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
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.
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.
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
November 5, 2021
In mid-October golf teams from Columbia and Yale universities played a commemorative match at St. Andrews Golf Club in Hastings-on-the-Hudson, N.Y. It was a reprise of the first collegiate golf competition in the U.S., held at the club in November 1896. Yale won the first one. Columbia prevailed in the 2021 version. Columbia golf coach Rich Mueller wrote about the […]
October 6, 2021
It was everything you could ask for and much more. The GHS celebrated its 50th anniversary, delayed a year by Covid, with all the familiar activities and the added attraction of a memorable visit to Latrobe Country Club where friends of Arnold Palmer welcomed us with open arms. (Click here for a video of the Latrobe CC golf outing at […]
August 16, 2021
Most of us know of Arnold Palmer as the handsome, hard-charging golf legend, the man who popularized the game in the early years of television. After he left competitive golf, Palmer continued to reign as “The King,” spearheading fundraising efforts, making personal appearances, hosting golf tournaments… so many things. But for a special few in Latrobe, Pa., he was a […]
August 2, 2021
Bob Glass had kept an eye on the weather reports, but there was nothing he could do. A perfect deluge of rain that swept across the Midwest had a special inaugural hickory golf outing at Clearview Golf Course in doubt. The hard rain departed in time, but it left the course in a waterlogged, walking-only condition. No matter, the golfers […]
July 26, 2021
GHS member Taba Dale is an accomplished author and travel host who divides her time between Arizona and Ireland. She returned to the Emerald Isle in late spring 2021 and regularly posts updates and stories to her Clare Publishing website, where one may see both her photos and a list of the books she has published. Click on the link […]