Local collection is part of U.S. Women's Open
Corey Lawson loves the game of golf. He has played since he was a youngster and even spent two years playing in the professional circuit. But about 10 years ago his interest in the game branched out as he developed an appreciation for early golf memorabilia.
Lawson has been buying and collecting antique golf equipment and related items since then. He has upgraded his collection over the years, selling some of the items on eBay or to private collectors as he is able to find and acquire better or older artifacts.
About 60 items from Lawson's collection of golf antiques are currently on display at the Reno County Museum in Hutchinson. They have been on loan to the museum since the first of the year.
Since the U.S. Women's Open Championship will be held at the Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson this summer, the museum is offering golf-related displays to spike interest in the upcoming event. The exhibits give people some background of the history of golf, the development of Prairie Dunes, and the growth of competition for women in the field.
The museum is exhibiting Lawson's collection along with historic photos and items from Prairie Dunes, and a traveling exhibit from the United States Golf Association, entitled, "Evolution of Women's Golf."
On June 15, the exhibits will be moved from the Reno County Museum and taken to Prairie Dunes where they will be on display for the Women's Open Championship, July 1-8.
Lawson's collection includes golf memorabilia from the 1800s. Many of the items he purchased several years ago while on a golfing trip to Scotland and England.
"Probably the oldest item in the collection is called a feather ball," he said. "It dates to 1810. The golf ball was made of leather over feathers."
Lawson has loaned to the exhibit some rare old golf balls, clubs (including long-nose woods from the 1850s), early golf bags, trophies from tournaments in the late 1800s, books, and paper products.
"The books are about the game and were printed in the 1890s. The equipment is representative of different eras and shows the evolution of the tools of golf. Golfers were often depicted on tobacco cards and other advertising at the turn of the century. The advertising items show the clothing and equipment of the day. There is a great deal of interest in golf's pictorial history," said Lawson.
Lawson and his family are members of the Prairie Dunes Country Club. "The golf course was designed in 1937 by golf course architect Perry Maxwell. The course has great history. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and many other great golfers are honorary members," he said.
"It's an honor for Prairie Dunes to be hosting the Women's Open," he added. "And I'm pleased that the organizers asked to include part of our collection for the display."
Lawson's collection will be returned to Peabody after the championship concludes.
