What do these people have in common?

[Phil_the_Author]

Sir Michael Bonnalack
Bing Crosby
Dwight Eisenhower
Bob Hope
Mark McCormack
Clifford Roberts
Karsten Solheim
Dinah Shore

They have all been inducted into golf's Hall of Fame through the "Lifetime Achievement" category.

How about William Flynn, Stanley Thompson, Devereaux Emmet, George Thomas, Max Behr, AW Tillinghast, Harry Colt, Herbert Strong, "Billy" Bell and Perry Maxwell?

All are golf course architects from Golf's Golden Age WHO ARE NOT!

I'm sure that many on here can speak for others, but consider this for Tilly. Between 200-2010, there were FIFTEEN, yes 15, USGA or Major championships contested on golf courses that he designed. This does NOT include PGA playoff events such as we've seen at Ridgewood or other PGA tour events that his courses have hosted. Doesn't this fact alone prove he belongs?

Name one occasion where someone said "This year's championship is being held on a course designed by Dwight Eisenhower or Dinah Shore or Bob Hope..."

Herb Graffis is in the Hall of Fame for his lifetime achievement through his writings. Fair enough, but here again Tilly's writings from 1898-1940 are so voluminous to dwarf what Graffis wrote, and Tilly was THE reporter for many of the early major events in this country. In fact, contained within those thousands of original photographs and negatives given to the USGA lrecently by the Western Golf Association, a treasure trove beyond price according to many, are several hundred taken by one AW Tillinghast. Tilly's photos graced the pages of the American Golfer, GOLF and Golf Illustrated as well as other newspapers and magazines. Heck, Tilly should be given strong consideration for his photographs alone.

There is a seriously major flaw in golf's hall of fame when it is earth-shattering news that a golf course architect is inducted. By not having a separate architect's wing they belittle what should be a crowning achievement and lessen the accomplishments of all those who deserve and have been inducted.

It is time that all who recognize this as a true wrong do something about it. I strongly suggest that one and all on this site write to the Hall, write to those we know in the golf community, and let's not kid ourselves, as there are a number on site and who regularly look in here who are invovled in and with the decision-makers of the game.

If you feel strongly for one or more as I do about Tilly, then name the person and show why they should be in. If we see no reason for honoring and remembering these great ones of old then there certainly is no reason to discuss their works and especially argue passionately about them.

This year's inductees announced yesterday:

Ernie Els
Doug Ford
Jock Hutchison
Geogre H.W. Bush

It was also announced that a FIFTH new member would be announced in November. If only it is someone who envisioned a course upon which those players enshrined proved their greatness upon. That of course is probably fanciful thinking at its worst...

It's time to honor those without whom there really would be no game at all...

[Joe Bausch]

Sir Michael Bobnnalack
Bing Crosby
Dwight Eisenhower
Bob Hope
Mark McCormack
Clifford Roberts
Karsten Solheim
Dinah Shore

Dear Phil,

     Who are eight people that have never been over to my place for dinner.

Sincerely,
Cliff Claven
----------------------

[Phil_the_Author]

Joe,

While that is both cute and true and probably so to your's as well, I believe that not having an architect's wing in Golf's Hall of Fame is a serious matter and one that needs pushing by those who can influence that decision. With the announcements of those in this coming year's class being just released, this is that time for the discussion to be its most serious.

I don't mean that as a slight of your sense of humor; heck anyone who would allow me into their home if only for a few minutes MUST have one, but I really do think we need to see what can actually be done by us personally and as a group.

[Joe Bausch]

I agree Phil.  I just couldn't resist.   

I think Alex Findlay should also be given serious consideration.

[Phil_the_Author]

I agree with Findlay as well and there are others, but if tilly & Flynn & Thomas, etc... aren't in, how would someone as deserving as Findlay even be mentioned for consideration?

It is really time for those of us who can to make the right kind of noise and hopefully make something happen so that these very deserving men can be honored and properly rememberred...

[PCCraig]

Jock Hutchison was the golf professional at nearby Glen View Club in Golf, IL and is very deserving of his place the the Golf Hall of Fame.

[Jim Franklin]

I never realized there was not an architcets wing at the HOF. Without great architecture, golf becomes dramatically worse. How do we get the HOF to add this to the program?

