Cannonballs are a lot bigger and go a lot faster than golfballs, and resistance is proportional to the square of velocity and to the cross-sectional area, hence drag deceleration is proportional to (vel*diam)^2 / mass.
Golfball: initial speed 70 m/s, diameter 1.68in, mass 1.62oz, giving in SI units a deceleration proportional to ((70*0.0426)^2) / 0.046 = 193.
So there’s not much in it. Despite weighing two hundred times as much, the initial deceleration is only about 25% less. Solving the equations numerically gives clearly asymmetrical trajectories. When fired at 30 degrees elevation, the cannonball peaks 60% of the way through its flight and lands at an angle of 50 degrees.
Let’s look at the numbers.
Cannonballs are a lot bigger and go a lot faster than golfballs, and resistance is proportional to the square of velocity and to the cross-sectional area, hence drag deceleration is proportional to (vel*diam)^2 / mass.
Cannonball (example): 590mph, 20 pounds, 5.5in diameter, giving ((263*0.14)^2) / 9.09 = 149.
Golfball: initial speed 70 m/s, diameter 1.68in, mass 1.62oz, giving in SI units a deceleration proportional to ((70*0.0426)^2) / 0.046 = 193.
So there’s not much in it. Despite weighing two hundred times as much, the initial deceleration is only about 25% less. Solving the equations numerically gives clearly asymmetrical trajectories. When fired at 30 degrees elevation, the cannonball peaks 60% of the way through its flight and lands at an angle of 50 degrees.
You are correct about the Magnus effect.