Another World Golf Village Visit

You may recall that last year I wrote about my first visit to the World Golf Village and the Hall of Fame. With a few hours to spend after this year's Players, I made the short drive down to St. Augustine to pay another visit and as impressed as I was last year, I have no problem stating that my latest visit only confirmed what a special place this is.

Driving into the property and towards the Hall, the land plan that seemed awkward last year made much more sense. Maybe it was a bit of nostalgia of having visited once, but the excitement of winding around golf courses and various real estate with the Hall's spire constantly in view proved quite exciting. It was clearly the intent of the land planners and a nice dramatic touch.

Once I'd paid my $20 (that includes an IMAX ticket if you are so inclined to tear yourself away from the exhibits), much of my time was spent with an interactive exhibit featuring old Open Championship highlight films, with an emphasis on pre-1940.

The exhibits remain as rich and attractive as I remembered, but the entire experience has now been significantly upgraded by the addition of a $3 audio tour. The devices are very easy to use (no headphones!) and enrich a visit as any good audio tour does. However, unlike most museum audio where some NPR-wannabe curator drops plenty of post-modern sensibility references, the Hall of Fame audio ranges from informative to downright personal.

For example, there's John Hopkins talking about his Times predecessor Bernard Darwin. But even better are the audio clips of actual Hall of Famers' talking about either their own items on display, or about something else. Something about hearing the information from the very people in the Hall makes for an incredibly satisfying and unique experience. Otherwise, how else to explain that Barbie doll that Nancy Lopez selected for her locker?

Of this year's inductees, Jose Maria Olazabal and Lanny Wadkins recorded wonderful remembrances related to the items they donated. In Wadkins' case, the collection of great memorabilia he donated to the hall is most impressive, with no item better than the letter from Ben Hogan, with check for on-course wagering losses included.

The only downer: seeing Karsten Solheim in the Hall (but not more important figures like A.W. Tillinghast and Dan Jenkins, to name just a couple on the long list of far more worthy candidates).

There is also the issue of no 2010 induction ceremony on the docket.

If the one-year hiatus is setting things up for a possible 2011 induction to kick off Players Championship week, that'd be nice. But I'm not getting my hopes up. It makes way too much sense.

Comments

[Chuck]

Geoff thanks for that picture of Lanny Wadkins' classic letter from Hogan. I don't suppose anybody knows the story of the unnamed "intruder"?

I wonder how many similarly-uncashed checks there are from Hogan out there? Without a doubt, the best four bucks Lanny never collected.

[X]

Not to be a heckler but is the word "not" missing from this ...

The only downer: seeing Karsten Solheim in the Hall (but more important figures like A.W. Tillinghast and Dan Jenkins, to name just a couple on the long list of far more worthy candidates).

The only downer: seeing Karsten Solheim in the Hall (but "not" more important figures like A.W. Tillinghast and Dan Jenkins, to name just a couple on the long list of far more worthy candidates).

Correct me I'm wrong here.

[X]

by the way agree on the Tilly...my golf God

[NRH]

Chuck: I believe that Hogan was referring to himself i.e. the intruder who took over his game that day, thus the loss to Lanny. A personal check that is typed - now that is old school.

Geoff: Great line on the NPR Curator - so true

[Moon Valley]

Why single out Karsten like that?

[bystander]

Nice post Geoff and I too would like to make the trip out there one day. I'm a little suprised to hear you say that it was a "downer" seeing Karsten Solheim in the Hall. It's apples & oranges to compare Solheim with Tillinghast or Jenkins but you can't deny the contribution he made in advancing modern golf equipment. The Anser-shape putter in all it's guises is still the most popular shape on Tour and the Ping Eye2 changed the iron landscape completely.

In any case, if you don't agree with his inclusion you can just skip past the section... :-)

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

About the intruder, I read somewhere that Lanny and Ben were playing together at Colonial (may have been Shady Oaks) one day when a member caught up with them and then proceeded to "join" them. Rather than play in with this doofus they just went in to the clubhouse, where they probably did forget about their game for a while.

