Probst Library

The Probst Library, located in the PGA Historical Center, includes more than 6,000 hard-cover books, more than 3,000 handbooks and yearbooks; and some 600 volumes of bound periodicals including every edition of PGA Magazine dating back to its origins in 1920.

The library is named after Col. R. Otto Probst (1896-1986), an engineer from South Bend, Ind., who began collecting golf periodicals and books in the 1920s. The collection features golf books dating from the 1700s and periodicals from the 1850s covering instruction, art, biography, golf club histories, essays, equipment, fiction, history, humor, poetry, records, reference manuals, travelogues and The Rules of Golf.

Adjoining the Probst Library is a room containing rare books of golf, including the first published Scottish Acts of Parliament of 1566, covering, in retrospect, the reigns of King James I through Mary Queen of Scots. Among the manuscript was the first identifiable reference to golf. In 1457, James II prohibited his subjects playing golf because it prevented training in archery - vital to the defense of the Realm. The Acts were later relaxed in 1501 with the Treaty of Glasgow, and James IV had his own clubs made and began playing the game.

Open to the Public

Dec. 26-Easter Sunday     Daily                      10 a.m.-4 p.m.
After Easter-Dec. 25        Thursdays-Sundays  10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Admission is Complimentary Year-Round

Meetings and Events
The PGA Historical Center is available for group functions and catered events.
For complete information, please call (772) 340-1444.

Researchers
Open year-round by special appointment