Golf Hall of Fame

[Balabill]

This concerns the recently published announcement on Se Ri's entry into the Golf Hall of Fame. As I understand it she was voted in, conditional on her completion of 10 LPGA events this year. I believe she has already entered 5 events so I am guessing that by June she will have played in ten events. Is there a special official event honouring Se Ri Pak and others into the Hall of Fame or has this already taken place.

[sag]

Se Ri was not voted in--the LPGA uses a point system and she accumulated enough points a few years ago. The ceremony is on November 12 and Golf Channel will televise it.

[IceCat]

The subject of the points system always seems to come up whenever Laura Davies has been in contention the past few years, as was the case at the Ginn recently. The media always points out that she needs either another major title or 2 more wins at other LPGA events (all her wins on the LET apparently don't mean squat in this regard) to have enough points for induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame; the 10-season career plateau, which is the other criteria, was passed long ago. According to a well placed source on another message board Se Ri will reach her 10 season (10 event minimum per season) threshold at the LPGA Championship, deliciously appropriate since it was her first tour win way back in her phenomenal rookie season of 1998 and where she is also currently the defending champion.

[PAC RIM]

Here are the requirements for active players:

To qualify for entrance into the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame, members of the LPGA Tour, who were active in 1998 and going forward, must meet the criteria outlined below. An LPGA Tour member who was active prior to 1998 and has since been inactive for more than five years would be eligible for the Veteran's Category. Entrance to the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame is limited to LPGA Tour members who meet the following criteria:

1. Must be/have been an "active" LPGA Tour member for 10 years:
2. Must have won/been awarded at least one of the following - an LPGA major championship, the Vare Trophy or Rolex Player of the Year honors; and
3. Must have accumulated a total of 27 points, which are awarded as follows - one point for each LPGA official tournament win, two points for each LPGA major tournament win and one point for each Vare Trophy or Rolex Player of the Year honor earned.

[Buzzer]

If it is the "World Golf Hall Of Fame" or the "Ladies Professional Golf Hall of Fame" you would think wins on other tours should count something toward gaining membership.....even if just a half point.
IMHO the winner of a major amateur championship should get a half point....if they don't go on to play pro golf then "no harm, no foul".
Just recently Ron Sirak, editor of Golf Week magazine, wrote an article saying how the LPGA system was better than the PGA system because the gals "played" their way into the HOF, while the men were voted in.....thus the PGA system was a popularity contest and lacked some validity. He cited some pretty good examples, but I can't remem,ber them.....I'll try to find the article and post it.
Viva Annika

[sag]

Originally Posted by IceCat

The subject of the points system always seems to come up whenever Laura Davies has been in contention the past few years, as was the case at the Ginn recently. The media always points out that she needs either another major title or 2 more wins at other LPGA events (all her wins on the LET apparently don't mean squat in this regard) to have enough points for induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame

Correction: replace "World Golf Hall of Fame" with "LPGA Hall of Fame." Davies already has the minimum qualification for entering the World Golf Hall of Fame on the International Ballot:

International Ballot

* Men and women a minimum of 40 years old
* Cumulative 50 points earned from major wins, international tour wins and Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and Solheim Cup participation

The International Voting Body, also comprised of golf journalists, historians and golf dignitaries, determines who is elected through this category each year. Election requires 65% of returned ballots. In the event that no candidate receives 65%, the nominee receiving the most votes with at least 50% is elected.

No one votes for Davies because they are waiting to see if she can meet the LPGA criteria during her playing career. If not, she will get voted in on the international ballot after she retires. Also, the LPGA for its Hall of Fame does have a veterans category of its own, by which Judy Rankin, Donna Caponi, and Marlene Hagge have been admitted. Davies will someday be voted in as well if need be. Ultimately, the LPGA point system will not prevent Laura Davies from being included in both the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame.

Buzzer, here's the link to Sirak's article and his example:

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/colum...ron&id=2840788

When it comes to Hall of Fame qualifying criteria, the LPGA has it right. It has an ironclad system that eliminates the popularity-contest factor from the equation and guarantees against inconsistencies, such as the selection of Tom Kite (19 PGA Tour victories and one major championship) and the exclusion of Doug Ford (19 victories, two majors). Make a case for both or neither, but don't choose one over the other because you liked one more.

In the recent vote, Doug Ford got only 30% out of the necessary 65%, so he may never have enough support to get in.

I agree with Sirak on the LPGA system. The point system gives unpopular but otherwise deserving players a way into the Hall no matter who might object, while the veterans committee vote allows popular players who fall just short for some reason (such as Davies supporting the LET) to get in. The LPGA system is thus the best of both worlds.

[Buzzer]

Hi Sag......I just checked both the World Golf Hall of Fame and the LPGA Hall of Fame......Annika is listed as a member of both. Is there another World Golf Hall of Fame with the criteria that you mentioned in your post? Judy Rankin was mentioned as beoing in the WGHOF, too. I also noticed Payne Stewarts name under the "S" column so the WGHOF includes both men and women....there is also the LPGAHOF and the PGAHOF. I guess my question is, How many Halls of Fame are there???
Viva Annika

[sag]

Originally Posted by Buzzer

Is there another World Golf Hall of Fame with the criteria that you mentioned in your post?

I got the criteria listed in my previous post from this link:

http://wghof.com/hof/induction_criteria.php

[Buzzer]

Gotcha ! Thanx, Sag.
Viva Annika