Community Corner

Escape to Golf Museum For Serenity, Elegance

The U.S.G.A. Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History is decorated for the holidays.

Your teens are holding a car wash at the high school Saturday. The grandparents volunteered to take the younger children to a movie Sunday afternoon. Your tweens take tap on Wednesday evening. It’s your time. Take it.

Each week, we’ll tell you about one great idea to give you a much deserved break, and make your life a little easier, maybe a whole lot easier.

Don't tell us you're a golfer and haven't been to the United States Golf Association Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, on Liberty Corner Road in Bernards Township.

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But even if you're not an avid golfer, you can hardly find a better place to escape during the craziest days around the holidays. The museum itself is set in the midst of landscaped grounds that include its Pynes putting green modeled after a famous one in Scotland.

The museum and changing exhibits are housed inside an elegant mansion, built in 1919, and later acquired by the USGA in 1973, when a smaller collection was relocated from New York City.

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At this time of year, it is decorated with tasteful greenery that adds a further layer of period style to the rooms housing a collection of historic golf memorabilia, such as the famous "moon club" used by astronaut Alan Shepard Jr. to hit two golf clubs on the surface of the moon in 1971.

Just strolling the grounds is a way to get away from the pressures of traffic and an overcrowded schedule.

Usual hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. However, Kim Gianetti, assistant manager of marketing and outreach, said the museum will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Other than that, she said, hours are the same as usual.

And if you do have last-minute shopping to do, you can hardly find a more tranquil shopping experience than by browsing in the museum's gift shop to select a special something for the golfer in your life. There are lots of books on golf, golf memorabilia reproductions and, if you want to splurge, high end golf clubs modeled on "vintage" clubs.

Of course, a tour of the golf museum itself can be a gift for that person who already has everything he or she wants—but might enjoy an afternoon out.

The museum has constantly changing exhibits, such as the current one on That exhibit will continue through February.

There are also smaller exhibits of the many golfing items that the museum has in storage. Right now, you can see a case filled with golf tees from throughout different eras, suiting different tastes. There's a fur-covered golf tee, and one that is cradled by praying hands.

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for USGA members, $3.50 for children ages 13 to 17 and free for 12 and under. Group rates are also available.


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