World Golf Village
Encyclopedia
The World Golf Village (WGV) is a golf resort located midway between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Florida
, built to showcase the World Golf Hall of Fame
and intended to be the ultimate golf
destination for players and fans of the game.
, and eventually have 18,000 residents.
A new interchange on Interstate 95 in Florida
was constructed to permit direct access to the site, which was expected to host a million visitors each year. St. Johns County, Florida
is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States during the past decade.
Kelly Lake was created at the center of WGV, surrounded by a 1.2 miles (1.9 km) brick Walk of Champions, which features a large flagstone for each Hall of Fame member, with their name and signature etched in granite. A large building on the west side houses the hall of fame, theater, café and 110' shrine tower. The Shops of World Golf Village are situated on the north and east sides, and the Renaissance Hotel and convention center are to the south.
created a hall of fame in 1951. It was inactive until 1967, when it moved into a physical location in Augusta, Georgia
and was renamed the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame. In the early 1990s, the PGA Tour
was contemplating a Hall of Fame close to their north Florida headquarters. Deane Beman
asked LPGA commissioner Charlie Mechem if there was interest in a joint Golf Hall of Fame. When they responded in the affirmative, the United States Golf Association
was contacted, as was The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
. Both agreed to collaborate, and PGA of America closed the Pinehurst World Golf Hall of Fame, while the LPGA decided to merge their HOF into the new facility.
An independent entity, the World Golf Foundation (WGF), was formed in 1994 to promote and honor the game and those who made significant contributions. The Board of Directors included representatives from the world's major golf organizations. The WGF owns and controls the World Golf Hall of Fame.
, which superseded the PGA of America facility at Pinehurst, North Carolina
in May 1998.
The HOF has a permanent display with biographical information for every woman and man inducted. There are also sections devoted to the history of golf, heritage, organizations, course design, equipment, attire and trends. The Trophy Tower contains a collection of all the major tournament trophies (and many of the minor ones). Many of the displays are interactive and give the visitor a "hands on" experience. Featured exhibits change yearly, and a round on the 18-hole putting course is included with museum admission. Additionally, there is a Challenge Hole with an island green similar to the signature hole at TPC Sawgrass, the par 3, 17th.
and Jack Nicklaus
, and the Slammer & Squire, a collaboration of Sam Snead
and Gene Sarazen
. Both courses consistently receive 4.5 stars rating (out of 5) by Golf Digest
. Both courses have hosted professional tournaments including the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf
, a Champions Tour
event, and Shell's Wonderful World of Golf
, as well as other nationally-televised events.
Based on the success of the program, branches have been established at TPC Sawgrass, TPC Scottsdale, TPC Las Vegas
, TPC San Antonio and six other resort locations in the United States. The academy at World Golf Village trains and certifies all instructors at TOUR academies.
, followed by the Laterra Resort & Spa. The Grande Villas and The Residences at World Golf Village also provide unique accommodations.
Theater, which plays the latest movies and documentaries in a 300-seat theater with an 80 feet (24.4 m)-wide by six-story-high screen.
The Murray Brothers Caddy Shack restaurant is located along the Walk of Champions and is owned by actor Bill Murray
and his five brothers. Their slogan is, "Eat, Drink and Be Murray!"
For fine dining, 500 South (formerly the Cypress Pointe Restaurant) is located within the Renaissance Resort. The Fairways Café is part of the World Golf Hall of Fame and offers casual and takeout fare.
The 31000 sq ft (2,880 m²) PGA Tour Stop is situated along the Walk of Champions, and is the largest golf store in Florida.
Historic St. Augustine and the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean
are nearby, and WGV is part of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area, with over 1 million residents.
facility for aging golfers, Glenmoor, is located nearby. A timeshare sales office is located on-site, and several nearby subdivisions will sell homes or homesites to golfers looking for a Florida vacation home.
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
, built to showcase the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
and intended to be the ultimate golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
destination for players and fans of the game.
Development
The 6300 acres (2,549.5 ha) parcel was approved in the 1990s as a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) under Section 380.06 of the Florida StatutesFlorida law
The Florida law is based on the Florida Constitution , which defines how the statutes must be passed into law, and defines the limits of authority and basic law that the Florida Statutes must be complied with...
, and eventually have 18,000 residents.
A new interchange on Interstate 95 in Florida
Interstate 95 in Florida
Interstate 95 is the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States; it serves the Atlantic coast of Florida. It begins at a partial interchange with U.S. Highway 1 just south of downtown Miami, and heads north past Daytona Beach and Jacksonville to the Georgia state line at the St...
was constructed to permit direct access to the site, which was expected to host a million visitors each year. St. Johns County, Florida
St. Johns County, Florida
St. Johns County is a county located in northeastern Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 190,039. The county seat is St. Augustine. Due to the inclusion of Ponte Vedra Beach, it is one of the highest-income counties in the United States....
is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States during the past decade.
