A Swing Through Golf History in New Jersey

(John Mummert - Usga Archives)

One of the first things you see is one of the most remarkable. Titled "Gratitude," it's a pen-and-ink rendering of Palmer, drawn completely with tiny written words. The portrait, in the center of the Arnold Palmer Room, is by James David Chase, a California artist and communications professor. The amazing swirl of more than 22,000 words took Chase years to complete.

"It's a tremendously personal piece," says Jerris, "that celebrates Palmer as an icon of American culture."

For Palmer's lips, Chase used things Palmer has said over the years. For his ears, the things Palmer heard. And in his eyes, writings about Winnie, his first wife. An innovative computer screen set in front of the portrait enables visitors to magnify details and read the words. The room also contains more than 100 pieces of Palmeriana, including a dog made of Arnold Palmer signature balls.

Other sections are filled with fascinating memorabilia, such as John Reid's red wool jacket from the 1890s, a champion's medal won by Horace Rawlins at the 1895 U.S. Open and a ticket for a Harry Vardon exhibition match circa 1900.

The famous Calamity Jane II putter, used by Bobby Jones to win 10 national championships, is on display. As are the Wilson sand wedge Gene Sarazen selected to win the 1932 British Open and small spheres fashioned from old shoes by American prisoners during World War II.

John Shippen, who in the late 1890s became the first African American to play in a USGA tournament, is honored by the museum. So are such women as Althea Gibson and Annika Sorenstam. In one area called "Golf and the American Presidency," there are photos of that manatee of a man William Howard Taft swinging a club.

A tour of the place takes 90 minutes, but you can linger for hours.

A lively, seven-minute video titled "Spirit of Championship Golf" gets my juices flowing and reminds me that I would really rather be playing golf than hanging out in this lovely museum. But the rain outside continues.

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The large putting green is soaked like a kitchen sponge, as is the walkway from the museum to the USGA equipment testing center, where each year 800 brands of balls and 2,500 clubs are put through the paces. We are met by technical director Dick Rugge, who explains how a team of robots conducts tests as we watch balls being fired through a control tunnel. According to the USGA bylaws, the center can't comment on the quality of the balls or the various pieces of equipment; it can only pronounce the balls and clubs acceptable for competitive play. Or not.

Afterward, I slowly slosh my way back to the car. On the way out of the long winding drive, I cannot help myself. I stop alongside the road at one of the pitch-and-putt holes. Raising the trunk, I take a 9-iron from my golf bag, reach for a ball and tee it up. There is a swoosh as club hits wet grass and ball.

The good news: The ball clears the water hazard and bounces onto the green. The bad news: It keeps rolling into the woods.

Elated that I avoided the water but slightly disgruntled because the ball slithered off the green and because the rainy day is dreary, I begin the short walk back to my car. Then I stop. I have one more practice ball in my pocket. And the rain is slacking a little.