The ghs welcomes you!

We love all things golf:
Playing, Collecting, Preserving history
We are a family and you are invited.

For over 50 years our members have relished the thrill of the hunt, be it discovering and documenting an obscure bit of golf lore, tracking down an ancient artifact, obtaining a favorite player’s signature, or displaying our admission ticket to the Masters. There is joy and pride in “Holding History in Our Hands.”

Our members include collectors, authors, course architects and superintendents, and anyone interested in the game and its history. Seasoned collectors and writers network with other members, share their knowledge and frequently surface as recognized experts in their field. With the help of mentors and Society resources, finding your personal niche amongst untold options can be part of a wonderful journey. Fellow travelers within the GHS will appreciate your discoveries and encourage your pursuits.

Members Attend Regional Events

The GHS is divided into 10 Geographic regions (including International) each led by a director who serves on the board. Those frequent events are opportunities for local get-togethers in addition to the Nationals. 

Recent visits to world renowned sites not otherwise accessible to the public include:
• Luncheon and a full tour of the Merion GC Clubhouse and Archives (left)- Next Visit 3-23-24
*18 holes of golf and reception at Arnold Palmer’s own Latrobe Country Club (right)
• Other recurring venues include Oakmont CC, Columbia CC, and Belleview CC

GHS members enjoy a golf trade show with all the socializing and great treasure hunting they love about such gatherings.

NEWS ALERTS

  • The 2024 GHS National Convention Packet has been mailed to all GHS members. We’ve attached a PDF of the packet here for your convenience. There’s a lot planned for the 2024 GHS Convention in Pinehurst, so don’t delay securing your spot.
  • Deadline for articles and news for the autumn edition of The Golf is July 29.
  • GHS member and author John Riley has a new book that covers the life and career of legendary Philadelphia amateur Bill Hyndman. Titled A Will to Win, the book already has great reviews, but we’ll post one in the Autumn edition of The Golf. Meanwhile, here’s a video of an interview with Inside Golf host Harry Donahue. Jay Sigel and Gordon Brewer also make an appearance on the video to talk about the book and Hyndman. Riley’s previous golf book was How He Played the Game, about Ed “Porky” Oliver. You can find A Will to Win at the following link: https://awilltowin.com/. It is the best place to buy the book.

Tom Stewart, right, hosts GHS visitors Scott Staudacher, left, and Ed Ronco, center, to his Old Sport and Gallery shop. The two golfers were in town for the 2017 Mid Pines Hickory Open.

pinehurst shops are troves of golf history

The website magazine First Call paid a visit to two of our favorite Pinehurst shops during the recent U.S. Open. The Old Golf Shop’s owner Bob Hansen took the magazine’s writers on a tour of his remarkable store of vintage golf memorabilia. Over at The Old Sport and Gallery, owner Tom Stewart welcomed the First Call team for a tour of his equally wonderful collection of golf history… all for sale, you understand. These are businesses that cater to both the casual tourist and the savvy golf historian/collector. Click here to see the story.


ghs classics from the Archives

The GHS quarterly journal, The Golf, and its long-lived predecessor, The Bulletin, had features that were – are – just plain fun to read. Below we are pleased to offer a “classic” from the past, a look at the collection of one of the Society’s long-time members.

Book collector and co-founder of the British Golf Collectors Society Philip Truett examines a rare volume from his collection.

the golf collection of philip truett

From the December 2014 edition of The Bulletin we share a feature on the rare book collection of Philip Truett, a resident of Walton-on-the-Hill, England. Truett’s lifelong interest in books has led to an astonishing variety of rare volumes, most published before 1920, his central focus. This feature gives us a little peek at Truett’s amazing collection. We are indebted to the late Dick McDonough for his work in providing photos and background for this feature.
Click here to read the article.


News / Features

ghs member jill strite honored with lpga’s marilynn smith award
April 24, 2022

“Being selected by my LPGA peers and earning the Marilynn Smith Service Award is beyond humbling.  I’ve been in awe of the Founders, especially Marilynn, my entire golf career which is why this honor is certainly one of my greatest accomplishments.  I may never reach the heights of Marilynn, but I will strive every day to live by her example […]

a little masters history
April 4, 2022

It’s that time of year and the golf magazines, journals and writers are busy cooking up some interest for the year’s most hyped tournament. For history buffs, there’s rich pickings in Masters lore and GHS member Frank Cantrel Jr. has a keen eye on the web streams to identify such nuggets as may come to the fore. Frank has found […]

rives mcbee featured in global golf post article
March 19, 2022

GHS member Rives McBee has seen the many faces of golf from its highest competitive levels to its country club methods and manners, and even hickory golf tournaments. Throughout it all he has remained a consummate gentleman, generous with his time and ever patient with golfers of all levels. Golf writer Patrick Hand has recently posted a handsome profile of […]

Renee Powell honored by WGHOF
March 10, 2022

On March 9, 2022, former LPGA player Renee Powell was the first person to be honored with the World Golf Hall of Fame’s inaugural Charlie Sifford Award, sponsored by the Southern Company. Powell, a GHS member, was honored for her spirit in advancing diversity in golf. Click here to see the announcement of the honor, made on Nov. 17, 2021. […]

the first island green
March 9, 2022

The 2022 Players Championship gets underway this week and, as usual, that 17th hole will get a lot of air time as big-time golfers take aim at a green almost entirely surrounded by water, thank you very much Alice and Pete. But, it wasn’t the first island green. That distinction goes to another, the 9th hole at the Ponte Vedra […]