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Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Tiger Woods are all names that evoke powerful emotions in the world of golf. Those are just a few of the legendary golfers honored at the United States Golf Association Museum’s grand opening of the USGA Museum and the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History on Tuesday, June 3, 2008.
"The USGA Museum and the new Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History are great homes for the enduring history of golf in the United States," said USGA President Jim Vernon. "We are proud to celebrate our national champions and the place they hold in the fabric of American golf. We encourage all those who love golf to visit."
It took more than three years of renovation and construction for the museum to open its Fair Hills, New Jersey doors. The event was emceed by 17-time LPGA tournament champion Dottie Pepper and included speeches by USGA executive committee member Cameron Jay Rains, USGA museum director Rand Jerris, seven-time USGA champion Carol Semple Thompson, USGA President Jim Vernon and, of course, Arnold Palmer. Nancy Byrne, executive director of the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism recognized June 3, 2008, as ‘Arnold Palmer Day.’
"I am confident that the Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History will be true assets to the tourism industry in the state, drawing even more visitors to New Jersey who are interested in experiencing a taste of the sport's enduring history," said Byrne.
The original USGA Museum building, built in 1919, has been enlarged and updated. The new building now features the Bob Jones Room, the Ben Hogan Room and the new Arnold Palmer Room. The new expansion includes the 16,000-square –foot Palmer Center, consisting of public exhibition galleries, a research room to aid the access of the collections and state-of-the-art storage areas that offer suitable climate and security for the long-term care of historical artifacts.
The Palmer Center is home to a collection of the most significant golf artifacts and documents in the nation, including hundreds of items never before displayed by the USGA. While the museum was closed, the staff examined each collection and selected the artifacts that best represented the USGA story. Historical documents, scrapbooks, photographs, film footage, books, clubs, balls, posters, medals, clothing and trophies are all integral parts of this 2,000-piece collection.
Never before has a USGA building been dedicated to a single individual. The name Arnold Palmer represents an enduring connection between the game of golf and the people who love the game, and was so named to honor that tie.
The new exhibitions in the Palmer Center represent golf history and USGA championship history within the context of American social, cultural and political history. The museum features a world-class collection of golf artifacts including six iconic moments pivotal to the development of golf:
* Francis Ouimet's historic victory in the 1913 U.S. Open
* Bob Jones's Grand Slam in 1930
* The Great Depression and the democratization of golf
* The heroic comebacks of Ben Hogan in the 1950 U.S. Open and Babe Didrikson Zaharias in the 1954 U.S. Women's Open
* The rivalry between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus in the 1960 and 1962 U.S. Opens
* Tiger Woods, the 2000 U.S. Open, and the emergence of a global game
Visitors will soon be able to engage in the golf experience on a large putting green located behind the Museum. The putting green invites visitors to putt with replica antique clubs and balls, as well as modern equipment. This 16,000-square-foot green includes humps and swales, engineered to make the experience challenging and entertaining, while educational. It is scheduled to open in September 2008.
The USGA Museum is an educational institution dedicated to the appreciation of the game of golf, its players and the Association. By collecting, preserving and interpreting the historical developments of the game, the Museum encourages a greater knowledge of golf's cultural significance to a worldwide audience.
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