R. Otto Probst Golf Papers

Col. Rudolph Otto Probst (1889-1986) was a noted amateur historian and collector of golf books and publications. A native of South Bend, Indiana, Probst graduated with a degere in engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1911. After graduating he worked for Indiana and Michigan Electric Company for 42 years, and he served in the Navy during World War 1 and the Army during World War 2. Probst was most well-known for his extensive and valuable golf library. Starting in the 1920s, Probst began amassing a collection of thousands of books, journals, magazines, and other publications about golf. His collection included many rare and notable items purchased or acquired from rare book dealers, auction houses, and other sellers. Probst was an honorary member of the PGA Advisory Committee, the United States Golf Association Museum Committee, Golf Writers Association of American, and other organizations. In about 1975, he sold his library to the PGA. In 2018, the PGA donated the Col. R. Otto Probst Library to the United States Golf Association Museum.