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Terry Lavin

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Willie Park Jr. in WGHOF
« on: November 16, 2012, 10:52:46 AM »
I stole this item from Shack's site, but figured others would be interested to learn that Willie Park Jr. was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.  His designs include Sunningdale, Maidstone and Olympia Fields North.  His father was previously inducted and, not for nothing, Mungo Park is one of our most recent new members.  Perhaps now would be a good time for a New Member introduction!

Here's the link:

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400566/garry-smits/2012-11-15/father-and-son-golfing-pioneers-now-together-world-golf
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.  H.L. Mencken

Kyle Harris

Re: Willie Park Jr. in WGHOF
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2012, 10:59:04 AM »
Very glad to see this.

Also very glad to see Mungo contributing. He is indefatigable in his desire to preserve the history of the Park family in golf. 

Will Lozier

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Re: Willie Park Jr. in WGHOF
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2012, 11:05:36 AM »
Willie's last design was the front nine at St. Johnsbury CC in VT.  A really interesting layout that has been nicely complimented by Cornish's back nine addition.  The front nine is a bit quirky in spots and a good deal of fun.

Cheers

Niall C

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Re: Willie Park Jr. in WGHOF
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2012, 11:10:27 AM »
Gents

Without wishing to come across as cynical, what's the point of Hall of Fames ? Are they just money making opportunities ? On this side of the pond up until recent years they were largely unheard of except perhaps for some American reference. I mean, to use Jack Nicklaus as an example, he hardly needs to be in a Hall of Fame to secure his place in golf so what would happen if he graciously declined a place in the WGHOF, would that diminish him or the WGHOF ?

Niall

Will Lozier

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Re: Willie Park Jr. in WGHOF
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2012, 02:11:54 PM »
Gents

Without wishing to come across as cynical, what's the point of Hall of Fames ? Are they just money making opportunities ? On this side of the pond up until recent years they were largely unheard of except perhaps for some American reference. I mean, to use Jack Nicklaus as an example, he hardly needs to be in a Hall of Fame to secure his place in golf so what would happen if he graciously declined a place in the WGHOF, would that diminish him or the WGHOF ?

Niall

Niall,

I would say that Hall of Fames are useful for preserving and more so, presenting history.  Yes, they can seem egregiously egotistical from the point of view of one not involved in a particular sport, passion, business, etc.  But, I would argue that they can be quite enjoyable especially for a young passionate athlete, musician or whatever.

Cheers

Tim Gavrich

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Re: Willie Park Jr. in WGHOF
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2012, 02:47:37 PM »
A nice feather in the cap for Connecticut golf. Park designed Shuttle Meadow, New Haven CC, Woodway CC, CC of New Canaan and nine holes at Tumble Brook.
Senior Writer, GolfPass

Sven Nilsen

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Re: Willie Park Jr. in WGHOF
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2012, 06:20:19 PM »
A thread from a earlier this fall covering his resume:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,53323.0.html
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Steve_ Shaffer

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Re: Willie Park Jr. in WGHOF
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2012, 07:35:24 PM »
It will be interesting to see what Philmont CC does now about their North course in light of this. Would they rather have a Flynn or the HOF Park, Jr. ?

"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Steve_ Shaffer

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Re: Willie Park Jr. in WGHOF
« Reply #8 on: November 16, 2012, 11:34:37 PM »
It should be noted, as Phil Young told me, that Park was admitted through the Veteran's category which is restricted to old PLAYERS. If he was to be inducted as an architect or as a combination architect/player it would have been through the lifetime achievement category. This year that went to Ken Venturi who got in as a combination player/broadcaster since he would not make it on his playing career alone.
 
When will Tillinghast get the nod as an Architect?
"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Tim_Cronin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Willie Park Jr. in WGHOF
« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2012, 03:07:29 AM »
Good to see Willie Park Jr. in the Hall, but the method by which people are nominated and elected varies from category to category, and is at the least convoluted. It would be better if all candidates were considered together by one nominating/electing panel. I'm on one such golf hall of fame committee (Illinois), and we seem to have a good balance of both nominated and elected candidates every two years. It's all lifetime achievement, for some in one facet of the game, for others in several.
The website: www.illinoisgolfer.net
On Twitter: @illinoisgolfer

Ivan Morris

Re: Willie Park Jr. in WGHOF
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2012, 10:01:00 AM »
I'm delighted that Willie Park, Jr is now in the HOF. His great-grandson Mungo Park (a fascinating character in his own right) will do a bang up job at the induction ceremony. Unlike Niall, I don't think HOFs are exploitative. They make a valuable contribution towards preserving history and educating people who might not be quite as studious about the game and its characters as 'fanatics' like me are. How many Nicklaus, Hogan's and Palmer's were there? So many people who are, and aren't (yet) in the HOF made huge contributions in one way or another. Everyone has a unique life story; fellows like Jerry Barber and Bobby Cruikshank, for example. What about Harry Bradshaw and Skip Alexander? I could go on and on. At least, the HOF preserves the memory of some of golf's greatest and preserves their stories for posterity. History ain't bunk - although the way it is told is often a pack of lies.