The approach to the museum is as memorable as any drive you’ll make: Thick trees bordering a country road, come round a small curve and the fantastically manicured lawn and brick buildings come into view. Behind the museum sits Golf House, with a fun putting green nearby (more on the green later).

Welcome to the Game

Upon entering, the first sight that will grab Palmer fans is the dedicated room to the right of reception. There, Jim Chase’s amazing work of art, “Gratitude,” holds center court. The portrait of Arnold Palmer is created out of 22,719 words taken from people, places and events in Arnie’s life. Amateur wins are recorded to the right of his lips and up, professional scores (of every round) follow, quotations from Palmer and from people in his life appear in relevant places on the face and so on. The work is an elegantly concise and precise biography of sorts that is as amazing an achievement as the man it portrays. Thankfully for those of us with non-Superman eyesight, the museum makes the portrait even more accessible with a nifty trick of technology. An interactive touch-screen display beneath the portrait allows viewers to rotate, zoom-in and highlight any part of the work. It makes the portrait a true delight (not just an awesome artifact) and introduces the visitor to the kind of technology found throughout the entire USGA facility.

The rest of the Arnold Palmer room explores various facets of Palmer’s personal life, including his charity work, his life as a pilot and his incredible career on course. The personal items on display are rather special, and were carefully chosen by Palmer and his closest associates.

As Museum Director Rand Jerris explains, a goal of the renovation was to avoid turning the museum into an endless series of cases full of memorabilia. While there are some incredible artifacts from golf ’s past—and we mean incredible—the majority of the displays on individual golfers are more personable, more story-telling in nature and thus more engaging.

Trophy Room

Following a well-assembled film presentation, visitors enter the Hall of Champions, which houses all 13 original USGA national championship trophies. Of particular note, the Cox Trophy from the 1896 Women’s Amateur. Not only is it beautiful, but it is the longest-serving USGA championship trophy in existence. (The original 1895 U.S. Open Championship trophy won by Horace Rawlins was destroyed in a 1946 fire.)

Walk Through Time

From the Hall of Champions, the museum walks us through golf as set against the events of world history, offering context along with content and reintroducing the great victories of the past as vibrant and vital achievements that often superseded the game itself. For example, rather than present Francis Ouimet’s 1913 U.S. Open victory over British stars Harry Vardon and Ted Ray as “merely” a golfing upset, the museum shows it as a statement of America’s emergence in the 20th century. Here and throughout the museum, “Video Jukeboxes” are employed to further engage visitors. Touch-screen interfaces on video kiosks invite viewers to access various film clips, broadcasts and photo collections to better appreciate the exhibits. Very well done.

Our History in Golf

Post-WWI is explored as thoughtfully, with Bobby Jones held alongside Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey as a man of the times, one of the newly created “sports heroes” that emerged with the automobile, electric appliances and the king of all American icons: the movie star. Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen and Glenna Collett are also well noted.

The Great Depression and WWII are shown as mixed times for golf. Bob Jones had retired, but women and working men flocked to the game in tremendous numbers. The phenomenal Babe Didrikson Zaharias is given her due, along with Patty Berg, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead.

Of particular interest are two WWII-era golf balls fashioned by POWs out of military boot materials. As Jerris says, these are national treasures, showing the persistence of both U.S. POWs and of golf itself. Seeing the balls within the context of the display is moving, indeed.

In an inspired bit of presentation, golf in the Cold War era is shown as a clash of superpowers. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and—you guessed it—Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. A series of televisions broadcasts footage from both Arnie and Jack’s early days and sets up the modern age of the game with a nod to their course design companies and other business pursuits.

Today and Beyond

The modern era is presented as a work in progress, and rightfully so. Tiger Woods is only part of the story, as the sport itself is changing into a global endeavor. Where are we going? The museum doesn’t speculate, but it leaves you excited to find out what comes next.

After learning about the history of the game (and of the world, in case you didn’t pay attention in school), the USGA Museum offers a final treat with its challenging putting green, which sits just behind the main museum building. Grab a replica vintage club and ball and head out to try your luck. No kidding, you’ll feel more fulfilled for having just seen all of the exhibits.

Visit the USGA Museum online at www.usgamuseum.com

USGA Museum Research Center

Inside the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, the USGA Museum Research Center offers a tremendously complete collection of records related to golf. More than 20,000 records are available, including articles, magazines, rare books and periodicals. Even Bob Jones’ personal archives are here. If you’ve any questions about golf ’s past, this is a must-visit facility. Call ahead and book time, though. There’s a single librarian working the desk. She’s well organized and very friendly, and she’d appreciate your being the same.

Find out more at www.usgamuseum.com/researchers