Highly-neutralized acid polymers and their use in golf balls

1. A golf ball comprising a center and a cover, wherein the center is formed from a polymer composition, the polymer composition comprising:

at least 50 wt %, based on the total polymeric weight of the polymer composition, of an acid polymer having acid groups, wherein at least 70% of the acid groups are neutralized; and

at least 0.5 wt %, based on the total polymeric weight of the polymer composition, of a polyhydric alcohol selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, copolymers thereof, and blends thereof.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein at least 90% of the acid groups of the acid polymer are neutralized.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein at least 95% of the acid groups of the acid polymer are neutralized.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein 100% of the acid groups of the acid polymer are neutralized.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition has a notched izod impact strength of at least 2 ft·lb/in.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyhydric alcohol is polyethylene glycol or a copolymer thereof.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition is substantially free of fatty acids and their salts.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition has a melt flow index of from 1.0 g/10 min to 5.0 g/10 mm.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition consists essentially of:

at least 50 wt %, based on the total polymeric weight of the polymer composition, of the acid polymer;

at least 0.5 wt %, based on the total polymeric weight of the polymer composition, of the polyhydric alcohol; and

from 0 wt % to 60 wt %, based on the total weight of the polymer composition, of an inorganic additive.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition has a flexural modulus of from 5,000 psi to 125,000 psi.