Editor’s note: This is the second of three stories on the USGA Museum in Far Hills, NJ. 

FAR HILLS, NJ –  On a random day, you can find a meeting of a state golf association, an average golfer and his wife from California who made a side trip, and even members of the “Red Hat Society” walking the halls of the USGA Museum.

“Our trip started out real small and it just grew and grew and grew,” said Clara Farris, who is not a golfer. “He took me golfing one time and I did divots all over the golf course and said ‘that’s it.’”

 Clara and husband Jack of Fullerton, CA were planning their first-ever trip to New York City and it expanded – to Philadelphia, Lancaster, Gettysburg and the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Jack was in the Air Force.  Since Jack pays his dues to the USGA each year, he suggested they make a trip to the new Museum and they spent the day.

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 Editor’s note: The following is the first of three stories on the USGA Museum in Far Hills, NJ.

FAR HILLS, NJ – We’ve all seen the footage, and if you haven’t, they have it – and now they have the visor, too. Arnold Palmer flung his red visor high into the air and never gave it a second thought after his final putt dropped on the final day to win his only U.S. Open at Cherry Hills Country Club in 1960.

Palmer, who turned 80 September 10^th, shot a final round 65 that day in Colorado to erase a seven-stroke deficit. It was, and still is, the greatest comeback in U.S. Open history. Palmer made the three-foot put and, when he tossed his visor in the air, it wound up near a rope line.

As everyone walked away, an 11-year old boy named Skip was urged to grab it. Skip had a good spot to watch history, he was the nephew of Cherry Hills club pro Ralph “Rip” Arnold.

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He was rushing off to the post office Friday to fill yet another order – all spurred from his appearance at the 57^thAnnual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. Howard Katz had five new orders for some of his new products.

“It was very good for us,” Katz said of the show at the end of January. “But it’s grueling.”

Katz said people were serious about buying as his company introduced three new product lines. “It’s just changed everything for us,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of follow up to do.”

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It’s been another busy week for Saratoga Springs native and former LPGA standout Dottie Pepper. NBC Sports had her on the go again this past weekend, walking with the leaders at the U.S. Senior Open at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana. Read the rest of this entry »

This is the first in a series of articles by Tom Gladd – a teacher and varsity coach at Clayton A. Bouton High School in Voorheesville, NY.  Coach Gladd began writing for Capital Area Golf last summer – covering the NENY Junior Tour.  Read the rest of this entry »

By Mike Dyer

COLONIE, March 26…..Don’t tell Mike Tommaney of Colonie it’s too cold to play golf.

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Half and Half by Karen Wyld
The difference between hoping and knowing can change a golf game.  I’ve never had a good feel around the greens.  From 100 yards in it’s been a guessing game.  What club?  How big a swing?  How hard a swing?  How many more swings before I can go have a glass of wine?

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CADDY WRITES HIS OWN SCRIPT

By John Craig

Sure, many weekend hackers have thought about chucking it all and following their dream of playing golf full-time – and then reality sets in and you get back to your cubicle.  But how about this scenario – you went to Harvard, became a successful television journalist and one cold winter day as you looked out the window at the snow falling you decide to caddy for a minor league women’s golfer.

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Wow!! Look at her. Words by Bill Giering

How many times have you whispered that to yourself when a pretty girl entered the room?

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As a frequent traveler I prefer to spend my vacations in a self contained environment rather than staying in a motel and heading out several times a day whether it’s for golf, the beach, or the restaurant.

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