[Phil_the_Author]

Pat,

Jock Hutchison is very deserving of this honor and, in fact, should have been enshrined many years ago. There are other players from his era who deserve the honor as well and are not in. This is not about the players, or even those who have been honored or are being honored; rather it is about the fundamental nature of the game. It is played on fields that have been conceived in and built through the vision of an architect.

There are reasons why we honor those who win the Masters. Yes, the tournament was special from the beginning because of Bobby Jones, but even he couldn't have sustained it if it had been contested annually on Mom and Pop's Nine-Holer in Dust Bowl Mid-America.

The great players are defined as much by WHERE they win as well as WHAT they win; otherwise the Old Course would simply be a mere curiosity and barely a handful of people would spend several years of hard-earned money to depend upon a hope that their name will be chosen to play on a day of wind and threatening rain.

We need to honor those who created these masterpieces, those who are doing so now and will do so in the future...

[Garland Bayley]

.

[PCCraig]

Pat,

Jock Hutchison is very deserving of this honor and, in fact, should have been enshrined many years ago. There are other players from his era who deserve the honor as well and are not in. This is not about the players, or even those who have been honored or are being honored; rather it is about the fundamental nature of the game. It is played on fields that have been conceived in and built through the vision of an architect.

There are reasons why we honor those who win the Masters. Yes, the tournament was special from the beginning because of Bobby Jones, but even he couldn't have sustained it if it had been contested annually on Mom and Pop's Nine-Holer in Dust Bowl Mid-America.

The great players are defined as much by WHERE they win as well as WHAT they win; otherwise the Old Course would simply be a mere curiosity and barely a handful of people would spend several years of hard-earned money to depend upon a hope that their name will be chosen to play on a day of wind and threatening rain.

We need to honor those who created these masterpieces, those who are doing so now and will do so in the future...

Phil:

I 100% agree with you. I was only making the point that Jock H. is a great addition, in my opinion. (It was news to me).

I can't imagine why they wouldn't at least feature a room with some information on the history of golf course architecture and the designers that shaped it.

[George Pazin]

... I believe that not having an architect's wing in Golf's Hall of Fame is a serious matter and one that needs pushing by those who can influence that decision.

Tremendous idea, take the ball and run!

In all seriousness, an idea like this usually requires a selfless person to do the heavy lifting, as a certain poster is wont to say - write letters, bug people, etc, etc. It's a discredit to those in charge that there isn't already an architects' wing, so I imagine the person would have an uphill struggle ahead. Best of luck finding him or her!

P.S. I nominate Brad Klein for the job. (No need to thank me, Brad!)

[Phil_the_Author]

George,

I will be speaking with him on Monday at Pat's gathering, as well as every other ear I can get ahold of, about this very thing. I believe that one of the leading golf journals should do an issue during the winter months dedicated solely to the architectural aspects of the game and hope that GolfWeek, and Brad, might do it.

[George Pazin]

Nice job, Phil. Imho, you are one of the unsung heroes in the field of gca history.

Have fun on Monday - I was just at MR recently and I know you will love it, it is a really special place. I can't wait till everyone sees it and we have some great discussions afterward.

[Phil_the_Author]

Aw shucks, George... 

[Mac Plumart]

Phil...

Have you contacted the Golf Hall of Fame yet?  If I were you I wouldn't hesitate.  Draft a nice letter, then follow up with a call in a week to 10 days.  If you've already done that, what was the response?

[Phil_the_Author]

Mac,

I first started contacting the Hall of Fame three years ago about this and why tilly & others keep getting overlooked. I was told that the Hall of Fame itself can do nothing about this, that it is not within "their purview." The qualifications for consideration for induction are under the auspices of the voters and only they can decide who will be voted into the Hall. When I asked who was on the committee that decided the "Lifetime Achievement" inductees I was told tha it was a small committee made up of several people from the PGA of Anmerica, the USGA, and one or two "others." I then asked for the names of those on the committee so that I could send them a package outlining Tilly's qualifications so that he could be given consideration. I was refused. Instead I was told top send it to the Hall directly and that they would pass it along to the committee members. I have no belief that this wasn't done with what i sent.

