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A Guide To Golf Museums and Collections
For the most serious collector with a passion for golf or the average duffer who wants to learn more about golf, there are many sources to satify everyone's needs.
World Golf offers a selection of museums, private collections and clubs that offer a varied selection of golf memorabilia. While most are available to the public on a regular basis, some, such as the private collectors allow visits only by appointment and it is not always easy.
American Golf Classics
12842 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, Virginia 23602 USA
Telephone: (703) 874-7271
Many clubs that were previously owned by PGA pros are on display in this collection. Call first to arrange a visit.
American Golf Hall of Fame
Foxburg Country Club, Box 305, Harvey Road, Foxburg, Pennsylvania 16036
Telephone: (412) 659-3196
The collection began with the opening of the club in 1887 by Joseph Mickle Fox after being taught the fundamentals of the game by Old Tom Morris of St. Andrews. The collection includes clubs, balls, books and artwork. The club is open 7 days a week during the months of April to October. Call first for access.
Atlanta Athletic Club
Robert T. Jones, Jr. Room, Athletic Club Drive, Duluth, Georgia 30136 USA
Telephone: (404) 448-2166
Members of the club who were also great players of the past are honored in this private exhibit. Jones is featured with over 268 books from his personal collection. The trophy case includes replicas of trophies won by Jones as well as other club members including Watts Gunn, Charlie Yates and Alexa Stirling Fraser. The collection is open Tuesday through Sunday. Call ahead for times and access.
The B.C. Golf House Society
2545 Blanca Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Telephone: (604) 222-4653
Collection of British Columbian and Canadian golf historical items. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
British Golf Museum
St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Telephone: (0334) 73423
The history of the game is told in this collection of clubs, balls and artwork. Opened in the summer of 1990, it is located behind the Royal And Ancient clubhouse.
Broadmoor Golf Club
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901 USA
Telephone: (719) 577-5790
A private collection of clubs and artwork, guests of the Broadmoor resort are given full access.
Canadian Golf Museum and Historical Institute
Kingsway Park Golf And Country Club, 1461 Mountain Road, RR#2, Aylmer, Quebec, Canada J9H 5E1
Telephone: (819) 827-4403
Equipment, golf art and a small library are available here. You can see the evolution of the golf balls and clubs. Of particular interest is the earliest color golf illustration created in North America in Montreal in 1885, an iron club used by J.H. Oke, the first Canadian Open winner and a leather-faced driver of Willie Park, winner of the first British Open in 1860. Open daily with no admission charge.
Colonial Country Club
3735 Country Club Circle, Fort Worth, Texas 76109 USA
Telephone: (817) 927-4200
Ben Hogan memorabilia including medals and trophies are on display. Call for opening days and hours.
The Heritage of Golf
West Links Road, Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
Telephone: (087 57) 277
The highlight of this private collection is the featherie balls, early golf books and early golf oil paintings and watercolors. Excellent examples of early equipment and ceramics round out the collection of Archie Baird, the owner and curator. An appointment is required to visit.
James River Country Club Museum
1500 Country Club Road, Newport News, Virginia 23606 USA
Telephone: (808) 596-4772
Many intriguing items make up the collection at this museum which claims to be the oldest golf museum in the world. Some of the items include some long-nosed woods of Tom Morris, the putter used by Horace Rawlins when he won the first US Open Championship in 1895, the clubs that Harry Vardon used to win the 1900 US Open and a wooden putter made around 1790 by Simon Cossar of Leith, Scotland, a well known clubmaker of his day. Visitors are welcome daily but an advance phone call is requested.
Japan Golf Association Golf Museum
Palace Building, 6th Floor, Tokyo, Japan
Relatively new museum (1987) with primarily British golf material.
Jude E. Poynter Golf Museum
College of the Desert, 43 - 500 Monterey Avenue, Palm Desert, California 92260 USA
Telephone: (619) 341-2491
A relative new museum opened in 1990. Included in the collection are a rare wicker golf bag made in Hong Kong and one of six 1926 reproductions of "Calamity Jane" - Bobby Jones' putter. You can also see a 19th century "Kolven" club. The Dutch invented Koven which some believe to be the beginning of golf.
Los Angeles Country Club
10101 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90024 USA
Telephone: (213) 276-6104
A small but varied collection of memorabilia including balls, clubs, tees etc. Private club. Contact first for access.
National Golf Links of America
Southampton, New York 11968 USA
Telephone: (516) 283-0410
Access to this collection of books, artwork and clubs is limited to members and guests.
Northern California Golf Association
Box 1157, Pebble Beach, California 93953 USA
Telephone: (408) 625-4653
Housed in the offices of the association, collection of books, cubs and balls may be studied during office hours. Please phone first.
Old Marsh Golf Club
7500 Old Marsh Road, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418 USA
Telephone: (407) 626-7400
Of the two sites at this location, Old Marsh is the best known but harder to gain access to unless you are escorted by a member. Old Marsh has a putter owned by Willie Park and a club made by James McEwan in 1770 that has a lead weight which has been hollowed out to suit the player who used it. The other site, Harbour Town, also has a good collection and access is easier. Call for more information.
Ouimet Room - Massachusetts Golf Association
190 Park Road, Weston, Massachusetts 02193 USA
Telephone: (617) 891-4300
A tribute to golfer Francis Ouimet but also includes equipment of other famed Massachusetts and New England golfers. Call ahead for access.
Pine Valley Golf Club
Pine Valley, New Jersey 08021 USA
Telephone: (609) 783-3000
A Walter Hagen wedge and a putter owned by Tom Morris along with a collection of rut irons are included in this very exclusive club. A small library is also on the site which is limited to members and their guests.
PGA Golf Hall of Fame
PGA Boulevard, Box 2908, Pinehurst, North Carolina 28374 USA
Telephone: (919) 295-6651 or (800) 334-0178
Highlight is the 90 foot long display featuring original artwork, feather balls and vintage clubs in a complete history of golf. Check out the golf ball wall covered with more than 13,000 logoed balls. Operated by the PGA of America, you can visit the museum daily from March 1 to December 1.
Ralph W. Miller Library
One Industry Hills Parkway, City of Industry, CA 91744 USA
Telephone: (818) 854-2354
A great library with books on Scottish history, golf history, golfers biographies and every other type of book relating to golf. It is funded by the City of Industry as a public library. Among the great finds is a copy of The Life Of Tom Morris with autographs by Tom Morris and the author, W.W. Tulloch.
Royal Canadian Golf Association
RR# 2, Golf House, Oakville, Ontario Canada
Telephone: (416) 849-9700
Golf in Canada is commemorated with books, clubs and trophies. You can also visit the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Open weekends only.
Royal North Devon Golf Club Museum at Westward Ho!
Westward Ho!, Devon, England
Telephone: (02372) 3824
A new collection opened in 1985. Housed at one of Britain's oldest clubs. Visitors welcome. Call ahead for hours.
Western Golf Association
1 Briar Road, Golf, Illinois 60029 USA
Collection contains mostly clubs and books. Open during Association Hours. Call ahead to confirm.
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