The invention provides a golf ball composed of a core, a cover having a plurality of dimples on an outside surface thereof, and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover. The intermediate layer is formed of a highly neutralized resin material, and has a Shore D hardness below 50 and a thickness of at least 1.7 mm but not more than 6.0 mm. The cover and the intermediate layer have a difference in Shore D hardness therebetween (cover Shore D hardness−intermediate layer Shore D hardness) of from 13 to 35. The cover and the intermediate layer have a combined thickness greater than 3 mm. The ball as a whole has a deflection, when compressed under a final load of 130 kgf from an initial load of 10 kgf, of at least about 2.0 mm but not more than about 4.0 mm. The golf ball, through a combination of dimples which do not cause a loss of lift in the low-velocity, low-spin rate region of the ball trajectory and a low-spin construction, travels farther and is therefore beneficial for competitive use by both skilled and amateur golfers.