USGA Golf Museum Open After Thefts

Visitors are again welcome at the United States Golf Association Museum on Liberty Corner in Bernards Township, with all rooms open for viewing again two days after an overnight break-in and theft of two historic golf trophies, said a spokewoman for the USGA.

Kim Gianetti, the spokeswoman, on Wednesday had said the museum was closed on the day of the burglary, reported early that morning at 2:39 a.m., but was preparing to open by the next day.

The museum is now open for its regular hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays through Sundays, Gianetti said on Friday.

Meanwhile, Bernardsville Police Chief Kevin Valentine and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office each reported there were no updates as of Friday afternoon for solving either that crime — or the reported theft last Friday, May 11, when several trophies were reported stolen at the private Somerset Hills Country Club in Bernardsville.

That break-in also took place in the early morning hours, according to last week's reports. Some golf carts also were apparently taken from the facility in Bernardsville, but were discovered nearby, according to borough police.

Valentine on Friday said police still are working on that reported crime.

Authorities and the USGA reported on Wednesday that two historic trophies were taken from the museum after an intruder, with a suspect caught on tape, broke into cases with an ax.

Joe Goode, communications director for the USGA, on that day said that one of the trophies, a replica of Ben Hogan’s 1953 Hickok Belt award, had been taken from the museum's Ben Hogan room.

The U.S. Amateur Trophy, which was created in 1926 and retired in 1992, was taken from the museum's Hall of Champions, he said.

Bernards Police Lt. Michael Voorhees on Wednesday said the USGA theft is being investigated in cooperation with the continuing Bernardsville investigation. However, Valentine said that day that although he had conferred with the neighboring police department, it wa premature to link the two incidents.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the Somerset County Prosecutor's office and Brian Bobowicz said Bernards Township Police responded to an activated burglar alarm at the scene.

Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano said the township officers arrived to find a broken glass window located next to the front entrance of the museum. Officers from the Bedminster and Far Hills police departments were also dispatched to the scene, according to the prosecutor's office.

A security video camera revealed the suspect has a tall, thin build and he was wearing blue jeans, a dark-colored jacket, white sneakers and he might have been wearing a mask, the prosecutor's office said. Capt. Jack Bennett from the prosecutor's office on Thursday said that no still pictures or part of the video were being released.

Meanwhile, Somerset County Crime Stoppers, Inc. on Wednesday afternoon announced that the not-for-profit organization is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the break-in at the USGA.