USGA Acquires Rights to Hy Peskin Golf Photo Archives


The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced it has reached a long-term agreement with the family of celebrated sports photographer Hy Peskin for the USGA Museum to maintain the archive of Peskin's 1,700 golf images.

Peskin, who died in 2005 at age 89, was the first staff photographer for Sports Illustrated. He was known for his pioneering style and ability to select angles that offered fresh perspectives of the action on the course.

"Hy Peskin was a pioneer in sports photography who documented some of the greatest moments in the history of golf," said Robert Williams, director of the USGA Museum. "We are excited to have the opportunity to be the caretakers of his collection. His legacy lives on in every frame and we will preserve his body of work for future generations to appreciate."

As part of the collection, the USGA obtains the rights to one of golf's iconic images: Ben Hogan's 1-iron approach shot on the 72nd hole of the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

Positioned behind Hogan in the fairway, Peskin captured the follow-through of the swing that led to the par that forced an 18-hole playoff, where Hogan defeated Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio for the second of his four U.S. Open titles. The triumph came just 16 months after a bus struck the car in which Hogan and his wife, Valerie, were traveling. After the accident, doctors doubted that Hogan would ever walk again, much less play competitive golf.

"It has always been important to our family that Hy's work find a place to be revered," said Preston Reynolds, son of Hy Peskin and Adriana Peskin-Reynolds. "We're very excited to be partnering with the USGA and we believe that this great organization provides an opportunity for a great man to be remembered and for the golf community to preserve an important piece of the sport's history. We're very proud."

The above report is courtesy of the USGA. For more information, visit www.usga.org.