USGA Museum
Encyclopedia
The United States Golf Association Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History is home to the world’s premier collection of golf artifacts and memorabilia. It is located adjacent to the United States Golf Association
’s headquarters in Far Hills, New Jersey
.
The USGA Museum is an educational institution dedicated to fostering an appreciation for the game of golf, its participants, and the Association. It serves as a caretaker and steward for the game’s history, supporting the Association’s role in ensuring the game’s future.
By collecting, preserving, and interpreting the historical developments of the game in the United States, with an emphasis on the Association and its championships, the Museum promotes a greater understanding of golf’s cultural significance for a worldwide audience.
The origins of the USGA Museum can be traced to 1935, when George Blossom, a member of the USGA’s Executive Committee, first proposed the creation of a collection of historical golf artifacts. One year later, in an effort to formalize the Museum, the USGA Museum and Library Committee was created with the primary function of collecting historically significant artifacts and books. The first significant donation to the Museum – Bobby Jones
’ legendary putter, Calamity Jane II – followed in 1938.
For the first 16 years of its existence, the Museum had no formal home and artifacts were displayed throughout the USGA offices in New York. In 1951, when the Association purchased the property at 40 East 38th Street in New York City, the first dedicated display space for the collections was created and the Museum was formally opened. Since 1972, the USGA’s headquarters in Far Hills, New Jersey, has provided public exhibition galleries, staff offices and collections storage for the Museum. The Museum is housed in a building designed in 1919 by John Russell Pope
, a noted architect who also designed the National Archives Building
and the Jefferson Memorial
.
In 2005, the Museum was closed for a three-year renovation and expansion project. The Museum, which re-opened June 3, 2008, now includes the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, which provides 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²) of additional space, with more than 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) of new exhibition galleries, a research center and technologically advanced storage rooms.
The Spirit of Championship Golf
A six-minute introductory film – "The Spirit of Championship Golf" – brings visitors into the world of USGA championships, exploring the physical, mental, and emotional skills required to excel at the game’s highest level. The program comprises interviews with USGA national champions, including some of the game’s most popular players such as Hale Irwin
, Peter Jacobsen
, Nancy Lopez
, Arnold Palmer
, and Annika Sörenstam
.
The Hall of Champions
The Hall of Champions, the signature architectural space in the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, celebrates every USGA champion and championship to date. The oval rotunda, illuminated by a clerestory, houses all 13 USGA national championship trophies, while the names of every USGA champion, such as eight-time winners Bobby Jones
and Tiger Woods
, are inscribed on bronze panels that encircle the room.
Permanent Galleries
The Permanent Galleries in the USGA Museum tell the story of golf in America, from the late 19th century to the present. Each gallery focuses on an era and iconic moment – champions and events in the game’s history that are pivotal for understanding the growth, evolution, and significance of the game in U.S. history. Special rooms are dedicated to Bobby Jones
, Ben Hogan
, and Arnold Palmer
.
in Scotland
. Starting positions for each hole are marked. Par is not indicated on the course scorecard but two-putts are well-earned.
The Pynes Putting Course is open to visitors during regular museum hours annually from April to October, weather permitting. Museum visitors receive a souvenir square-mesh golf ball and can choose from replicas of four classic putters, such as Bobby Jones’ famous Calamity Jane II, to play the nine-hole course that is altered on a weekly basis.
40.666023°N 74.612842°W
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
’s headquarters in Far Hills, New Jersey
Far Hills, New Jersey
Far Hills is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 919.Far Hills was incorporated as a borough based on an Act of the New Jersey Legislature passed on April 7, 1921, from portions of Bernards Township, subject to the results...
.
The USGA Museum is an educational institution dedicated to fostering an appreciation for the game of golf, its participants, and the Association. It serves as a caretaker and steward for the game’s history, supporting the Association’s role in ensuring the game’s future.
By collecting, preserving, and interpreting the historical developments of the game in the United States, with an emphasis on the Association and its championships, the Museum promotes a greater understanding of golf’s cultural significance for a worldwide audience.
Museum history
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
’ legendary putter, Calamity Jane II – followed in 1938.
