In the heart of Lugano, at Via Peri 11, we celebrate the tradition and authenticity of the game: the Hickory Golf Masters Museum.
A meeting place for connoisseurs, enthusiasts and collectors, where the spirit of golf comes vividly to life through its clubs, its makers, and the artistry of those who shaped the evolution of the game.
A tribute to mastery and tradition
The aim of Hickory Golf Masters SA is to promote the game of golf while paying tribute to the craftsmanship and technical genius that defined its golden age.
Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, golf underwent a period of remarkable innovation in clubmaking that would shape the future of the sport’s design.
The Hickory Golf Masters Museum will tell this story through an exceptional collection, focused on the work of Tom Stewart Jr., one of the era’s most revered clubmakers, renowned for his innovation and outstanding craftsmanship.
The collection features around 360 clubs once played by some of the greatest figures of the time — Bobby Jones, Francis Ouimet, Gene Sarazen, Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, Jack White, James Braid, Tom Morris and many others, offering a rare insight into an era when technique and artistry were one and the same.
The Phil Gibbs Collection: 35 years of passion
This remarkable collection was made possible through the acquisition of the works assembled by Phil Gibbs, an American enthusiast who spent over 35 years searching for, restoring, and preserving genuine hickory clubs.
His wish was that his collection would one day find a home, a place where it could be shared and appreciated.
The promise made to him — to open a museum in Switzerland dedicated to his collection — has been fulfilled in just over a year, marking a story of continuity and respect.
A passing of the baton between two generations who share the same passion and vision of golf as both a cultural and sporting heritage.
An authentic experience in the heart of Lugano
“The location is simply perfect,” says Paolo Quirici, CEO of Hickory Golf Masters SA.
“In the heart of the city, in a pedestrian area where visitors can admire this collection and even play with original hickory clubs, restored in the workshop that is part of the Museum.”
Alongside the exhibition, the laboratory will allow visitors to observe restoration techniques up close and to experience the game with original equipment.
The project’s reputation has already crossed Swiss borders, drawing the attention of collectors and hickory golfers from around the world, even before its official opening.
Paolo Quirici, Hickory Golf Champion, Co-Founder
Visit the Hickory Golf Masters
To fully appreciate this unique heritage, visits to the Hickory Golf Masters Museum are available by appointment only — an invitation to enjoy an intimate journey into the sport’s beginnings and its lasting legacy.
A visit here is a true return to the origins of the game, where style, technique, and respect for tradition continue to inspire every swing.
Hickory Golf Masters Club
With the start of its first season in 2026, Hickory Golf Masters SA will also launch a new initiative: the HGM Club.
Members will have access to exclusive products, created and available only within the Museum, and will be invited to join the HGM Tour: a series of five events celebrating the game of golf as it was played in the early 20th century.