Abstract: The striking surface of a club head is provided with a multilayer coating. A first layer is a tungsten cobalt carbide matrix material which is applied to the substrate by thermal spraying. The particles of the tungsten cobalt carbide matrix material clump on the roughened surface, adhere to the surface by a mechanical bond, and provide a striking surface having a hardness of approximately 46 to 48 on the Rockwell C scale. Preferably, the club head is then heat treated in a vacuum at approximately 1850.degree.F. for approximately five to ten minutes, causing the tungsten cobalt carbide matrix to fuse to the substrate in a metallurgical bond. The metallurgical bond provides a striking surface having a hardness of approximately 54 to 58. The striking surface is next treated to roughen the surface and to remove contaminants and impurities. A ceramic-metal matrix of hard composites is then thermal spray coated over the first layer, providing a striking surface with a hardness of approximately 60 to 63.