Escape to the U.S. Golf Museum For Serenity and Elegance

Each week, Patch tells you about one great idea to give you a much deserved break, and make your life a little easier, and maybe a whole lot more fun.

Don't tell us you're a golfer and haven't been the the United States Golf Association Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, at 77 Liberty Corner Road in Bernards Township.

But even if you're not an avid golfer, you can hardly find a better place to which to escape during the craziest days around the holidays. The museum itself is set in the midst of landscaped grounds that include its Pynes putting green modeled after a famous putting green in Scotland.

The museum and changing exhibits are housed elegant mansion, built in 1919 by Tom Frothingham, and later acquired by the USGA in 1973. At that time, a when a smaller collection was relocated from New York City to the landscaped estate in Central New Jersey.

At this time of year, the museum is decorated with tasteful greenery that adds a further layer of period style to the rooms that house a collection of historic golf memorabilia, such as the famous "moon club" used by astronaut Alan Shepard Jr. to hit two golf clubs on the surface of the moon in 1971.

Just strolling the grounds is a way to get away from the pressures of traffic and an overcrowded schedule.

Usual hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. However, Kim Gianetti, assistant manager of marketing and outreach, said the museum will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day for the next few weekends. Other than that, she said, hours are open as usual.

And if DO have last-minute shopping to do, you can hardly find a more tranquil shopping experience than to browse in the museum's gift shop to select a special something for the golfer in your life. There are lots of books on golf, golf memorabilia reproductions and _ if you want to splurge — high end golf clubs modeled on "vintage" clubs.

Of course, a tour of the golf museum itself can be a gift for that person who already has everything they want — but might enjoy an afternoon out.

The museum has constantly changing exhibits, such as the current one on That exhibit will continue through February.

There are also smaller exhibits of the many golfing items that the museum has in storage. Right now, you can see a case filled with golf tees from throughout different eras, suiting different tastes. There's a fur-covered golf tee, and one that is cradled by praying hands.

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for USGA members, $3.50 for children ages 13 to 17 and free for 12 and under. Group rates also are available.

The USGA Museum next will present a new temporary exhibit, "American Champions & Barrier Breakers: Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis and Althea Gibson," beginning in Black History Month, February 2012. The featured artifacts, documents and photographs of these three icons call attention to the numerous contributions African Americans have made to golf for over a century.

In conjunction with the opening of this exhibit, the museum will host a one-day symposium from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 18. The event is open to the public and will feature presentations by former players, authors and historians.

For more information and to make a reservation, please email museum@usga.org.