The greatest players and contributors in the history of golf are recognised by golf’s Hall of Fame. That is, after all, its purpose. What happens, however, when entry levels are dropped to a point where existing inductees openly criticize the lowering of standards?
That is precisely what happened following the announcement in September 2012 that among the Hall of Fame’s class of 2013 will be Fred Couples and Colin Montgomerie.
World Golf Hall of Fame – not as special as it once was?
The mission of the World Golf Hall of Fame is to preserve and honour the history of the game of golf and the legacies of those who have made it great. The Hall of Fame is a non-profit institution and is allied with 25 national and international golf organisations including The European Tour, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour, The R&A and USGA. It is based in St Augustine, Florida.
Amongst the criteria for making the Hall of Fame ballot:
As a PGA player:
- Minimum 40 years old
- PGA Tour membership for 10 years
- Ten Tour wins or two majors or Players Championship wins
As a Champions Tour Member:
- Champions Tour membership for five years and 20 wins between the regular tour and Champions Tour or five majors or Players Championship wins.
The criteria for the international ballot, men and women:
- Minimum 40 years old
- Must accumulate 50 points earned from major wins, international tour wins, Ryder Cup, President’s Cup and Solheim Cup participation.
A panel votes on the Hall of Fame ballots with election requiring 65 percent support. If 65 percent is not achieved, the top player in the voting is elected provided he/she has at least 50 percent of the votes.
Lifetime Achievement:
- This category created to honour those persons whose primary contributions have come from outside the competitive arena.
Recent induction ceremonies have included George H W Bush and Ken Schofield. That, according to some, means such luminaries are amongst the greatest contributors in the history of golf.
Really?
As for players, let’s consider the case of the ever-popular Freddie Couples. One major and 15 PGA Tour wins should not give him a place alongside the game’s greats, but that is exactly what his induction has done. Couples has had a very good career, but not outstanding.
As for Colin Montgomerie, his induction appears to say that players don’t have to win even one major to make it into the HoF?
All this was too much for some. Raymond Floyd (a Hall of Famer with 22 PGA Tour wins and four majors), made his views very clear following the announcement of who would be inducted in 2013. “The bar has been lowered. Guys get voted into the Hall of Fame who don’t belong, who lack the numbers. I’m very upset at the Hall of Fame for that. It’s not fair to the people who went in early.”
Asked who has been elected to the Hall who doesn’t deserve it, he said, “Just look at the inductees over the last six, eight, 10 years. Some years, I don’t even vote because the names are not worthy of induction. One major should not get you into the Hall of Fame — maybe one major and 40 wins. I’m not gonna pick a guy with one major and 11 wins. You should have at least two majors. At least! Wow, there are guys in there that it’s a joke. It takes integrity away from the term “Hall of Fame.” I’m very upset at the Hall of Fame.”
That the doors to golf’s Hall of Fame have been opened far too wide appears to now be recognised by the Hall itself. After significant criticism following the induction of Fred Couples and Colin Montgomerie, the HoF announced that future induction ceremonies will be postponed indefinitely while they undertake a comprehensive review of its processes, particularly those related to criteria for nomination.
By voting in players such as Couples and Montgomerie, the World Golf Hall of Fame opened the door for the induction of players such as Jim Furyk (16 wins and one major), Corey Pavin (15 wins and one major), Hal Sutton (14 wins and one major), Mark Calcavecchia (13 wins and one major), David Duval (13 wins and one major), David Toms (13 wins and one major), Paul Azinger (12 wins, one major and a winning Ryder Cup captain), Justin Leonard (12 wins and one major) and many others.
All of these players had very good careers, but to induct them into the Hall of Fame alongside the likes of Nicklaus, Jones, Palmer, Player, Hagen, Hogan, Vardon et al does not seem right. Perhaps that’s what the current review is trying to address.
As for non-playing inductees, the criteria should be the same as for players; be among the greatest contributors the game has ever known. George H W Bush?
Happy Golfing
Golfnutter