[jstiles]

The WGHoF is a great museum and very well done in every aspect. The volunteers are superb, and it is run in the best manner possible. Have emptied my shag bag of average superlatives, just go visit.

WIth his legacy of golf course design, and writings on everything golf during most of his life, AWT should be in the Hall of Fame.

More importantly, as Geoff mentions, the WGHoF is worth many visits, and should be a required stop for any avid golfer passing through the area.

[The American Triumvirate]

Ky Laffoon's Ghost has it exactly right. Lanny confirmed it was indeed a third party, unknown to either Ben or himself, that attempted to insert himself into their pairing.

[Geoff]

Who knew Karsten Solheim had done anything positive for the game of golf!?

Thankfully, there's only a small plaque dedicated to him, not much else. After all, what exactly would you celebrate?

[Smails]

uhhh, Solheim Cup, anyone? Donor of millions to college golf before it was fashionable?

[Hod]

Sam Snead was another one who paid off bets with checks, knowing that the recipient was unlikely to cash it.

[Joel]

$4 seems like a small amount especially with Lanny involved.

To me, if they really wanted to improve the entire facility, they should remodel the golf courses to make it a destination.

[cmoore]

Geoff -- Karsten Solheim was an innovator in the truest sense of the word. Equipment innovation has inarguably helped grow the game (poor contact with muscleback irons isn't much fun). I've read all your material regarding rolling back the ball, etc., and I tend to agree that the ball we are playing with today has created some problems in the game, but surely you aren't advocating that all equipment innovation is bad for the game. If you are, I'd like to hear where in the evolution of the game equipment innovation should have stopped for it not to have become bad for the game.

[makkyla]

Geoff,

Your criticism of Karsten's inclusion into the Golf Hall of Fame is shocking. At least give some reason why his contributions to the game don't merit inclusion. Comparing AWT to Solhiem makes as much sense as observing that Candy Cummings is in the baseball HOF for inventing the curveball, but Charlie Weeghman is not.

Just out of curiosity, what course architects are in the HOF?

[ReverendTMac]

makkyla: James Braid, Alister MacKenzie, CB Macdonald, Old Tom Morris, Willie Park Sr, and Donald Ross are the ones known more for their designs than their playing days (obviously you've got guys like Bobby Jones, Palmer, Nicklaus et al, as well). But to not have Stanley Thompson, Seth Raynor, George Thomas or (especially) Tillinghast is very disappointing.

[KV]

Karsten is a stretch. I don't see anyone in Cooperstown for reinventing a bat.

Next thing they may put in Jack Hamm for the Hammer driver or maybe A.J. Bonar for the "Secret of AJ".

[Media driven]

Golf Digest is pushing for Jenkins and he probably belongs now that Herbert Warren Wind is in. There are several other media/TV "types'' like Frank Chirkinian and especially Peter Alliss still alive, and highly deserving. For Alliss not to be in while Neil Coles (??)and Christy O'Connor are is a real inconsistency & oversight. Keep equipment people out, please!!

[Troglodyte]

I'm surprised so many posters and, of course Geoff too, discount Karsten Solheim\'s many contributions to the game. His support and influence went far beyond club design. He and his company made huge contributions to college, women's and junior golf. And they continue to do so. I, for one, think his place in the Hall of Fame is well earned and deserved.

[JG]

Baseball understood the limits of the playing field. Stadiums are as expensive as golf courses. Wood is Wood not composite metal. Ping is about marketing as is the PGA. All Hall of Fames are subjective.

[Geoff]

Troglodyte,
I'll give you the contributions to college and junior golf, but I'm still not sure that's Hall of Fame material.

[styled]

I know it's not fashionable to criticize Jenkins -- in fact, I think it's rather fashionable to quote him (as I have on Geoff's site) -- but all those years when he covered the PGA Tour and professional golf (for Fort Worth, Dallas papers and SI) and he had the bully pulpit of his newspapers and magazines, did he ever speak out about exclusionary racial practices?

I'm not alleging or suggesting that he did not. I honestly don't know. His tone deafness on Yang/Chang joke during The Masters made me wonder.