Top 10 USGA Golf Museum and Library Acquisitions of 2021

In 2021, the USGA Golf Museum and Library collected hundreds of artifacts, including books, magazines, scorecards, photographs, fine art, and personal items from important players and celebrities. These acquisitions help to further the Association’s mission to celebrate and preserve golf history.

Museum staff worked to collect items directly from our 2021 champions and the USGA purchased the LPGA #HoodieForGolf to ensure the preservation of golf history as it happened. Along with championship memorabilia, the museum also acquired historical items such as early tournament programs, Babe Didrikson Zaharias’ tie from the 1932 Summer Olympics and an early trophy from a Black professional tournament to deepen our understanding of golf history and celebrate the game’s diversity.

Each artifact plays an important role in telling the rich history of golf, but these 10 artifacts are among the USGA’s most impactful acquisitions of 2021.

Mel Reid wore this hat during the 2021 U.S. Women's Open at The Olympic Club to celebrate Pride Month. (USGA Archives)

Mel Reid’s Hat, 2021 U.S. Women’s Open

When Mel Reid wore this hat to celebrate Pride Month during the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., she became the first professional golfer to wear a pride logo in competition. Reid, who came out as gay in 2018, uses her platform to give back to the LGBTQ+ community and currently serves as a pro ambassador for Athlete Ally, an organization that works with professional athletes to advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports. Reid hoped that this hat, which she later donated to the USGA Golf Museum and Library, would start a conversation around this potentially divisive issue.

African American artist Dox Thrash illustrated the experience of Black golfers during a fraught time of segregation in the mid-20th century.

Dox Thrash Watercolors

These two watercolors, both by African American artist Dox Thrash, are important additions to the USGA Golf Museum and Library’s fine art collection because they illustrate the experiences of Black golfers during the racially fraught time of segregation in the mid-20th century. Acquisitions like these allow the museum to elevate the diverse perspectives present in golf history.

Jon Rahm’s Artifacts, 2021 U.S. Open

Jon Rahm won his first U.S. Open and first major title of his career, just one stroke ahead of Louis Oosthuizen to become the first Spaniard to win any USGA championship. Rahm, 26, rallied during Sunday’s final round at Torrey Pines and clinched the championship with consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes. Shortly after his victory, Rahm donated the shoes he wore during the final round, along with his golf ball and his championship credential to the USGA Golf Museum and Library.

Annika Sorenstam donated a signed glove and a golf ball following the Swede's U.S. Senior Women's Open triumph. (USGA Archives)

Annika Sorenstam Artifacts 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open

Three-time U.S. Women’s Open champion Annika Sorenstam made her much anticipated return to a USGA championship in the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Brooklawn Country Club, 13 years after retiring from professional golf. Sorenstam made a spectacular reentry to championship golf, winning the 3rd U.S. Senior Women’s Open by 8 strokes over runner-up Liselotte Neumann. Sorenstam donated this ball and glove that she used on the final hole of the championship to the USGA Golf Museum and Library.

Program, 1949 U.S. Women’s Eastern Open Golf

Prior to the formation of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in 1950, there were very few opportunities for the small number of female professional golfers to compete in tournaments. One of the tournaments available to them was the U.S. Women’s Eastern Open which was played from 1949-1961. This program from the inaugural tournament, which was won by Babe Didrikson Zaharias, is a rare and important piece that tells the story of early women’s professional golf.

Jack Shippen’s UGA Trophy, 1927

Founded in 1925, the United Golfers Association (UGA) provided black professional golfers an opportunity to play golf for a living. After the PGA removed the “Caucasians-only” clause from their by-laws, the UGA continued to provide community and opportunity for black professional golfers. This early UGA trophy that was awarded to Jack Shippen just a few years after the UGA was founded highlights the thriving early African American golf community. Though we don't know if Jack Shippen is related to John Shippen – the first African American to play in a USGA championship in 1896 – we know he was a professional golfer who played in Washington, D.C., during this important era of African American golf history.

These items from Maureen Orcutt's prized collection were donated to the USGA Museum by her nephew, Mike Orcutt. (USGA Archives)

Maureen Orcutt’s Collection

Throughout her decades-long career, Maureen Orcutt, who began as a local champion in a small town in New Jersey, established herself as one of America’s greatest amateur players, competing against the nation’s best golfers and representing the USA in three Curtis Cup Matches. This collection of artifacts was donated to the museum in 2021 by Orcutt’s nephew, Mike Orcutt, and tells not only Orcutt’s story, but the stories of other amateur players she competed against.

The #Hoodieforgolf campaign by the LPGA raised awareness for women's golf and looked to inspire young girls to take up the game. (USGA Archives)

LPGA #HoodieforGolf

In 2021, the LPGA’s #Hoodieforgolf campaign “went viral” as many golfers, athletes from other sports, celebrities and influencers purchased a hoodie to show their support for women’s golf. Two-time USGA champion Michelle Wie West, who also inspired the design of the hoodie, brought the idea for a fundraising hoodie to the LPGA. Profits from the hoodie are split between the LPGA Foundation’s Renee Powell Fund and the Clearview Legacy Foundation, which provides grants to LPGA*USGA Girls Golf programs to increase girls’ participation in sports in Black communities. This hoodie is a simple yet important part of the ongoing effort to elevate women’s golf and inspire young girls to take up the game.

Babe Didrikson’s Tie, 1932 Olympics Opening Ceremony

Three-time U.S. Women’s Open champion Babe Didrikson Zaharias was renowned as an all-around athlete. She excelled in baseball, basketball, golf and nearly every sport she played. Before she began playing golf, Zaharias competed for the USA track and field team in the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Zaharias wore this tie, which the museum acquired from the Babe Zaharias Foundation, during the opening ceremonies. Zaharias went on to win two gold medals, in the javelin throw and 80-meter hurdles, and one silver medal, in the high jump.

Three covers, side by side, from the 1898 U.S. Amateur that was contested at Morris County Golf Club in Morristown, N.J. (USGA Archives)

Championship Documents, 1898 U.S. Amateur Programs

These early documents are from the 4th U.S. Amateur Championship, which was played at the Morris County Golf Club in Morristown, N.J., and won by Findlay S. Douglas, who would also finish as the runner-up in the next two U.S. Amateurs. This acquisition includes programs for each day of the championship, with the results of the matches penciled in by an enthusiastic spectator. These documents provide a glimpse into the spectator experience at early USGA championships.

Kylie Garabed is the USGA Museum’s junior curator of collections. Email her at kgarabed@usga.org.