Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2018 - 24

That moment led to a lifelong pursuit for Otteson, a retired
insurance agent (and formerly Arnold Palmer's insurance
agent). He has collected tournament programs, trophies, golf
books and more than 2,000 golf clubs, including one of the fi rst
Ping putters made by Karsten Solheim (it has the number six on
it-but is worth a much larger fi gure).
Otteson regrets he didn't specialize more in his collection,
but 65 years after the Hogan encounter at Oakmont, his diverse
collection was validated. During the week of the 2018 Open
Championship at Carnoustie, Otteson received a
call from Bill Thompson, captain of the golf club,
to talk about Hogan (winner of the 1953 Open
title there).
" Thompson learned I have a large collection
of Hogan memorabilia, and he said the club had
dedicated a room to honor Ben, " Otteson says.
" I'm planning a Scotland trip to donate the 1953
Open program from Carnoustie, programs from
Hogan's four U.S. Open titles and a bunch of
Hogan clubs. "
Such an act, ultimately, begs the question of
what to do with an aging collection. Perhaps, like
gathering fi rewood (which is said to warm you
three times by cutting, splitting and burning it),
collecting golf memorabilia brings joy in three
stages: during discovery and acquisition, while
owning an item and researching its history, and,
fi nally, selling or donating it and seeing others'
enjoyment.
About 14 years ago,
Otteson contracted
chronic lymphocytic leukemia and began selling
some of his memorabilia. A portion of Otteson's
Minnesota collection has gone to a " new kid on
the block, " 48-year-old Joe Gladke, a Hennepin
County civil engineer and former Evans Scholar
caddie at Hillcrest Golf Club.
Gladke, who started collecting at age 18 when
his stepfather gave him some hickory-shafted
clubs, accelerated his passion for Minnesota collectibles
after joining the Golf Collectors Society
and meeting Don Kunshier, who was the original
curator of the MGA/PGA Minnesota Golf Hall of
Fame and Museum at Bunker Hills Golf Club. Before Kunshier
passed away in 2013, he mentored Gladke, and they became
close friends. Gladke worked with Kunshier, helping research
and write articles on Minnesota golf history and collectibles.
" It was nice to be able to return the favor to the 'master,' who
had taught me so much about Minnesota golf, " Gladke says of
Kunshier.
Gladke's collection focuses almost exclusively on items related
to Minnesota golf, particularly caddie-related items and contestant
badges; he is seven tournament years shy of a complete set
of badges from the St. Paul Open (1930-1965 at Keller). Gladke
is still hot on the acquisition trail.
" It makes my heart happy, " he says of collecting. " I'm not
24
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2018
mngolf.org
" The only thing
new in golf
is the history
doing this to make money. I can go to the bank and pull out a
$100 bill, but I can't always fi nd another of an item I might have
sold. It's the historical value and rarity of the items. I could sell
it, but I could never replace it. It's one of a kind. "
All four collectors report the golf memorabilia market isn't
what it used to be in terms of monetary value (Bobby Jonessigned
pieces are king, but those with Palmer's moniker, not
so much-he signed everything). They mention how eBay has
been a blessing to the endeavor (it's easier to collect from a home
computer than visiting every auction, estate
or garage sale) and a curse (increased availability
of same items decreases their value).
They also talk of cluttered home basements
and very patient spouses. Goodenough's
wife, Lynn, will even call him about golf
you do not know. "
-Golf memorabilia
collector Phil Kostolnik,
paraphrasing President
Harry S. Truman
PHIL
KOSTOLNIK
items she spots while antiquing.
" Talking with the other guys, the wives
would rather have us in the basement cataloguing
our golf collectibles than out at the
bar, knocking down drinks with friends, "
Goodenough says.
But it's those friendships in a tightknit
community that the foursome values
most-Gladke and Kunshier, Otteson's new
friend in Scotland and each other across
the tables of Golf Collector Society trade
shows. There are always new stories about
old things to tell.
" In the end, we're collecting friends, as
well as golf items, " Kostolnik says. " That's
the best way to put it. " MG
JOE
GLADKE
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2018

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