The PGA of America has made a three-year, $6M commitment
to The First Tee initiative and will provide additional
resources for the planning and development of First Tee
facilities and curriculum. The PGA's financial commitment
includes $1M annually for three years to help fund The First
Tee, plus $1M annually for three years for a PGA Section
grant program to apply directly to initiatives (PGA).
HALL OF FAME: The World Golf Village opened yesterday,
with a Hall of Fame ceremony honoring Nick Faldo and Johnny
Miller. More than 3,000 spectators watched as 25 of the 37
living Hall of Famers attended. In Jacksonville, Gene
Frenette called the event "reminiscent of the recent Academy
Awards when nearly every living Oscar-winning actor and
actress showed up." One HOFer missing was Jack Nicklaus.
World Golf Village Exec Dir Ruffin Beckwith: "I think a lot
of people were surprised that Jack wasn't here" (FL TIMES-
UNION, 5/19). In Ft. Lauderdale, Randall Mell writes that
the Golf Village is "Disney-esque in its ambitious, all-
encompassing scope. The architects of this grand design
aimed to include every possible aspect of golf" (SUN-
SENTINEL, 5/19). In Detroit, Vartan Kupelian writes under
the header "World Golf Village Is A State-of-the-Art
Paradise." PGA Tour Commissioner/World Golf Foundation Chair
Tim Finchem: "This will be a living, breathing, changing,
evolving facility. From the moment we open the doors, we'll
intrigue golfers of all levels" (DETROIT NEWS, 5/19). In
N.Y., Clifton Brown writes that it is "clear that the complex
was designed not only to celebrate golf's history, but to
attract a new generation of fans heading into the next
century" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/19). The LPGA, which has never had a
structure for its Hall of Fame, is combined with the men at
the World Golf Village (USA TODAY, 5/19).
