Where
The British Golf Museum is in St Andrews, 67 yards from the first tee of the world-famous Old Course.
What
The museum interprets the history of golf in Britain. “The game took shape on the east coast of Scotland by the 15th century, before spreading throughout Britain and latterly around the world in the 19th century,” says museum and heritage curator Laurie Rae.
In December 2011, Museums Galleries Scotland designated the museum as its 38th Recognised Collection of National Significance. Opened In 1987 the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) established a charitable trust to create and run the museum, which opened in 1990.
Collection
The collection interprets golf from grassroots up to a professional level and covers its technological and social developments. Items range from feather-stuffed balls – the earliest type of golf ball – to bronze casts of the hands of champion golfers, sculpted by Tico Torres, the drummer in Bon Jovi. The curatorial staff are also responsible for the collections of the R&A, which, established in 1754, is the second-oldest golf club in the world.
Help at hand
A director, a curator, two assistant curators and nine members of staff make up the managerial and front-of-house team.
Budget
The museum is funded by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews Trust. Adult admission is £6.
Visits
Over 60,000 in 2011.
Highlights
“We have housed the collection of the Women Golfers’ Museum since 1990,” says Rae. “One loan item is the outfit worn by Gloria Minoprio at the English Ladies Championship in 1933. It was the first time a woman had worn trousers at a major ladies’ championship and it caused considerable controversy. With her dark blue clothing, white make-up and scarlet lipstick, one journalist likened her to an executioner.”
Rae also singles out a small collection of golf balls made by second world war prisoners of war, using whatever scrap material could be found, as another favourite.
Survival tip
“Be ready to tackle all sorts of questions, often at a moment’s notice,” Rae says. “We receive queries from academics writing theses to competitors phoning up from pub quizzes.”
Sticky moment
“A yearly task is displaying the club’s prizes at its annual dinner,” says Rae. “This sees us wrapping, packing and transporting the club’s trophies and medals, some dating to the 18th century, to the venue, only for them to be placed on open display in a room full of 480 members as they wine and dine.”
Current project
Updating the museum’s website and gallery interactives.
www.britishgolfmuseum.com
The British Golf Museum is in St Andrews, 67 yards from the first tee of the world-famous Old Course.
What
The museum interprets the history of golf in Britain. “The game took shape on the east coast of Scotland by the 15th century, before spreading throughout Britain and latterly around the world in the 19th century,” says museum and heritage curator Laurie Rae.
In December 2011, Museums Galleries Scotland designated the museum as its 38th Recognised Collection of National Significance. Opened In 1987 the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) established a charitable trust to create and run the museum, which opened in 1990.
Collection
The collection interprets golf from grassroots up to a professional level and covers its technological and social developments. Items range from feather-stuffed balls – the earliest type of golf ball – to bronze casts of the hands of champion golfers, sculpted by Tico Torres, the drummer in Bon Jovi. The curatorial staff are also responsible for the collections of the R&A, which, established in 1754, is the second-oldest golf club in the world.
Help at hand
A director, a curator, two assistant curators and nine members of staff make up the managerial and front-of-house team.
Budget
The museum is funded by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews Trust. Adult admission is £6.
Visits
Over 60,000 in 2011.
Highlights
“We have housed the collection of the Women Golfers’ Museum since 1990,” says Rae. “One loan item is the outfit worn by Gloria Minoprio at the English Ladies Championship in 1933. It was the first time a woman had worn trousers at a major ladies’ championship and it caused considerable controversy. With her dark blue clothing, white make-up and scarlet lipstick, one journalist likened her to an executioner.”
Rae also singles out a small collection of golf balls made by second world war prisoners of war, using whatever scrap material could be found, as another favourite.
Survival tip
“Be ready to tackle all sorts of questions, often at a moment’s notice,” Rae says. “We receive queries from academics writing theses to competitors phoning up from pub quizzes.”
Sticky moment
“A yearly task is displaying the club’s prizes at its annual dinner,” says Rae. “This sees us wrapping, packing and transporting the club’s trophies and medals, some dating to the 18th century, to the venue, only for them to be placed on open display in a room full of 480 members as they wine and dine.”
Current project
Updating the museum’s website and gallery interactives.
www.britishgolfmuseum.com
