Painting Credit: WGHOF

I missed the 2017 WGHOF Induction on September 26, 2017 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City the week of the Presidents Cup. But I did have the opportunity to visit the WGHOF later in November to see the inductee display cases after a volunteer tour guide training session by Dr. Tony Parker. Here is my Facebook post and 30 pics along with the inductee bios found below the pictures!

Congratulations to the World Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2017—Henry Longhurst, Davis Love III, Meg Mallon, Lorena Ochoa and Ian Woosnam! These five Inductees will bring the total number of World Golf Hall of Fame Members to 155.

Dr. Tony Parker

NEVER miss an opportunity to hear Dr. Tony Parker speak whether in person or on the Golf Channel! He brings the history of golf alive! Nice visit to the Hall this morning, 2017 Inductee exhibits are really, really well done! Congratulations to Meg Mallon, Lorena Ochoa Reyes, Henry Longhurst, Davis Love III, & Ian Woosnam! All of who I have met except Longhurst, who is dead. Everything is first class at the World Golf Hall of Fame!   (Facebook Post with 30 Pics, Andy Reistetter, 11-17-17)

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Inductee Bios from the WGHOF website:

Henry Longhurst, United Kingdom

A weekly columnist for the London Sunday Times for 40 years. He was also considered to be the first golf TV personality providing coverage for the BBC from the 1950s until his death in 1978.

“Henry Longhurst did something that no other journalist has done. He proved to be as apt, succinct, colorful, informative and compelling to listen to as he had been to read. He captivated people. He has influenced golf in the same way as many Hall of Fame members. I’m really pleased that we have recognized his achievements.” – John Hopkins

Davis Love III, United States

In a career that has spanned four decades on the PGA TOUR, Love has notched 22 victories including the 1997 PGA Championship and two victories at The PLAYERS Championship in 1992 and 2003. His quality of play has earned him a place on six U.S. Ryder Cup teams and six Presidents Cup teams. He has captained two Ryder Cup teams, including the victorious 2016 team.  Love is a recipient of both the Payne Stewart and Bob Jones Awards.

“Davis is a fixture on the PGA TOUR and has been for decades. He has contributed so much to the image of the game because of who he is, and the way he handles himself. Love is extremely well-respected by the other players, so having him contribute his time and energy to making the organization work better has been a very impactful thing. It makes us all smile to see him get the recognition he deserves and be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.” -PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem

“Davis has an outstanding record not only as a player but as a gentleman. He’s been a tremendous contributor and has been an all-around man for golf. It’s terrific to see him in the World Golf Hall of Fame.” -Gary Player

Meg Mallon, United States

Her 18 career LPGA Tour victories and four Major Championships are just part of Mallon’s winning make-up. A member of nine Solheim Cup teams (captain in 2013), Mallon was recognized during the LPGA’s 50th Anniversary as one of the LPGA’s top-50 players and teachers. She also earned the Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year award in 1991.

“Meg Mallon has been a great player and a great contributor. She has been involved heavily in the game of golf. Everybody likes her; everybody knows what her talent is. She’s just an amazing gal, a fellow Buckeye and great member of the Class of 2017.” -Jack Nicklaus

Lorena Ochoa Reyes, Mexico

In her first full season on the LPGA Tour, Ochoa Reyes had eight top-10 finishes, finished ninth on the LPGA Tour’s money list and was named Rookie of the Year. She finished with 27 victories on the LPGA Tour, including two major championships.  She was ranked World Number One for 158 consecutive weeks (2007-2010). In a three-year stretch (2006-2008), she won 21 tournaments, including the two majors and in 2008, she dominated with wins by as many as 11 strokes on more than one occasion.  Ochoa Reyes will be the first Mexican-born golfer to enter into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

“Being Mexican myself but being born in the United States, I’ve always been very proud of Lorena Ochoa, what she’s accomplished and the way she’s accomplished it with class and style. She is a role model for Mexican children. They can look at her and say, ‘She did it. Why can’t we?’” -Nancy Lopez

“Lorena’s record speaks for itself. In addition to her wins on the LPGA, she also won Player of the Year numerous times. She has so many awards, which just shows how much she contributed to the game. She has reached a demographic that we didn’t see before.” -Annika Sorenstam

Ian Woosnam, United Kingdom

“Woosie,” winner of the 1991 Masters Tournament, sat atop the Official World Golf Rankings for 50 weeks throughout 1991 and 1992. His sterling play led him to represent Europe in eight consecutive Ryder Cup teams from 1983 to 1997. Woosnam won the Order of Merit as the leading money winner on the European Tour and named European Player of the Year in 1987 and 1990. In recognition of his contributions to golf, he was awarded the Queen’s honor of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2006.

“Woosie got a lot out of his game. He was a great competitor and handled himself very well. He’s been on a lot of Ryder Cup teams and captained quite a bit. He’s been a great contributor to golf from the European side, and I’m delighted to have him inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.” -Jack Nicklaus

With First Tee participants Janie (R), Danny (L) and in the first row Landon (blue), Nicholas (yellow) and Rece (red). I am a big kid at heart for sure!

It was a grand evening in a grand place for a grand cause—the 10th annual Taste of Golf affair in the Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass benefiting The First Tee of North Florida!

While the food prepared by a dozen local clubs was outstanding, the real story and inspiration of the evening was the presence of youngsters currently participating in The First Tee programs and activities that teach life lessons through golf. The youngest of the young greeted you at the massive front doors of the  col0ssal Mediterranean-Style Clubhouse. This interaction quickly brought you into their world of a child being a child while emerging into an adult. The moment you stepped foot into the foyer and saw the over-sized murals of THE PLAYERS Championship moments—including Tiger Woods making that better-than-most long snake putt on the 17th on Saturday of his magical 2001 PLAYERS victory—you are drawn into the purest and highest level of golf known to man.

