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The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum will introduce a new process for individuals to be inducted beginning with the Class of 2015, in an announcement made by PGA TOUR Commissioner and chairman of the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors Tim Finchem. The changes are the result of an extensive review of the Ballot and Nomination process announced last fall. The review included an evaluation of the ballot system and voting body, along with criteria such as tournament victories and age, and the changing dynamics of the game and its constituents.
The Induction process will now be governed by a Selection Commission made up of 16 individuals who will be responsible for electing candidates into the Hall of Fame, with each Inductee needing at least 75 percent of the vote to gain entry. The Selection Commission will be Co-Chaired by Hall of Fame members Nancy Lopez, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Annika Sorenstam and will include the members of the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors and a mix of institutional and at-large seats. Lopez, Palmer and Player were on hand for the announcement, while Sorenstam participated via teleconference.
“The Hall of Fame has established itself as the place to celebrate golf’s greatest players and contributors, and this process will ensure it maintains that place as the game continues to grow and evolve,” said Finchem. “The World Golf Foundation Board of Directors unanimously approved the changes to the process and we applaud the Hall of Fame team for working diligently to make this happen, along with all of the Hall of Fame members who have agreed to participate.”
“This is a great step for the Hall of Fame,” said Palmer. “I was honored to be a part of the first Hall of Fame class 40 years ago in 1974, and it will be a privilege to serve on the Selection Commission with Nancy, Annika and Gary for the Class of 2015.”
“Golf is a global sport with a rich heritage that’s centuries old,” said Sorenstam. “I am honored to have been asked to play a role in determining which men and women have made the greatest impact and deserve the ultimate honor of enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.”
In addition, a Selection Sub-Committee has been established to oversee the qualification and vetting process and is responsible for submitting finalists for consideration to the Selection Commission. The Selection Sub-Committee will be comprised of 20 individuals, including six Hall of Fame members and a mix of institutional and at-large seats.
“The Hall of Fame has done a wonderful job with these changes,” said Lopez. “From the LPGA Founders to the players of my generation to the ladies winning today, the women’s game has always been a big part of the Hall of Fame, and this process will continue that tradition. I am thrilled to serve on the Selection Commission.”
“It is a great honor to be a part of this change to the selection process for the Hall of Fame,” Player said. “It is important to preserve the past and the traditions of this game that we all love and enjoy, and with this comes the responsibility for us to recognize those individuals who have significantly contributed to the success of our game. I look forward to being a part of this Selection Commission.”
The new process will include four categories under which an individual may be considered for Induction: Male and Female Competitor Categories and the Veterans and Lifetime Achievement Categories.
The Male and Female Competitor Categories will have similar criteria for qualification: a player must have 15 or more official victories on approved tours or at least two victories among approved major events. Each player also must be at least 40 years old at the start of the year selections are made or at least five years removed from active competition. The Veterans Category will include players whose careers were primarily completed before 1975, and the Lifetime Achievement Category will continue to be made up of individuals who contributed to the game from outside of the competitive arena.
The new process will begin with the Selection Sub-Committee meeting this spring to debate the candidates in all four categories. It will then present five finalists in the Male and Female categories and three each in Veterans and Lifetime Achievement to the Selection Commission. In the summer, the Commission will discuss the merits and vote on the 16 finalists. Each new member of the class must receive at least 75 percent of the vote. Each class will include no more than five inductees. The Class of 2015 will be announced later this fall.
Starting with the 2015 event, the Induction Ceremony will become a biennial celebration with the following Ceremony taking place in 2017. The Hall of Fame is working with its television partners to create an enhanced promotional strategy, focusing on expanding coverage of the Induction Ceremony. The additional time between Ceremonies will also serve to heighten anticipation for each event.
“The changes to the process and Induction Ceremony will serve the long-term interest of the institution well,” said Jack Peter, Chief Operating Officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame. “The changes take the unique nature of the game and its candidates into account and, most important, will continue to allow the Hall of Fame to recognize worthy individuals. We also viewed this as an opportunity to increase the engagement of Hall of Fame members, and we are grateful to all the members who assisted us during this review and who will participate in the process going forward.”
For more information visit WorldGolfHallofFame.org.
World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum
Selection Commission
Co-Chairs
Nancy Lopez
Arnold Palmer
Gary Player
Annika Sorenstam
Institutional Members
World Golf Foundation Board of Directors
European Tour George O’Grady, Chief Executive
LPGA Mike Whan, Commissioner
PGA of America Peter Bevacqua, Chief Executive Officer
PGA TOUR Tim Finchem, Commissioner
The Masters Will Jones, Executive Director
The R&A Peter Dawson, Chief Executive
USGA Mike Davis, Executive Director
Chairman of the AGW & President of the GWAA
AGW Derek Lawrenson, Chairman
GWAA Ron Sirak, President
At-Large Members
Hiromi Kobayashi Chairman, Japan LPGA
Selwyn Nathan Executive Director, Sunshine Tour
John Hopkins Past Chairman, AGW
World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum
Selection Sub-Committee
Sub-Committee Chairman
World Golf Hall of Fame Jack Peter, Chief Operating Officer
Institutional Members
World Golf Foundation Board Organizations
European Tour Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Director
LPGA Heather Daly-Donofrio, Sr. VP Tour Operations
PGA of America Julius Mason, Sr. Director Communications & Media Relations
PGA TOUR Charlie Zink, Executive Vice President & Co-Chief Operating Officer
The Masters Ron Cross, Director of Corporate Affairs
The R&A Angela Howe, Director, Museum & Heritage
USGA Rand Jerris, Sr. Managing Director, Public Services
At-Large Members
World Golf Hall of Fame Members
Peter Alliss
Beth Daniel
Carol Mann
Johnny Miller
Curtis Strange
Karrie Webb
International Federation of PGA Tours
Ivan Khodabakhsh Chief Executive Officer, Ladies European Tour
Andy Yamanaka Executive Director, Japan Golf Tour
Individual Members
Alastair Johnston
Lewine Mair
Pete McDaniel
Charlie Mechem
Ty Votaw
About the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum
The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum preserves and honors the history of golf and the legacies of those who have made it great. The Hall of Fame and Museum, located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., serves as a steward of the game through engaging, interactive storytelling and exhibitions featuring artifacts, works of art, audio, video and photography significant to the history of golf and its members.
The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 nonprofit institution and is allied with 26 national and international golf organizations, including The European Tour, LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA. To learn more about the Hall of Fame or to lend support, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org.
As the Founding Partner of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum and World Golf Village, Shell Oil Company played a lead role in supporting the development and growth of the institution, which opened in 1998. Since then, their continued involvement has led the way for others to join in support of the Hall of Fame & Museum’s mission.
