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Attention golf collectors and historians! Make plans to visit America’s newest golf museum opening this fall in Wheaton, Illinois at the Center for History. The Fairways, Greens & Clubs exhibit highlights golf in America from the 1890s – 1940s, exploring its roots that go back to the Foulis family from St. Andrews, Scotland and the Tweedie family from Hoylake, England.

Visitors will see unique artifacts representing the transition in golf equipment, course design, and tournaments that illustrates the diverse evolution of golf and its relationship to society. Vintage photos and historic memorabilia fill the section of the exhibit that outlines the major tournaments held in the Chicago area from 1897 through 1948. With courses springing up and as a manufacturing hub, golf in Chicago flourished and attracted major tournaments and famous players at the turn of the 20th Century. Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, and Glen View Club in Golf hosted the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, and Western Open in the late 1890s. Golf in the “west” had proven its worth with its courses and early champions such as: C. B. Macdonald, James Foulis, and H. J. Whigham.

This exhibition is uniquely housed in a “traditional club house” gallery with secure custom display cases, fireplace and faux French doors looking out on a “fairway”. Upon entering the “club house” a portrait of H. J. Tweedie on the left and one of C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor on the right greet each visitor. These men were instrumental in the development of golf in the Chicago area. The exhibit is enhance by clubs owned by H. J. Tweedie, a founding member of Chicago Golf at Belmont, including two hickory clubs, an iron made by James Foulis and a brassie with “H.J.T.” engraved on it. A trophy won by C.B. Macdonald in 1917 graces the Chicago Golf section along with an 1899 tournament program.




		Golf Exhibit to Open at Wheaton History Center


	Attention golf collectors and historians! Make plans to visit America’s newest golf museum opening this fall in Wheaton, Illinois at the Center for History. The Fairways, Greens & Clubs exhibit highlights golf in America from the 1890s – 1940s, exploring its roots that go back to the Foulis family from St. Andrews, Scotland and the Tweedie family from Hoylake, England. Visitors will see unique artifacts representing the transition in golf equipment, course design, and tournaments that illustrates the diverse evolution of golf and its relationship to society. Vintage photos and historic memorabilia fill the section of the exhibit that outlines the major tournaments held in the Chicago area from 1897 through 1948. With courses springing up and as a manufacturing hub, golf in Chicago flourished and attracted major tournaments and famous players at the turn of the 20th Century. Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, and Glen View Club in Golf hosted the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, and Western Open in the late 1890s. Golf in the “west” had proven its worth with its courses and early champions such as: C. B. Macdonald, James Foulis, and H. J. Whigham. This exhibition is uniquely housed in a “traditional club house” gallery with secure custom display cases, fireplace and faux French doors looking out on a “fairway”. Upon entering the “club house” a portrait of H. J. Tweedie on the left and one of C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor on the right greet each visitor. These men were instrumental in the development of golf in the Chicago area. The exhibit is enhance by clubs owned by H. J. Tweedie, a founding member of Chicago Golf at Belmont, including two hickory clubs, an iron made by James Foulis and a brassie with “H.J.T.” engraved on it. A trophy won by C.B. Macdonald in 1917 graces the Chicago Golf section along with an 1899 tournament program.


Other trophies from the 1890s and rule books dating back to 1883 are part of the oldest artifacts on display. Rare featherie and Haskell balls, a pocket ball washer, and sand tee molds demonstrate the progression of golf balls and tees. The Foulis family’s talent and devotion to golf is revealed. Brothers James, Robert and David were ball and club makers as well as course designers. James won the 1896 U. S. Open and the ten Foulis made clubs on display from that era that could have been used in that tournament. Several other clubs by the brothers along with Robert’s ball mold and cleek markers offer a rare view of Foulis artifacts. Their brother, Simpson Foulis competed in the 1904 Olympics held at Glen Echo Club in St. Louis, MO., a course designed by Robert and James. Clubs and balls manufactured by Illinois companies feature the Schenectady putter, a set of Rainbow clubs by Wilson, along with various patent clubs. A unique set of woods by Wilson have a brass letter on the bottom of each club indicating if it is a brassie, spoon or driver. A child’s set of clubs with brass heads and pyramid cleek can be found in a “discovery drawer”. A set of women’s clubs are shown among several trophies won by Genevieve Hecker Stout. A pair of high top shoes with spikes offer a clue as to how women dressed to play golf. Patriarch of public golf, Joe Jemsek, winner of the longest drive contest at the Century of Progress World’s Fair, shares a case with George May who awarded extraordinary large purses for his tournaments at Tam O’ Shanter. Greens keepers had a tough job maintaining the fairways and greens before motorized machinery. Horse lawn boots, a push greens mower and hand fringe cutter plus a 1927 hand crank greens mower tell the story of golf course maintenance. John MacGregor, greens keeper at Chicago Golf Club 1911-1945, invented two fertilizer distributors. His plans for the equipment along with numerous photos of the fairways are part of the collection. Programs and publications covering the 1928 Walker Cup plus Jess Sweester’s commemorative watch fob provide insight into the winning U.S. team including Sweetser, Frances Ouimet, Bobby Jones, and Chick Evans. The interpretive tours given by trained docents reveal the extensive research that makes this exhibition so exceptional. Artifacts for the Fairways, Greens & Clubs exhibit have come from across the nation and new pieces will be added to the exhibit periodically. The Center for History is a repository and research library with a professionally trained staff. Interactive programs for all ages and scheduled special events, such as the Foulis Family reception, provide opportunities for multiple visits to the museum. The gallery is also available for private and corporate parties and receptions. Golfers and non-golfers alike will be entertained by the early history of golf in America. The “club house” is filled with precious trophies, clubs, balls, equipment, and interesting stories. This is a destination for all golf fans and history buffs. It shouldn’t be missed! The museum is located at 315 W. Front Street, 2^nd Floor, Wheaton, Illinois. For further information call (630)-871-6601, visit our web site at www.wheatonhistory.com, or email info@wheatonhistory.com