# 2965 - 1995 32c Recreational Sports: Golf

U.S. #2965
1995 32¢ Golf
Recreational Sports

• Recreational Sports stamps honor popular sports enjoyed by everyday Americans
• 1995 was the 100^th anniversary of the US Golf Association’s first championship

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Set:  Recreational Sports
Value:  32¢, rate for first-class mail
First Day of Issue:  May 20, 1995
First Day City:  Jupiter, Florida
Quantity Issued:  30,000,000
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Lithographed
Format:  Panes of 20 in sheets of 120
Perforations:  11.2

Why the stamp was issued:  To pay tribute to the recreational sports enjoyed by everyday Americans. 

About the stamp design:  The USPS wanted the Recreational Sports stamps to stand out from previous sports issues.  They brought in illustrator Don Weller, who created vivid, poster-style images of the athletes.  He produced a number of quick sketches before settling on the five used on the stamps.  He and the art director also consulted several sources to ensure the athletes were all positioned correctly for each sport. 

Weller used a photo by Jeff McBride of Hal Sutton for the golfer illustration.  In the original photo, Sutton was using an iron club, but Weller replaced it with a wood.  And after the stamp was made public, he made changes to the face and hair so it wouldn’t look as much like Sutton.

First Day City:  The Recreational Sports stamps were issued at the Stamporee Stamp Expo at the Jupiter Beach Resort in Jupiter, Florida. 

Unusual facts about the Recreational Sports stamps:  A small number of freak panes were discovered in which the bottom left corners folded inward during the trimming stage.  As a result, the selvage was larger in those corners and they included the alignment and other marks that are normally discarded during the trimming stage.  These stamps have also been found imperforate as well as versions with the yellow omitted and the yellow, blue, and magenta omitted. 

About the Recreational Sports Set:  Several stamps had previously honored the Olympics and professional sports, but the USPS created these as a tribute to the most popular recreational sports in America.  

Additionally, three of the sports were celebrating centennial anniversaries in 1995.  The US Golf Association (USGA) had held its first championship at the Newport Golf Club in Rhode Island in 1895.  The American Bowling Congress was founded on September 9, 1895.  And volleyball was invented in 1895 by YMCA employee William G. Morgan.

History the stamp represents:  Every day, millions of Americans gather at diamonds, courts, lanes, and links to participate in their favorite recreational sport. The five Recreational Sports se-tenants honor these amateur athletes and the games they participate in.

Golf is one of the most popular outdoor sports.  In fact, every year more than 20 million Americans enjoy the challenge and friendly competition of the game.

Although many similar games were played in different countries, including the Dutch game of kolven and the Belgian game of chole, Scotland is credited with developing the modern version of golf.  Founded in 1754, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews became the leader in establishing golf’s regulations – setting a round of golf at 18 holes and ultimately determining the rules that still govern the game today.  Eventually the game spread throughout the British Commonwealth, and then to Canada and the US.

Golf remained primarily a man’s game until the beginning of the 20th century when the rubber ball was introduced, drawing scores of women and children into the game.  During the 1930s the putting game known as miniature golf became the latest rage, furthering the popularity of the sport.  Today less difficult courses known as “par 3” courses have become increasingly popular among inexperienced players.  And many golfers now spend their leisure time at driving ranges and putting greens where they are able to practice and refine their skills.