.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the plating comprises a zinc layer on the magnesium alloy material of the body, a copper layer on the zinc layer, the nickel or nickel-based alloy on the copper layer, and a tin-cobalt or chromium layer on the nickel or nickel-based alloy layer.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the plating has a Rockwell C hardness greater than 50.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 further comprising a plating material on the crown portion of the body.

6. A golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a metal material, the face component having a striking plate portion and a return portion, the striking plate portion having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch and the return portion having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch, wherein the face component has a mass ranging from 65 grams to 95 grams;

an aft-body composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of magnesium, magnesium alloys, aluminum, and aluminum alloys, the aft-body having a crown portion, a sole portion and a ribbon portion, the aft-body attached to the return portion of the face component wherein the aft-body has a mass ranging from 10 grams to 60 grams;

a plurality of weight members having a combined mass ranging from 30 grams to 120 grams, each of the plurality of weight members disposed with a weight cavity of the aft-body; and

a plating disposed on the aft-body, the plating comprising a layer composed of a nickel or a nickel-based alloy material, and at least one additional layer composed of a material selected from the group consisting of zinc, chromium, tin-cobalt and copper, wherein the plating has a mass ranging from 1.0 gram to 3.0 grams and a thickness ranging from 0.0002 inch to 0.002 inch;

wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 465 cubic centimeters, and a moment of inertia about the Izz axis of the golf club head is greater than 3000 g-cm 2 .

7. The golf club head according to claim 6 wherein the plating comprises a layer of MAGENTA electroless nickel and a layer of medium or high phosphorus electroless nickel.

8. The golf club head according to claim 6 wherein the plating comprises a zinc layer on the metal aft-body, a copper layer on the zinc layer, the nickel or nickel-based alloy on the copper layer, and a tin-cobalt or chromium layer on the nickel or nickel-based alloy layer.

9. The golf club head according to claim 6 wherein the aft-body is composed of an injection molded metal material.

10. The golf club head according to claim 6 wherein the face component is composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of titanium alloy, amorphous metal, stainless steel and maraging steel.

11. The golf club head according to claim 6 wherein the nickel or nickel-based alloy is deposited by an electrolytic process.

12. The golf club head according to claim 6 wherein the nickel or nickel-based alloy is deposited by an electroless process.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a metal material, the face component having a striking plate portion and a return portion, the striking plate portion having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch and the return portion having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch, the return portion extending a distance ranging 0.25 inch to 1.5 inches, wherein the face component has a mass ranging from 65 grams to 95 grams;

an aft-body comprising an upper section and a lower section, the upper section comprising a crown portion and an upper ribbon portion and the lower section comprising a sole portion and a lower ribbon portion, the aft-body composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of magnesium, magnesium alloys, aluminum, and aluminum alloys, the aft-body attached to the return portion of the face component, the aft-body having a thickness ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.100 inch, wherein the aft-body has a mass ranging from 10 grams to 60 grams;

a plurality of weight members having a combined mass ranging from 30 grams to 120 grams, each of the plurality of weight members disposed with a weight cavity of the aft-body; and

a plating disposed on the aft-body, the plating comprising nickel or a nickel-based alloy material, and at least one additional layer composed of a material selected from the group consisting of zinc, chromium, tin-cobalt and copper, the plating having a thickness ranging from 0.0002 inch to 0.002 inch and a mass ranging from 1.0 gram to 3.0 grams;

wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 180 grams to 225 grams, a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 465 cubic centimeters, and a moment of inertia about the Izz axis of the golf club head is greater than 3000 g-cm 2 .