A golf club head comprising a main body portion formed by a steel casting; a face plate formed of forged steel, and having a periphery, a ball striking front face, and a rear side; provisions for joining the periphery of the face plate at the main body portion to form a high strength, forged face plate for the golf club head; and the main body portion forming a first rearwardly re-entrant recess directly communicating with the face plate rear side over the major area of the rear side. The face plate may alternatively consist of consolidated metal powder.