Construction Begins On New Palmer Center For History


January 29, 2007

As work progresses on the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, we will continue to post construction updates and photographs here at www.usga.org. We invite you to check back periodically.

By Rand Jerris, USGA

Far Hills, N.J. - After two years of planning and preparations, construction of the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History commenced in late December.

Construction has begun on the new Arnold Palmer Center for History at Golf House. (John Mummert/USGA)

The USGA's campus in the rolling foothills of north-central New Jersey is generally a tranquil place. It's been said, albeit tongue-in-cheek, that deer outnumber people. It is often the case that the loudest noises to be heard come from the flocks of migrating Canada geese.

Within the last two weeks, however, the usually placid landscape has been transformed into a construction site. Work crews under the leadership of The Gale Construction Company of Roseland, N.J., are now actively at work on the east side of campus, clearing the site for the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History.

When construction is completed in the spring of 2008, the Palmer Center will stand beside Golf House, providing a new home for the USGA Museum and Archives and its world-class collections of historical golf memorabilia.

Designed by Farewell Mills Gatsch Architects of Princeton, N.J., the 16,000-square-foot Palmer Center will comprise more than 5,000 square feet of public exhibition galleries, a new research room to facilitate access to the collections, and state-of-the-art storage areas that will provide the proper climate and security for the long-term care of historical artifacts.

In addition to the new construction, FMG's architects will oversee the restoration of the original museum building built in 1919 by noted American architect John Russell Pope and commonly known as Golf House.

The team from FMG has been working closely with members of the museum's staff since December 2004 to design a building that will satisfy the particular requirements of the museum and its collections. Their efforts have been well-supported by the large team of consultants brought together to complete the project. In all, more than 100 individuals spent the better part of two years designing the new facility.

Heavy machinery has invaded the tranquil setting of Golf House in Far Hills, N.J. (John Mummert/USGA)

Just as the team was wrapping up its work on the design in the late fall, two important pieces were added to the puzzle: Gale Construction, a local area construction company, and 1220 Exhibits of Nashville, Tenn. The latter company will be responsible for building the exhibits that will be installed in the new exhibition galleries. With the key players now in place, the project transitioned from the design phase to the construction phase just about four weeks ago.

The first signs of impending activity on campus appeared in late December, when Gale's construction trailer appeared and a 6-foot high chain link fence was erected around the work site. Heavy equipment was delivered in early January, and soon thereafter the dirt began to fly.

In the first few days of construction, several outlying structures, retaining wall and the former service yard were bulldozed. Trees that stood where the Palmer Center will soon stand were either relocated or taken down. An old stone plaza that was once erected over the garage was dismantled.

This week, work crews will begin excavations for the lower level of the Palmer Center, digging deeper pits for the concrete footings that will support the gallery walls.

Fortunately for the construction effort, the early weeks of winter have been mild throughout the northeast. If the weather continues to hold, the steel framework that will support the new building from foundation to roofline will begin to rise in March.

Dr. Rand Jerris is the director of the USGA Museum and Archives, the oldest museum in the nation dedicated to sports. Please email him with comments or questions at rjerris@usga.org.