LIBERTY CORNER, N.J., and BROOKLINE, Mass. (June 10, 2022) – As part of a collaborative initiative by the USGA, The Country Club and Town of Brookline to advance a dialogue on inclusion in golf, the USGA Golf Museum and Library will debut a fan exhibit at the 2022 U.S. Open Championship that showcases legends who broke down barriers to participation in the game.
Titled “Hard-Earned Glory,” the exhibit will celebrate golf’s unifying power by connecting fans to powerful stories brought to life through photographs, digital highlights and 50 significant artifacts from the archives of the USGA Museum. The exhibit presents a broad timeline of key milestones in golf that mirror broader cultural movements through American history, from women’s rights to civil rights, accessibility to the LGBTQ+ revolution.
Fans are encouraged to visit the exhibit from Monday, June 13-Sunday, June 19, located to the left of the second fairway.
Exhibit highlights include:
- Club made and used by John Shippen, the first American golf professional and the first African American to compete in a U.S. Open (1896) Mashie niblick used by Francis Ouimet, 1913 U.S. Open
- A selection of United Golfers Association trophies, ca. 1920-1975
- Putter and headcover used in the 1948 U.S. Open by Ted Rhodes, whose entry in the 1948 U.S. Open marked a critical milestone in the history of golf and civil rights
- “42” headcover used by Jackie Robinson, matching the baseball pioneer’s uniform number, ca. 1950
- Miniature U.S. Women’s Open trophy awarded to Mickey Wright, 1964 U.S. Women’s Open
- Golf ball used in the 2006 U.S. Open by Tadd Fujikawa, who made history at age 15 as the youngest U.S. Open qualifier, and later the first male professional golfer to come out as gay
- Hat worn by Mel Reid, 2021 U.S. Women’s Open
- Trophies from the U.S. Adaptive Open, the USGA’s national championship for players with disabilities, which will debut in July at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club“
There is no greater opportunity than our biggest platform, the U.S. Open, to celebrate golf’s most inspiring stories and introduce new individuals to our game,” said Mike Whan, USGA CEO. “Ensuring a more unified, accessible and inclusive game is critically important for the future of our great game.”
In addition, the USGA has collaborated with The Country Club and the Town of Brookline on a series of programs focused on promoting job opportunities within golf, ensuring greater accessibility to the championship and celebrating diversity within the community. They include:
- Delivering an immersive, weeklong Lee Elder Internship for college and graduate students from diverse backgrounds
- Creating an Open Works job program to expose more individuals to career pathways in golf
- Hosting the U.S. Open Junior Experience at Fisher Hill Community Park, which will provide the community with a free, accessible place to watch the U.S. Open and enjoy fun, family-friendly games
- Investing in state and local diversity programs that drive community impact, including the Brookline Community Partnership Committee, Tee Up Diversity and fundraising opportunities for local charities
- Delivering a USGA IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility) Grant to the Massachusetts chapter of First Tee
- Showcasing “A Passion for the Game: Portraits and Voices of the African-American Golf Experience,” a USGA Golf Museum exhibit at the Brookline Village Library
- Honoring the Town’s Juneteenth community gatherings through the Brookline Equity Fund
“Celebrating those who have broken barriers, while identifying ways to expand opportunities within the game of golf, has been a priority for The Country Club and our members as we prepared to host the U.S. Open,” said Will Fulton, general chair for the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club. “We’re excited to have partnered with the USGA on initiatives that support these objectives.”
The USGA Golf Museum and Library is the nation’s oldest sports museum and the world’s leading institution for the collection, preservation, interpretation and dissemination of golf history. The collections, the world’s largest and most significant related to the game of golf, serve as the foundation of the USGA’s diverse roles, services and initiatives.
About the USGA
The USGA is a nonprofit organization that celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Presented by ProMedica. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set of playing, equipment, handicapping and amateur status rules. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Association’s Research and Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.
