Right behind the 1st tee of the Old Course and the Royal and Ancient Club Building in St. Andrews there is a must stop for all serious golfers at the British Golf Museum. In less than an hour you can take in the full history of the development of the game in this part of the world. Early clubs and trophies, period attire, and iconic images of the “Champion Golfers of the Year”-this place is just oozing memorabilia to prod your golfing memory.

The toil of stuffing the feathery ball made the game expensive to play

Until the introduction of the molded Gutta Percha in 1848

Which prompted major changes in club design

Some were very innovative……………..

Some were adjustable….and eventually illegal

Then there were accessories…the first “kick-stand” club carrier

Challenge for the Silver Club began at St. Andrews in 1754

The silver cup from the Musselburgh Challenge dates back to 1774

Original red Moroccan leather and silver Challenge Belt for The Open Champion

Replaced by the Claret Jug at the Open Championship in 1872

Tribute to golf course architecture’s Golden Age of 1920 to 1939

Honoring Bobby Jones’s connection with British golf

Another British golfing favorite son…name is Bond..James Bond

Open Championship programs dating back to the mid 1950’s

Appropriately ends with some wee bits of golf wisdom

The R and A has done a marvelous job composing this museum to maximize your understanding of the pivotal role the British Isles have had in the development of our sport.  Much like the USGA Museum in Far Hills does for American golf, you will walk away from this visit with a much keener understanding of the history of golf in Britain.

July, 2016