USGA Museum facts for kids
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USGA Museum in 2019
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| Established | 1936 |
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| Location | Liberty Corner, New Jersey |
| Type | Sports museum |
The United States Golf Association Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History is a special place that holds many golf items and memories. It's located right next to the main office of the United States Golf Association in Liberty Corner, which is in Bernards Township, Somerset County, New Jersey. It's a great spot to learn all about the history of golf!
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Museum History
The idea for the USGA Museum started in 1935. A member of the USGA, George Blossom, suggested creating a collection of old golf items. Just one year later, in 1936, the USGA Museum and Library Committee was formed. Their main job was to collect important golf items and books. The museum received its first big gift in 1938: Bobby Jones' famous putter, called Calamity Jane II.
For its first 16 years, the museum didn't have its own building. The golf items were shown in different parts of the USGA offices in New York. In 1951, the USGA bought a property in New York City. This became the first dedicated space for the museum's collections, and it officially opened there. Since 1972, the museum has been located at the USGA's headquarters in Liberty Corner, New Jersey. This building has public display areas, offices for staff, and special rooms to store the collections. The building itself was designed in 1919 by John Russell Pope, a famous architect who also designed the National Archives Building and the Jefferson Memorial.
In 2005, the museum closed for a big update and expansion project. It reopened on June 3, 2008. The museum now includes the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History. This new part added about 16,000 square feet of space. It has over 5,000 square feet of new exhibit areas, a research center, and modern storage rooms. In 2012, some valuable items, including the U.S. Amateur Trophy and a copy of Ben Hogan's 1953 Hickok Belt, were unfortunately taken from the museum during a break-in.
Museum Exhibits
The USGA Museum shows off the largest and most important collection of golf items and documents in the country. The exhibits are interactive, meaning you can often touch or use them. They tell the story of how golf grew in the United States. They also highlight the most exciting moments in golf history, especially focusing on USGA champions and championships.
The Hall of Champions
This special round room, lit by windows high up, holds all 13 of the USGA's national championship trophies. The names of every USGA champion, like eight-time winners Bobby Jones and Tiger Woods, are written on bronze panels around the room.
Permanent Galleries
The Permanent Galleries at the USGA Museum tell the story of golf in America from the late 1800s until today. Each gallery focuses on a different time period and important moments. These include famous champions and events that are key to understanding how golf has grown and become important in U.S. history. There are also special rooms dedicated to golf legends like Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Arnold Palmer.
The Pynes Putting Course
The Pynes Putting Course is a fun, nine-hole putting area. It covers about 16,000 square feet.
See also
- Golf in the United States
- History of golf
- Jack Nicklaus Museum
- R&A World Golf Museum
