ARDMORE, Pa. — The most interesting piece of swag from this year’s U.S. Amateur costs nothing, but you need to know where to find it.
It’s not being sold in the merchandise shop at Merion Golf Club, although there is plenty of swanky items and must-have swag on offer (be careful with your wallet; the shirts, hats and water bottles are very, very sweet but they add up). Rather, it’s in the Merion clubhouse, on a desk in front of the players services area. There the USGA championship operations team has on display and handful of one-of-a-kind stickers that have become a popular grab for players, rules officials and volunteers.
Stickers used to be kids stuff. But they’ve become the more popular ways to travelers/spectators to commemorate any vacation, trip or event. They’re usually inexpensive and they often have a vibe or feel that people connect with.
That’s what Chris Mills with the USGA figured when he first started making some stickers for the governing body’s championships in 2021. He’s no a graphic artist, but he started to moonlight as one. It’s a niche item, but it’s inexpensive to create and produce and one that’s had some staying power.
The idea behind the stickers it to connect the championship with the venue and the city/state that it’s being held in. You can see that in the selection of stickers for this week’s U.S. Amateur:
The ice cream is a homage to the 24 hours ice cream dispenser inside Merion’s clubhouse. The red-blocked US Am sign pays tribute to the LOVE sign that’s a popular tourist destination in Philadelphia. The 126ixers is an nod to local NBA team.
Mills’ favorite design to date? It’s his homage to the U.S. Amateur and the Hot Dog Bill’s stand at The Olympic Club that he created when the USGA’s oldest championship was played in San Francisco a year ago.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
