Golf course architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan talks about his passion for golf collecting.
By Dr. Michael Hurdzan |
In an article from American Society of Golf Course Architects’ Summer 2018 Issue By design reviewDr. Michael Hurdzan talks about his passion for golf collecting.
My golf collection began on Christmas Day 1968, when I received two old golf books: this one by Robert Hunter. Book of links and that of George Thomas Golf Architecture in America. At that time, I had been immersed in golf course design for almost 12 years since apprenticing under Jack Kidwell, my mentor who would soon become a business partner, but I had never given much thought to the history of golf, particularly that of golf course architecture. In many ways, these two books changed my life and marked the beginning of a 50-year leisure journey of studying golf history and collecting everything related to it.
In the late 1960s, there were perhaps only a few hundred people in the world who were obsessed with collecting golf, and they would occasionally gather in small numbers at events like the Open Championships or at auction houses where certain golf collectibles were sold. There were a few catalogs of items from collectors who had started collecting in the 1920s or 1930s and were selling due to old age or heirs with unwanted inheritance, but there was little else to help a new collector. Typically, one would have to look for golf antiques at flea markets, thrift stores, garage sales or antique stores.
Then, around 1970, two golf book collectors, Joe Murdoch of Philadelphia and Bob Kuntz of Dayton, Ohio, founded the Golf Collectors Society (www.golfcollectors.com). Today, there are more than 1,500 members in at least 15 different countries, and there could be double or triple that number of people who are serious golf collectors but aren’t part of the society…like you, perhaps. Today, with the Internet, the Golf Collectors Society, specialty antique stores, online auctions, and tons of books and advertisements on the subject of golf collecting, it has become easier and more affordable, and just as fun and educational as before.
The categories and scope of golf collectibles are almost unimaginable, as everything golf related is collected by someone: clubs, bags, balls, artwork, books, magazines, money, glass, flags, bag tags, score cards, pencils, buttons, tees, etc. All !
We can collect based on the breadth of a category or the depth, and I choose breadth. Unfortunately, it took me about 35-40 years to realize that you couldn’t collect everything, but God knows I tried, and if you ever visited my 5,000 square foot office, you’d agree. We have a little bit of everything and it shows how omnipresent golf was and is in everyday life. Whether it’s toys for children or walking sticks for the elderly, there are countless things on the subject of golf.
If you like golf history, you will enjoy the golf collection, because it is nothing more than an extension of history by surrounding yourself with tangible objects that contributed to it. Certainly, each collector has different attractions and motivations, but we all share the same exhilaration at the idea of finding your own personal “treasure”. This feeling of excitement when making a find is the difference between a collector and a dealer, who is content to acquire and sell objects without any real personal attachment. Although everything and everyone has a price, the dealer’s threshold for selling a collectible is lower than that of a true collector, who tends to cherish his finds and is reluctant to part with them. Historically, golf collectibles tend to appreciate in value, but the worst reason to collect them is to view them as a pure investment. Collect because you value the item and care about preserving it and you will always be happy; Avoid adding something because it’s “a good deal.”
So, my three pieces of advice are: limit your collecting interests as much as possible; remember the adage “buyer beware” and; network with experienced people and try to learn from them and their mistakes. Every serious collector has been burned a time or two by purchasing a fake collectible or paying too much for an item, so look for those who will help you avoid mistakes.
In 2006, the USGA worked with the ASGCA to create a program called the Architectural Archive that searches for suitable items to collect, preserve, and share with researchers, scholars, and other interested individuals. The USGA Museum staff, especially Senior Librarian Hilary Cronheim ([email protected]), can provide a submission form and instructions on how to donate your architecture-related materials for safe preservation and historical indexing.
I am often asked if I should start collecting golf today or if I should take it in a new direction, what that would be. I would focus on all aspects of golf course design and attempt to amass enough artifacts to open a golf course architecture museum. I may even have enough stuff now to achieve that goal, but first I need to take care of reducing the massive amount of other stuff we have. I began selling many of my duplicate items, which would allow for more golf course architecture memorabilia to be displayed.
If you like golf history, you will enjoy collecting golf, especially items related to golf course architecture.
This article is the introduction to a series of articles by Dr. Hurdzan on individual categories of collectibles, which will be available via www.asgca.org.
