The long, colorful history of golf in Massachusetts has been shaped by people of genius, innovation, perseverance and dedication. For more than 100 years, the people, places and passion of the Bay State have worked to promote the interests of golf, to better conditions of play, to provide fair and open competitions and to illuminate for all golfers that rules and customs of a game to which the word “honor” clings like a golf glove to the hand.
Indeed, the remarkable growth of the game in Massachusetts can be attributed in part to those men and women whose primary interest have focused on the quality of the game itself. They have given golf in Massachusetts a heritage of unity, good sportsmanship and personal integrity which distinguish it to this day.
The history of golf enjoyed a major milestone on January 1, 2018 when the Massachusetts Golf Association (MGA) and Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts (WGAM) came together as one. The historic merge effectively brought together two organizations that represent a combined 200-plus years of serving golf in the Bay State.
CLICK HERE to learn more and watch a video about the historic new Mass Golf.
A COMMONWEALTH OF GOLFERS
With the release of its definitive book on the history of golf in the Bay State, “A Commonwealth of Golfers – A Centennial Tribute to the Game and Its Players,” the Massachusetts Golf Association has shown that the pen and brassie are indeed mightier than the sword.
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Created to mark the centenary of the Massachusetts Golf Association, founded in 1903, this 280-page coffee table style book features contributions by distinguished journalists and writers such as John Updike, Herbert Warren Wind, Bradley S. Klein and John P. English, and more than 400 stunning photographs commissioned especially for this book.
“A Commonwealth of Golfers” is a celebration of the game of golf as well as a fascinating history of the game’s growth and development in the state of Massachusetts. It is a book that every Massachusetts golfer will enjoy as well as any golfer with a passion for the customs and traditions of the greatest game of all.
“A Commonwealth of Golfers” was created to capture the essence of the game. Here is a look at just some of what you will find inside this definitive golf tome.
The history of golf in Massachusetts has been blessed with people of extraordinary genius, innovation, perseverance and dedication. The book honors the exploits of these and other superstars on Massachusetts turf, including Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Julius Boros, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods, not to mention such outstanding homegrown players as Mike Brady, Henry Picard, Bob Toski and Paul Harney. “A Commonwealth of Golfers” also pays tribute to individuals such as Donald Ross, who cut his teeth on golf course design at Boston area country clubs before embarking on his legendary career in golf architecture.
Through the lens of Michael Carroll, whose acclaimed photography appears regularly in People, Forbes and Golf and Travel, this volume documents the diverse character and lifestyle of golf throughout the Bay State. It also captures the distinctive beauty of the links courses of Cape Cod, the storied championship venues of Brookline, Salem and Worcester, and the rolling layouts of the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley, among many other courses.
From native son Francis Ouimet’s monumental upset victory in the 1913 U.S. Open, which precipitated the first genuine golf boom in American history, to the equally historic come-from-behind-triumph, in the 1999 Ryder Cup Matches, of a determined United States team captained by Ben Crenshaw, Massachusetts has experienced some of the most defining moments in the game’s history.
In honor of the rich tradition of golf in Massachusetts and the individuals who have shaped the game over the past century, Mass Golf constructed a Golf Museum, Library and Hall of Fame on the first floor of the Massachusetts Golf House.
In honor of the rich tradition of golf in Massachusetts and the individuals who have shaped the game over the past century, the Massachusetts Golf Association constructed a Golf Museum, Library and Hall of Fame on the first floor of the Massachusetts Golf House.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Mass Golf history and the Hall of Fame.
This facility serves as the sole forum to honor local heroes and events that have made indelible marks on the game of golf and preserve their legacy for years to come. The Golf Museum, Library and Hall of Fame takes visitors, both old and young, on a journey back in time to understand and appreciate the contributions made by such local legends as Francis Ouimet, Paul Harney, The Curtis Sisters, and Pat Bradley. Only in this setting will the rich golf heritage of Massachusetts be properly preserved for generations to come.
The Massachusetts Golf Museum opened its doors to the public on October 29, 2002. For the first time, Museum visitors are able to experience the joys and heartaches that have marked Massachusetts golf history throughout the past 100 years.
This first-of-its-kind museum in Massachusetts pays tribute to the people and moments — both past and present — that have created our state’s rich golf heritage. It features a replica of the Francis Ouimet Library, Hall of Trophies and a video tribute to the game of golf in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Golf Museum
300 Arnold Palmer Blvd
Norton, MA 02766
P: 774-430-9100