As it was told to me at the time by the person I spoke with at the Hall, the committee process is as follows :

1- In order for a person to be given consideration they must be nominated to the particular committee.
2- ONLY those ON the Lifetime Committee may actually nominate a particular person.
3- Recommendations may be made to committee members for consideration by those already inducted as members.
4- If a person is nominated and not elected their name will remain for consideration for a period of three years. if they are not voted in during that time then the process must start all over again, but once denied it becomes very difficult to get through it.

I have followed up...

[Mac Plumart]

Phil...

here is a list of architects in the Hall.  I may have missed a few, but here is at least a partial list:

Pete Dye
Robert  Trent  Jones, Sr.
Alister Mackenzie
CB MacDonald
Donald Ross
Old Tom Morris
Jack Nicklaus
Ben Crenshaw
Arnold Palmer
Gary Player
Allan Robertson
Walter Travis
Tom Watson
James Braid
Nick Faldo
Johnny Miller
Greg Norman


If it would do you any good, I'd be happy to write a letter as well.  What would be of importance to say?

[Phil_the_Author]

Mac,

You are wrong. The first five are the only ones enshrined for their work as golf course architects. EVERYONE of the others were enshrined SOLELY for their accomplishments as PLAYERS. You can't honestly believe that Nick Faldo, Johnny Miller and Greg Norman would ever be given consideration for their architectural work regardless of whether there was an architectural wing or not?

Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Travis and Watson have all been repsonsible for the creation of many courses. Yet simply compare how many of their works are recognized today as being "Top 100" worthy of any list and they pale in comparison to Tilly. Forget that aspect and consider how many of their courses have hosted US Opens and Amateurs? Compare that to Tilly, Maxwell, Flynn and others.

They all deserve to be in the hall... as the PLAYERS and their accomplishments as such. If there isn't room for Tilly and Flynn anmd Maxwell and Thomas and Bell, etc... as architects then they wouldn't be in it either.

If you'd like to write a letter, I'd suggest that you send a cover letter to it addressed to the management of the Hall and ask that the interior letter be forwarded to the committees. That letter should ask WHY golf course architects are not being honored when the game could not exist without them. Unlike any other sport or athletic endeavor, afficianados of the game regularly spend great am,ounts of time playing the courses designed by their favorite architects BECAUSE they recognize that the name attached to the creation of the course means something. No one cares who designed the new Yankee Stadium, but ask even the best of players and they'll tell you how special it is to play on a course designed by the great architects.

As for Old Tom, Robertson and Braid, if even we can't define them as true architects (just look at the discussion on the TD regarding who was the first architect), to consider that a group totally unconcerned about the architecture of the game installed them for the original old courses they made rather than for their early playing accomplishments would be naieve at the very least. They, too, were put in as players.

State from your heart what playing the great courses that you have has meant to your love of the game and that this compells you to ask that the Hall honor those who make this feeling possible.

[Mac Plumart]

Phil...

Did you see the last sentence of my last post? 

If you want me to write the Hall a letter, like you did awhile back, I'd be happy to.  Assuming you think that would help push your cause up the field, what would you suggest it say?

[George Pazin]

If it would do you any good, I'd be happy to write a letter as well.  What would be of importance to say?

I'd simply say, imagine golf without Augusta, Oakmont, PV, Cypress, etc - would it be the same?

I'm sure a lot would say yes - I'm pretty sure Barney would, maybe Anthony can ask him - but I sure wouldn't.

Do we have tomes commemorating the great builders of PNC Park or Camden Yards?

Golf course architecture is a huge part of what makes golf special and unique - it is very wrong that the Hall does not recognize this. That post from Phil detailing prior contacts is downright disheartening - but, most sadly, not surprising.

[Phil_the_Author]

Sorry Mac,

I posted it without finishing and added that answer into it...

[Jim Nugent]

Why is George Bush in the HOF? 

[George Pazin]

The "W" in "HW" is Walker, as in Walker Cup. That and other things are why (not saying I agree with it). It's probably listed somewhere.

[Mac Plumart]

Hey Phil...

I don't know if this helps, but here are some Lifetime Achievement Board Members...

http://www.golfweek.com/news/2010/sep/22/bush-has-no-place-golf-hall-fame/?BLOG-TourBlog