Abstract: A golf ball having a coating of a water-based, water-reducible polyurethane, and a related method of forming a coating on a golf ball which avoids the problems of foaming of the coating. The coating is formed by the addition of a first component comprising a compound having hydroxyl functionality, an organic solvent, an optical brightener and water, to a second component comprising an aliphatic polyisocyanate and an organic solvent. In addition, a method of forming a top coat on a golf ball having a SURLYN.RTM. outer layer which avoids the use of a primer coat or adhesion promoting layer is disclosed.