The single digits on a golf ball are for identification purposes only. If you play with a large group of people, the numbers help differentiate your ball. The triple digits on a golf ball indicate the number of dimples, which can affect the way the ball travels through the air. Generally, heavily dimpled balls travel farther. The double digits on a golf ball indicate compression rating, which identifies how much a ball deforms when struck.
Effect
When you hit a golf ball, the ball deforms slightly. The force that you exert when you swing the club travels into the ball. A soft ball will compress significantly more than a hard ball, just as a sponge will compress significantly more than a rock. The effect is that some balls feel as if they are soft when you hit them, while others feel hard.
Compression Rating
Balls with a low compression rating feel relatively soft when hit and those with a high compression rating feel relatively hard. In the past, balls had compression readings of 80, 90 or 100, but not all modern golf balls have these ratings.
Lack of Standardization
While a modern ball's compression rating might mean something when compared with other balls produced by the same manufacturer, you can't compare compression ratings among different manufacturers. There is no industry standard, so there's no way to tell what a relatively higher or lower compression rating means.
Considerations
Today's golf ball manufacturers use the compression rating to convey how a ball feels when you hit it. There's no clear benefit to any particular compression rating, so it just comes down to personal preference. The most effective approach is to try balls with different compression ratings to see which works best for your playing style.
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