Overview
The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum will use the following process and criteria for an individual to be inducted:
Selection Commission
The process is governed by a Selection Commission made up of 16 individuals who will be responsible for electing individuals into the Hall of Fame. To be inducted, an individual must receive approval from at least 75% of the Selection Commission. The Selection Commission is Co-Chaired by Hall of Fame members Nancy Lopez, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Annika Sorenstam.
Selection Sub-Committee
A Selection Sub-Committee will oversee the 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: Donna Caponi, Juli Inkster, Hale Irwin, Nick Price, Curtis Strange and Karrie Webb.
Categories & Criteria
There are now four categories under which an individual may be considered for Induction: Male and Female Competitor Categories and the Veterans and Lifetime Achievement Categories.
Induction Process
Each new Class of Inductees will be selected after a vetting process by the Selection Sub-Committee and a vote from the Selection Commission.
Please note below that the Selection Sub-Committee is responsible for nominating candidates for the Veterans and Lifetime Achievement Categories. The World Golf Hall of Fame is responsible for managing support materials, including letters of support, from the public. Please send all correspondence to letters@wghof.org and the Hall of Fame staff will respond as appropriate.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Selection Commission
The Selection Commission is comprised of 16 individuals tasked with electing inductees in the Male and Female Competitor, Veterans and Lifetime Achievement Categories. The Commission will be Co-Chaired by four members of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Co-Chairs (4) – serving two-year terms
Nancy Lopez, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Annika Sorenstam
Institutional Seats (9)
World Golf Foundation Board of Directors:
European Tour Keith Pelley, Chief Executive
LPGA Mike Whan, Commissioner
PGA of America Seth Waugh, Chief Executive Officer
PGA TOUR Jay Monahan, Commissioner
The Masters Will Jones, Executive Director
The R&A Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive
USGA Mike Davis, Executive Director
Chairman of the AGW and President of the GWAA:
AGW Iain Carter, Chairman
GWAA Gary Van Sickle, President
At-Large Seats (3) – serving two-year terms
Grant Wilson Chief Operating Officer, Sunshine Tour
John Hopkins Past Chairman, AGW
Nobuko Hirayama Women’s Chairman, International Golf Federation
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Selection Sub-Committee
The Selection Sub-Committee will be made up of 20 individuals tasked with vetting and presenting Male and Female Competitors for consideration to the Selection Commission. The Selection Sub-Committee will also nominate and submit candidates in the Veterans and Lifetime Achievement Categories.
Institutional Seats (7)
Representatives the World Golf Foundation Board organizations:
European Tour Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Director
LPGA Heather Daly-Donofrio, Sr. V.P. Tour Operations
PGA of America Julius Mason, Sr. Director, Communications & Media Relations
PGA TOUR Tyler Dennis, Chief of Operations
The Masters Steve Ethun, Director of Communications
The R&A Angela Howe, Director, Museum & Heritage
USGA Rand Jerris, Sr., Managing Director, Public Services
At-Large Seats (13)
Members of the World Golf Hall of Fame (6)
Donna Caponi
Juli Inkster
Hale Irwin
Nick Price
Curtis Strange
Karrie Webb
Federation of PGA Tours (2)
PGA of Australia Gavin Kirkman, Chief Executive Officer
Australian Ladies Professional Golf Julia Boland, President
At-large Individuals (5)
Alastair Johnston
Lewine Mair
Pete McDaniel
Ty Votaw
Andy Yamanaka
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Categories & Criteria
Female Competitors
A player must have a cumulative total of 15 or more official victories on any of the tours with membership in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings (LPGA, Ladies European Tour, Japan LPGA, Korea LPGA and WPGA TOUR Australia) OR at least two victories among the following events: U.S. Women’s Open, LPGA Championship, du Maurier Classic (1979-2000), Women’s British Open (2001-current), Kraft Nabisco Championship (1983-2014), ANA Inspiration (2015-current), The Evian Championship (2013-current), Titleholders Championship (1937-1942, 1946-1966, 1972), and the Western Open (1930-1967).
A player must be at least 50 years old during the year of a given Induction Ceremony (example: A player must turn 50 years old in 2019 in order to qualify for the Class of 2019), or be at least five years removed from being an active participant (as determined by the Tour) on any of the tours with membership in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Male Competitors
A player must have a cumulative total of 15 or more official victories on any of the original members of the International Federation of PGA Tours (PGA TOUR, DP World Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Sunshine Tour, Asian Tour and PGA of Australasia) OR at least two victories among the following events: The Masters, THE PLAYERS Championship, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the PGA Championship.
A player must be at least 50 years old during the year of a given Induction Ceremony (example: A player must turn 50 years old in 2019 in order to qualify for the Class of 2019), or be at least five years removed from being an active participant (as determined by the Tour) on any of the original members of the International Federation of PGA Tours.
Veterans Category
To be considered for selection in the Veterans category a player’s competitive career must have primarily occurred prior to 1980. There is no minimum win criterion. Amateurs and professionals are eligible to be considered in the Veterans category.
Lifetime Achievement Category
To be considered for selection in the Lifetime Achievement category, an individual must have contributed to the game significantly in areas outside of the competitive arena (i.e. administrator, course architect, innovator, instructor, media, etc.).
Individuals may be nominated in the Veterans and Lifetime Achievement Categories by a member of the Selection Sub-Committee.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Induction Process
Selection Sub-Committee Stage
Male & Female Competitor Categories
The Selection Sub-Committee will review the list of players who meet the minimum criteria to qualify in the Male and Female Competitor categories. All Hall of Fame members will also be asked for their recommendations in both categories.
The Selection Sub-Committee will determine no more than five finalists in both categories and submit the results to the Selection Commission for their consideration.
Veteran & Lifetime Achievement Categories
The Selection Sub-Committee will review the list of individuals who have been nominated in both the Veterans and Lifetime Achievement categories. All Hall of Fame members will also be asked for their recommendations in both categories.
The Selection Sub-Committee will determine no more than three finalists in both categories and submit the results to the Selection Commission for their consideration.
Selection Commission Stage
Voting
In order to be inducted in any Category, an individual must receive approval from at least 75% of the Selection Commission.
The Commission may choose any number of candidates from any category, and the Induction Class may not exceed a total of five individuals.
Male & Female Competitor Categories
The Selection Commission will be presented with no more than five finalists in both the Male and Female Competitor categories to consider for induction. The Selection Commission will discuss the merits of each finalist, and conduct a vote to determine if he or she will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Veteran & Lifetime Achievement Categories
The Selection Commission will be presented with no more than three finalists in both the Veterans and Lifetime Achievement categories to consider for induction. The Selection Commission will discuss the merits of each finalist, and conduct a vote to determine if he or she will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
The final class of Inductees will be announced following the Selection Commission’s deliberations.
