ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida — The World Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is closing its doors for good in less than a week and that leaves an issue — what to do with the Museum assets other than the lockers and their contents.
Pinehurst is accepting items such as Gene Sarazen’s 1922 PGA Championship and 1935 Masters Championship trophies; Jack Nicklaus’ MacGregor bag from his 1965 Masters victory; Johnny Miller’s clubs, ball and gold medal from the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont (where he shot a record 63 in the final round); Seve Ballesteros’ wedge he used when he won the first of his five majors at the 1979 Open Championship; and the shirt worn by Annika Sorenstam when she became the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event at the 2003 Colonia.
Volunteer Coulter Schmitt walks past the wall of bronze plaques honoring members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. St. Johns County will retain possession of the plaques to be displayed in the reimagined Hall of Fame and Museum building.
But there are about 7,500 other items that were on loan or donated to the Hall of Fame. McLaughlin said the offer was made to living Hall of Fame members and the families of those deceased to return some items but other members have opted to send the items elsewhere:
- Two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange has asked for his donations to be sent to his alma mater, Wake Forest.
- Items belonging to Chick Evans will be sent to the Western Golf Association.
- Augusta National is accepting memorabilia associated with founder Clifford Roberts.
- More than 3,000 books went to the USGA of the Southern Methodist Sports Management program.
“We haven’t had a problem finding a home for most of the assets,” McLaughlin said. “Eventually we hope to find a home for everything.”
The daunting process begins in six days — after the final visitor leaves the structure.
That’s when one era in First Coast golf history closes in St. Augustine, to be followed by the Hall of Fame’s mulligan in Pinehurst.
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