Joshua, a 13-year-old participant of The First Tee of North Florida giving a passionate, informative and gracious thank you speech to supporters.

There was something special about being at the home of the PGA TOUR, the home of the Web.com Tour Championship and THE PLAYERS Championship, on a night that honors not only the North Florida Chapter but the national First Tee organization that, with American and Presidential roots that date back to its origin in 1997.

Young Joshua made a speech that every parent would want their child to make. In the Sunset Room, in front of VIP contributors to The First Tee of North Florida, introduced by the Executive Director Boots Farley, 13-year-old Joshua nailed a 10 from the heart. Though there are sure to be encore speeches in this young man’s life, this one served, with Mom Norvie present, as an easy replacement for next year’s Mother’s Day gift.

With son Joshua and his Mom Norvie. It was quite an honor and privilege to meet such an inspirational young man.

I couldn’t help but think about some of this young man’s words—”even when eyes are not on me—I am not perfect—I am a young person wanting to give back to school, church and community”—and the realization that he was speaking in the very same room as Tiger Woods spoke to publicly apologize for his behavior in February 2010. Both speeches, in my opinion, were inspirational. No human being is perfect and we can never know what another person is going through in their lives. Wherever we are in life as long as we are headed in the right direction with the right attitude and perspective all will be fine. I can only imagine the joy felt by son Joshua and mother Norvie as they left the event last night and headed home. We all deserve peace, joy and freedom in our personal lives and it is nice to know The First Tee helps bring that inside out in the youth of the world.

With Mark McCumber on the balcony off the Sunset Room at the Clubhouse of TPC Sawgrass.

The evening’s Honorary Chairmen were Mark McCumber and his son Tyler, Dad, born and raised in Jacksonville, won 10 times on the PGA TOUR, including the 1988 PLAYERS Championship and the 1994 Tour Championship. Son Tyler, now 24, played collegiate golf at Florida and turned pro in 2013. He immediately won the Florida Open and then twice on the the PGA Tour Latinoamérica to earn a Web.com Tour card this season. In 20 events he made eight cuts, had one Top-10 and missed the Top-75 that made the Finals.

CLICK here for a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Mark McCumber, Co-Honorary Chairman of Taste of Golf.

With General manager Bill Hughes and the home culinary team from TPC Sawgrass Executive Chef LJ Coussin, Logan McCurry and Kevin Shafer.

Mark McCumber graciously granted me an interview and shared his thoughts about his playing and golf design careers. With good humor with comments like—”I learned how to play (the game) before I knew it was hard,” admitting after the PLAYERS win that “he couldn’t believe he gets paid for doing this,” and “I knew what golf did for me growing up”—he spoke of the impact Jack Nicklaus had on him, how golf is a game of adversity, that like The First Tee, can make you a better person no matter your age. If you watch any of my interviews, watch this one!

TPC Sawgrass’ duck confit, jicama, carrot, and scallions wrapped in a savory crepe with hoisin and plum ssuces, micro-greens and crisp duck skin ‘crackle’ salad.

Like Darlene’s Diner and TacoLu’s, the Taste of Golf has become the complete culinary custom at TPC Sawgrass. Many of the participating clubs come back year after year. Here is my article from the 2012 Taste of Golf with some details on the culinary delights. I would be remiss if I didn’t include a link to the 2013 Taste of Golf though distracted by incredible artwork the food was incredible that year too! And is I include the first two years I have to include last year so here is the story of the 2014 Taste of Golf. Gosh I love my job!

Atlantic Beach CC’s smoked pork cheeks with house made bacon along with butternut squash pudding, caramelized fennel, and maple grastrique.

This year the new kid on the block was the Atlantic Beach Country Club. They weren’t here last year because they did not exist. Though they have deep golf roots through the land of the old Selva Marina Country Club which at one time hosted the Greater Jacksonville Open on the PGA TOUR. A brand new championship golf course designed by Erik Larsen and 178 single-family home sites now occupy this historic site. If the creation of Executive Chef Marvin McClelland—smoked pork cheeks with house made bacon along with butternut squash pudding, caramelized fennel, and maple grastrique is any indication, living and playing golf at Atlantic Beach CC must be a fabulous affair!

The Charlie Walker Band was a hit at the 10th Annual Taste of Golf!

The Taste of Golf is a fun and entertaining night too apart from the food and First Tee emphasis. The Charlie Walker Band performed and captivated the crowd with his soulful blended ballads of folk and acoustic pop.  Snap Happy brought their photo booth and costumes so we could make “Happy Memories in A Snap.” The 10th annual ‘Taste of Golf’ did not miss a sweet tooth, even with Event Chairwoman Milan Moore being out on assignment  as a Project Manager & Golf Course Designer for the PGA TOUR. Emcee Charlene Shirk of Charlene Shirk Public Relations did a fabulous job as did, of course, the staff at TPC Sawgrass.

The First Tee’s version of Stonehenge at TPC Sawgrass.

Earlier in the day I couldn’t help but notice the nine core values of The First Tee arranged in a Stonehenge-like configuration at the TPC TOUR Academy practice facility for the Junior golf clinic and skills challenge. In the distance the iconic Clubhouse was yet another reminder of the synergy now demonstrated through The First Tee between golf and youth development. Those nine core values—of Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy and Judgement along with the nine healthy habits—of Energy, Play, Safety, Vision, Mind, Family, Friends, School, and Community are so important in life whether you are young like Joshua or older like you and me.

Correction in the title—golf, life and food never tasted better at the Taste of Golf.

Be there next year!

Thanks to the supporters of The First Tee and thanks to the kids of The First Tee!