The SOCIETY Newsletter #102

Staying the Course: Why the National Links Trust Deserves Continued Federal Support

One of the most important—and quietly impactful—golf restoration efforts in America is unfolding in the nation’s capital.

The National Links Trust (NLT) is in the midst of an ambitious plan to restore and modernize three historic public golf courses in Washington, D.C.: East Potomac, Langston, and Rock Creek Park. These courses are not private enclaves or resort playgrounds. They are affordable, accessible, and deeply woven into the civic and sporting fabric of the city—serving juniors, beginners, military families, and everyday golfers from all walks of life.

At its core, the NLT project is about stewardship. It preserves public land, restores historically significant golf architecture, improves environmental sustainability, and ensures long-term public access to the game. It is precisely the kind of public-private partnership that leverages private investment and expertise while keeping ownership and access firmly in the public domain.

Importantly, these courses do not need a modern, tour-caliber overhaul designed to host the PGA Tour or LIV Golf. They do not need a Tom Fazio–style renovation built for grandstands, television towers, and championship yardage. Washington, D.C. does not need another exclusive tournament venue. What it needs—and what NLT is delivering—is a thoughtful restoration that showcases golf for the everyday player: walkable, strategic, affordable courses that reward imagination over power and welcome players of all abilities.

As President Trump and his administration evaluate federal priorities, this is a project well worth supporting—not through disruption, but through continuity.

Clearing unnecessary regulatory red tape and helping to secure funding would allow these restorations to move forward efficiently, responsibly, and at a fraction of the cost of starting anew. The plans are in place. The expertise is assembled. The momentum exists. What’s needed now is the ability to execute without delay.

Golf has long been part of America’s civic life, and public courses like these embody the game at its best: open, democratic, and rooted in community. Supporting the National Links Trust is not about politics—it’s about preserving public assets, honoring history, and investing in infrastructure that will serve generations.

Sometimes the strongest leadership move is not changing course, but staying it. The Society of Golf Historians endorses the efforts of the National Links Trust to restore the courses around Washington DC.

Celebrating Walter Hagen at 133: The Man Who Invented the Modern Professional Golfer

133 years ago today, the great Walter Hagen was born, and with him came a transformation that still defines professional golf.

Hagen did far more than win championships. He changed the posture of the professional golfer—from hired hand to headline act, from club servant to global sporting celebrity. Modern golf, as we know it, walks in his footsteps.

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From the 1913 U.S. Open to Global Stardom

Hagen’s first major appearance came at the legendary 1913 U.S. Open, the tournament that announced golf to America when amateur Francis Ouimet shocked the British establishment. Hagen finished T-4, but more importantly, he caught a glimpse of golf’s future—and seized it.

Just one year later, Hagen won the 1914 U.S. Open, beginning a run unlike anything the professional game had seen. By the end of his career, Hagen had captured:

 • 11 professional major championships

 • 5 Western Opens (then regarded as a major-caliber event)

 • Multiple victories on both sides of the Atlantic

When Hagen retired, no golfer in history—amateur or professional—had won more professional majors. That mark would stand until it was eventually surpassed nearly four decades later by Jack Nicklaus

To this day, only Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have exceeded Hagen’s professional major total—both benefiting from an additional major each season, as the Masters did not exist during Hagen’s prime.

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The Man Who Made Pros Equal

Before Hagen, professional golfers were often treated as second-class citizens—barred from clubhouses, forced to enter through back doors, and denied basic respect. Hagen refused to accept that hierarchy.

He dressed impeccably.

He traveled first class.

He demanded respect.

Hagen famously declared that he was “paid to play golf, not carry clubs,” and through his confidence—some called it arrogance—he forced the golf world to reconsider the value of the professional player. Every appearance fee, endorsement deal, and sponsor exemption today traces back to Hagen’s insistence that excellence deserved compensation.

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Architect of the Ryder Cup’s Soul

Perhaps Hagen’s most enduring legacy lies in the Ryder Cup, where he served as U.S. captain six times, leading America to six consecutive victories between 1927 and 1937.

But Hagen’s genius wasn’t tactical—it was psychological. He understood theater, pressure, and belief. He empowered his players, elevated the spectacle, and infused the matches with pride and drama. The modern Ryder Cup—emotional, combustible, and unforgettable—is unmistakably Hagen’s creation.

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Style, Swagger, and Substance

Walter Hagen wasn’t just a golfer—he was golf’s first superstar.

He smoked, laughed, hosted lavish parties, and lived boldly, all while delivering under the fiercest competitive pressure. Yet beneath the charisma was a fierce competitor and a relentless advocate for the professional game.

Hagen proved you could be stylish and serious, charismatic and dominant, entertaining and historic.

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A Legacy That Still Walks the Fairways

On his 133rd birthday, Walter Hagen’s legacy remains everywhere:

 • In the confidence of today’s professionals

 • In the respect afforded to players worldwide

 • In the drama of the Ryder Cup

 • In the belief that golf is both sport and spectacle

Walter Hagen didn’t just win golf tournaments.

He redefined what it meant to be a golfer.

And 133 years on, the game is still better for it.

A NEW BOOK ON THE HAIG

I can’t wait to read Sid Matthews’ upcoming book on Walter Hagen. After spending decades as one of the preeminent authorities on Bobby Jomes, Sid has turned his attention to Sir Walter Hagen—one of the most transformative figures the game has ever known.For historians and lovers of golf’s past.

Take a moment to appreciate the era we are living in. Never before have so many thoughtful, deeply researched golf history books been published at the same time. It’s a gift—and a golden age—for anyone who believes the future of the game is best understood through its past.

ANTIQUITY GOLF DEVELOPMENT

Over the past six months, Antiquity Golf Co. has formally pursued the acquisition of two Golden Age golf courses. As we move into the first half of 2026, our expectation is to have one—possibly both—of these historic properties under contract and advancing toward purchase.

Our vision is to reintroduce a model of golf long embraced in Scotland: private stewardship paired with meaningful public access. Courses preserved by committed owners, operated with care for history, architecture, and the wider golfing community.

For those attending the Society of Golf Historians Annual Meeting on January 19, and who may have an extra day before or after, I may be able to arrange on-site visits to these properties. There will be opportunities to participate not only as supporters, but as investors and owners in the next chapter of these courses.

As an aside, we are also looking at possible ground up golf development opportunities on a couple of unbelievable sandy sites.

Antiquity Golf Co Promotion

When you pre-order one of our new St Andrews Cardigans, you’ll be invited to select one of our low- to mid-profile hats at no cost. After checkout, our team will follow up by email so you can choose your hat.

The St Andrews Cardigan is available in four colorways and features an authentic vintage St Andrews, Scotland patch stitched on the left chest. A private patch collector reached out to us earlier this year to share his remarkable archive. We acquired a selection of original St Andrews patches from his collection—and rather than locking them away, we chose to return them to their rightful place in the world.

Each cardigan is an act of preservation: historic patches, reapplied to classic garments, and worn once again.

If you haven’t yet, check out the website:

www.antiquitygolfco.com

THANK YOU!

If you are a loyal listener to the TalkinGolf History Podcast- we are planning an episode on the History of Leith Links. A story or series of stories that every golfer should know.

Thank you for reading our newsletter and have a Happy Holidays, a Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas!