Monodisperse poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) (P(S-co-AA)) particles having a "golf ball-like" shape were prepared by nonsolvent/solvent-induced phase separation process. The method is simple and easy operation. The nonsolvent/solvent phase was mixture of butanol, n-heptane and toluene. The dimpled surface comes from the aggregation of oil droplets on the surface of polymer spheres. The dimple's morphology can be controlled by the polymer templates, dispersion medium, reaction time, and temperature. Reverse Pickering emulsion model was suggested for the formation of golf ball-like particles. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.