The PGA of America hosted its biennial Corridor of Fame Induction Ceremony on the Omni PGA Frisco Resort Wednesday night time through the 107th PGA Annual Assembly, recognizing six extremely influential people whose impression on the sport of golf will resonate for years to come back.
Emceed by CBS Sports activities Reporter Amanda Renner, the night celebrated the 2023 PGA of America Corridor of Fame Class: PGA Members Robert Dolan, Don Wegrzyn, Herb Wimberly; PGA Previous President Suzy Whaley; LPGA Legend Kathy Whitworth; and CBS Sports activities’ Jim Nantz.
The PGA of America Corridor of Fame originated in 1940 on the suggestion of famed sportswriter Grantland Rice to honor and acknowledge people who by means of their lives, careers, service and help have made important and enduring contributions to the PGA of America in its mission to develop the sport of golf. It’s the highest honor that the PGA of America can bestow upon its membership and ambassadors of the sport.
“It’s a privilege tonight to welcome this unbelievable group of PGA Members and Ambassadors into the PGA of America Corridor of Fame,” mentioned PGA of America President John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at The Nation Membership of Lansing in Lansing, Michigan. “One of many stuff you get to do as President of the Affiliation is name the inductees and allow them to know they’ve been inducted into the PGA of America Corridor of fame. That’s a fairly particular second. Tonight we rejoice legends of the sport, an iconic voice of our business and extremely completed PGA of America Golf Professionals who’ve made an impression on our occupation and those that love this recreation.”
The 2023 PGA of America Corridor of Fame Inductees fall beneath 4 induction classes: PGA of America Golf Skilled Class (Dolan, Wegrzyn, Wimberly); PGA of America Previous President Class (Whaley); Tour Participant Skilled Class (Whitworth); and PGA of America Ambassador Class (Nantz).
Kathy Whitworth, LPGA, who was honored posthumously, holds one of the vital well-known information in golf: 88 victories over a span of 23 years. All through her profession, she was all the time a buddy to the PGA of America and PGA of America Golf Professionals. In 2006, she was named the PGA of America’s First Woman of Golf, and in 2023 was given an honorary membership to the Northern Texas PGA Part.
“When the cellphone name got here, I went silent and I grinned,” mentioned Whitworth’s longtime associate Bettye Odle. “I mentioned, ‘Nicely Kathy Whit, that is the icing on the cake.’ That’s precisely what she would have mentioned. My want for all of us is that Kathy was sitting right here proper now, she could be so honored and would have liked to share this with all of you.”
Herb Wimberly, PGA, coached the New Mexico State College golf staff for over three many years and was instrumental within the creation of the Skilled Golf Administration Program at NMSU. He was extremely devoted to the PGA of America all through his profession, changing into the primary individual to function President for 2 totally different PGA Sections, the Southwest Part and the Solar Nation Part.
“He has a love for the sport of golf, however he loves individuals. He has an angle that’s all the time optimistic,” mentioned Bert Wimberly, who spoke on behalf of his father through the ceremony. “He was by no means about himself, he’s essentially the most humble individual you’ll ever meet in your life. For dad to be acknowledged for all of his accomplishments is a good honor.”
Don Wegrzyn, PGA, began his profession in golf as a caddie in 1947 on the Onwentsia Membership. He started working on the Outdated Elm Membership in 1952, the place he superior from entrance door attendant to interim Basic Supervisor and Director of Golf within the 47 years he spent there. A PGA Member since 1962, Wegrzyn turned a PGA Grasp Skilled in 1994. He was voted Illinois PGA Skilled of the 12 months in 1980, was elected to the Northern Illinois College Athletic Corridor of Fame in 1992 and the Illinois Golf Corridor of Fame in 1999 and acquired The First Tee Management Award in 2004.
“One of many issues that I’ve realized on this ceremony, and within the many years which have handed, I’ve somebody representing practically each decade, retaining me invited within the recreation of golf,” mentioned Wegrzyn. “Some place alongside the road, I noticed that I’ve all the time had a ardour for golf and all the time wished to provide again to the neighborhood the place I got here from.”
Robert Dolan, PGA, has been acknowledged each domestically and nationally for his excellent service to the sport, successful six awards within the Center Atlantic PGA Part degree and two nationwide PGA of America awards. For 28 years, Dolan served as solely the third Head Skilled of Columbia Nation Membership in Chevy Chase, Maryland, following within the footsteps of Fred Mcleod and Dolan’s mentor Invoice “Coach” Strausbaugh. He’s recognized for his ardour for junior golf and serving to his fellow PGA of America Professionals with profession growth.
“After I was simply getting began in my profession, we have been educated on the significance of ‘sporting all of the hats’ as a PGA Skilled,” mentioned Dolan, a recipient of the PGA of America Nationwide Youth Participant Growth Award in 2000 and the Nationwide Invoice Strausbaugh Award in 2011. “All I ever tried to do was be the very best I might in every a kind of classes inside our business.”
Jim Nantz, a member of the Sports activities Broadcasting Corridor of Fame and the youngest to ever be inducted into each the Professional Soccer and Naismith Memorial Basketball Halls of Fame, is a three-time Emmy Award winner and five-time Nationwide Sportscaster of the 12 months since becoming a member of CBS in 1985. In 2019 and 2021, Nantz accomplished an excellent rarer quintet, calling the AFC Championship, Tremendous Bowl, Last 4, Masters and PGA Championship in a span of 120 days.
“I’m blown away by this,” mentioned Nantz. “I all the time attempt to symbolize all of the PGA Professionals one of the best ways I can as a result of I do know what they do, and the distinction they make within the recreation. This unbelievable group of 29,000 Professionals, who serve our recreation in such a ravishing trend on a regular basis, they don’t get sufficient credit score. Backside line is that I’m in awe of all of you.”
PGA of America Previous President and Grasp Skilled Suzy Whaley is the President of Golf Nation, certainly one of GOLF’s “High 100 Academics in America” and a commentator for ESPN. After serving two-year phrases as each PGA Secretary and PGA Vice President, Whaley turned the primary lady elected to function PGA President in 2018. She steered the Affiliation by means of the onset of the worldwide pandemic, resulting in the institution of the practically $8 million Golf Emergency Reduction Fund for golf business personnel in want and an unprecedented progress in rounds performed, utilizing social distancing protocols established at the side of the CDC and Back2Golf.
“I’ve an opportunity on a regular basis to vary someone’s life, and I get to do it by means of a recreation I really like,” mentioned Whaley. “Being a PGA Skilled has given me alternatives that I might have by no means imagined. I feel the PGA of America has helped me step out of my consolation zone and showcase myself to tackle some danger and encourage younger girls all over the place. There are such a lot of on this room which have helped me in my profession, mentored me and have been my position mannequin, so, thanks.”
For a full listing of PGA of America Corridor of Fame Members, click here.