For the first 16 years of its existence, the Museum had no formal home and artifacts were displayed throughout the USGA offices in New York. In 1951, when the Association purchased the property at 40 East 38th Street in New York City, the first dedicated display space for the collections was created and the Museum was formally opened. Since 1972, the USGA’s headquarters in Far Hills, New Jersey, has provided public exhibition galleries, staff offices and collections storage for the Museum. The Museum is housed in a building designed in 1919 by John Russell Pope
John Russell Pope
John Russell Pope was an architect most known for his designs of the National Archives and Records Administration building , the Jefferson Memorial and the West Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.-Biography:Pope was born in New York in 1874, the son of a successful...
, a noted architect who also designed the National Archives Building
National Archives Building
The National Archives Building, known informally as Archives I, is the original headquarters of the National Archives and Records Administration...
and the Jefferson Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is a presidential memorial in Washington, D.C. that is dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, an American Founding Father and the third President of the United States....
.
In 2005, the Museum was closed for a three-year renovation and expansion project. The Museum, which re-opened June 3, 2008, now includes the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, which provides 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²) of additional space, with more than 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) of new exhibition galleries, a research center and technologically advanced storage rooms.
Museum exhibits
The USGA Museum showcases the nation’s largest and most significant collection of golf artifacts and documents. The interactive multimedia exhibits tell the story of the game’s development in the United States, highlighting the greatest moments in the game's history, with a particular focus on USGA champions and championships.The Spirit of Championship Golf
A six-minute introductory film – "The Spirit of Championship Golf" – brings visitors into the world of USGA championships, exploring the physical, mental, and emotional skills required to excel at the game’s highest level. The program comprises interviews with USGA national champions, including some of the game’s most popular players such as Hale Irwin
Hale Irwin
Hale S. Irwin is an American professional golfer. He is one of the few players in history to have won three U.S. Opens and was one of the world's leading golfers for much of the 1970s and 1980s. He has also developed a career as a golf course architect.Irwin was born in Joplin, Missouri, but was...
, Peter Jacobsen
Peter Jacobsen
Peter Erling Jacobsen is an American professional golfer, who has played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. He has won seven events on the PGA Tour and two events on the Champions Tour, both majors.-Early years:...
, Nancy Lopez
Nancy Lopez
Nancy Marie Lopez is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won 48 LPGA Tour events during her LPGA career, including three major championships.-Amateur career:...
, Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
, and Annika Sörenstam
Annika Sörenstam
Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish-American professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golfer...
.
The Hall of Champions
The Hall of Champions, the signature architectural space in the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, celebrates every USGA champion and championship to date. The oval rotunda, illuminated by a clerestory, houses all 13 USGA national championship trophies, while the names of every USGA champion, such as eight-time winners Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
and Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
, are inscribed on bronze panels that encircle the room.
Permanent Galleries
The Permanent Galleries in the USGA Museum tell the story of golf in America, from the late 19th century to the present. Each gallery focuses on an era and iconic moment – champions and events in the game’s history that are pivotal for understanding the growth, evolution, and significance of the game in U.S. history. Special rooms are dedicated to Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
, Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game...
, and Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
.
The Pynes Putting Course
The Pynes Putting Course is a 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²), nine-hole facility that allows visitors to test their putting skills over the course’s humps and swales with replica antique clubs and balls from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The course was inspired by the world-renowned Himalayas Putting Green at St Andrews LinksSt Andrews Links
St Andrews Links in the town of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, is regarded as the "home of golf". It is one of the oldest courses in the world, where the game has been played since the 15th century...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Starting positions for each hole are marked. Par is not indicated on the course scorecard but two-putts are well-earned.
The Pynes Putting Course is open to visitors during regular museum hours annually from April to October, weather permitting. Museum visitors receive a souvenir square-mesh golf ball and can choose from replicas of four classic putters, such as Bobby Jones’ famous Calamity Jane II, to play the nine-hole course that is altered on a weekly basis.
External links
- USGA Museum website
- USGA website
- USGA Photo Collection online store
40.666023°N 74.612842°W