Exhibits of Five New Members Open to Public Monday, Oct. 30
St. Augustine, Fla. (October 25, 2006) – The World Golf Hall of Fame will unveil five new exhibits Monday, Oct. 30 recognizing its 2006 Class of Inductees: Larry Nelson, Vijay Singh, Marilynn Smith and the late Mark McCormack and Henry Picard. The exhibits will open to the public the same day the individuals are inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at its annual Induction Ceremony at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla.
Each exhibit will feature pieces of personal memorabilia that represent the inductees’ historical influence on the sport of golf, significant moments in their lives on the course as well as their personal interests. Items included in the new inductee exhibits will span decades, including Picard’s Green Jacket won at the 1938 Masters, Nelson’s and Singh’s major championship trophies to date, McCormack’s correspondence with golf’s biggest stars through the years and a collection of photos and documents from Smith that coincide with the formation of the LPGA.
"This year’s class offers generations of history from the 1930s through current day, where Vijay Singh and Larry Nelson remain competitive week to week on the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, respectively," said Jack Peter, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame. "We are grateful to the inductees, their families and friends who have come forward this year to contribute numerous, invaluable items to help the Hall of Fame honor their successes and tell their stories."
The late McCormack’s exhibit will be comprised of photos, artifacts and correspondence from the likes of Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, as well as personal keepsakes from the famed businessman. Included will be handwritten note cards which served as reminders of subjects McCormack wanted to talk with others about, his personal brown leather briefcase with accompanying paperwork and a collection of room keys from various hotels representing his worldwide travels.
While McCormack’s impact on golf is apparent, additional items on display will represent his influence in other industries, including a news clippings scrapbook chronicling his representation of Pope John Paul II and a collection of photos and personal correspondence from Johnny Carson, soccer star Pele, hockey star Wayne Gretzky and others.
Nelson’s exhibit will take a tour through his life from his service with the U.S. Army in Vietnam through his most current golf competitions and victories. Encompassed in Nelson’s exhibit will be his 1981 and 1987 PGA Championship trophies; clothing, badges and more from his participation in the 1979, 1981 and 1987 Ryder Cups; and his entire collection of pins, badges and money clips representing many of the professional tournaments in which he has participated. Representing the personal side of Nelson will be photos of his family and items denoting his Christian faith including his leather-bound Bible and his 2004 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Champions award.
In addition to his Masters and PGA Championship medals, the late Picard’s exhibit will include the set of clubs and leather bag he used to win the 1938 Masters and the 1939 PGA Championship. An original Western Union Telegram from Picard to teacher Alex Morrison touching on Picard’s use of his new interlocking grip and winning the 1938 Masters also will be displayed, as will his Green Jacket from the same victory. Picard’s time as a pro at Hershey Country Club in Hershey, Penn. will be characterized by numerous photos, and even a 1930s Hershey Milk Chocolate Bar Box representative of the candy Picard would often hand out at tournaments in which he played.
Singh’s display will incorporate trophies from several of the golfer’s many career victories including the 2000 Masters and 1998 and 2004 PGA Championships, plus awards including the 2004 Arnold Palmer Award (money title), 2004 Byron Nelson Award (adjusted scoring average), 2004 Vardon Trophy (lowest scoring average), and 2004 PGA of America Player of the Year. Also on view will be a framed letter from Fiji’s Prime Minister naming Singh a recipient of the Companion of the Order of Fiji, the nation’s highest civic honor. Fiji’s only world-class golfer, Singh’s exhibit will give guests a look at the golfer roots, including a traditional Fijian Kava bowl, a series of stamps featuring his likeness and plans from his first golf course design project at Natadola Marine Resort.
Smith’s exhibit will be full of various personal and professional memorabilia from her life in golf. Dating back to the founding of the LPGA, Smith’s exhibit will include photographs, early documentation of tournament travels and expenses and a compilation of LPGA tournament regulations, constitutions and by-laws and players guides from the late 1940s to the late 1960s. Her beginnings in golf and subsequent successes will be traced from her collection of amateur trophies and medals to her green Titleholder’s jacket marking her victories in 1963 and 1964, when the tournament was considered a major. Also on display will be a set of Marilynn Smith signature Spalding clubs with an accompanying red golf bag and shag bag. Smith’s influence in teaching others will be represented with original notes and photos from her travels around the world, as she is known to have held the most clinics internationally.
In addition to the exhibits representing the 2006 Class of Inductees on display in Shell Hall, items will be placed in the new class’ lockers in the Hall of Fame’s Member Locker Room Exhibit.
For more information about the World Golf Hall of Fame, call 904-940-4123 or visit www.wgv.com.
About the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame, located in St. Augustine, Fla., is the ultimate destination for the celebration and recognition of golf’s greatest players and contributors and an inspiration to golfers and fans throughout the world. A collaboration of 26 national and international golf organizations support the Hall of Fame, including the PGA TOUR, LPGA, USGA, PGA of America and The R&A. The museum houses interactive exhibits and historic and personal artifacts and that tell the stories of its members and the game of golf. Adjacent is the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX® Theater. For more information, visit www.wgv.com.
Contact:
Peyton Taylor
904-940-4059
ptaylor@wghof.org
www.wgv.com