Kelly Lake was created at the center of WGV, surrounded by a 1.2 miles (1.9 km) brick Walk of Champions, which features a large flagstone for each Hall of Fame member, with their name and signature etched in granite. A large building on the west side houses the hall of fame, theater, café and 110' shrine tower. The Shops of World Golf Village are situated on the north and east sides, and the Renaissance Hotel and convention center are to the south.
World Golf Foundation
The Ladies Professional Golf AssociationLPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
created a hall of fame in 1951. It was inactive until 1967, when it moved into a physical location in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
and was renamed the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame. In the early 1990s, the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
was contemplating a Hall of Fame close to their north Florida headquarters. Deane Beman
Deane Beman
Deane R. Beman is an American professional golfer, golf administrator, and golf course architect.Beman was born in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he played for the varsity golf team. Following graduation, Beman had a career in the insurance...
asked LPGA commissioner Charlie Mechem if there was interest in a joint Golf Hall of Fame. When they responded in the affirmative, the United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
was contacted, as was The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in the world . It is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf"...
. Both agreed to collaborate, and PGA of America closed the Pinehurst World Golf Hall of Fame, while the LPGA decided to merge their HOF into the new facility.
An independent entity, the World Golf Foundation (WGF), was formed in 1994 to promote and honor the game and those who made significant contributions. The Board of Directors included representatives from the world's major golf organizations. The WGF owns and controls the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame
The first and foremost attraction at WGV is the World Golf Hall of FameWorld Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
, which superseded the PGA of America facility at Pinehurst, North Carolina
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Pinehurst is a village in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 9,706 at the 2000 census. It is the location of the Pinehurst Resort, venue of the 1936 PGA Championship, the 1951 Ryder Cup. The host site for the 1999, 2005,& 2014 U.S. Open Golf Championships, the 2008 U.S....
in May 1998.
The HOF has a permanent display with biographical information for every woman and man inducted. There are also sections devoted to the history of golf, heritage, organizations, course design, equipment, attire and trends. The Trophy Tower contains a collection of all the major tournament trophies (and many of the minor ones). Many of the displays are interactive and give the visitor a "hands on" experience. Featured exhibits change yearly, and a round on the 18-hole putting course is included with museum admission. Additionally, there is a Challenge Hole with an island green similar to the signature hole at TPC Sawgrass, the par 3, 17th.
Courses
The resort features two championship golf courses: the King & Bear, designed jointly by Arnold PalmerArnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
and Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
, and the Slammer & Squire, a collaboration of Sam Snead
Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
and Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen was an American professional golfer, one of the world's top players in the 1920s and 1930s. He is one of five golfers to win all the current major championships in his career, the Career Grand Slam:U.S...
. Both courses consistently receive 4.5 stars rating (out of 5) by Golf Digest
Golf Digest
Golf Digest is a monthly golf magazine published by Condé Nast Publications in the United States. It is a generalist golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. Condé Nast Publications also publishes the more specialized , and Golf World Business. The...
. Both courses have hosted professional tournaments including the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf
Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf
The Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
, a Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
event, and Shell's Wonderful World of Golf
Shell's Wonderful World of Golf
Shell's Wonderful World of Golf was a televised series of golf matches began in the 1960s. The program was sponsored by Shell Oil. It was a part of the tradition of "challenge matches" between pairs of professional golfers, which were the earliest form of professional golf competition, but have now...
, as well as other nationally-televised events.
Academy
The PGA TOUR Golf Academy opened at WGV in 2000 as a one-stop facility to help players improve all facets of their golf game. Their instructors are experienced PGA and LPGA professionals who provide clinics, schools, private lessons, development programs and camps for juniors using the latest technology.Based on the success of the program, branches have been established at TPC Sawgrass, TPC Scottsdale, TPC Las Vegas
TPC Las Vegas
TPC Las Vegas, formerly TPC at The Canyons, is an 18-hole golf course located in the planned community of Summerlin in western Las Vegas, Nevada....
, TPC San Antonio and six other resort locations in the United States. The academy at World Golf Village trains and certifies all instructors at TOUR academies.
Accommodations
Four hotels/motels were constructed in anticipation of tourism at the center. The largest is the Renaissance Resort at World Golf VillageRenaissance Resort at World Golf Village
The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village is a golf resort located in St. Augustine, Florida. It is part of Renaissance Hotels brand which is managed by Marriott....
, followed by the Laterra Resort & Spa. The Grande Villas and The Residences at World Golf Village also provide unique accommodations.
Attractions
One of the most popular attractions is the IMAXIMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
Theater, which plays the latest movies and documentaries in a 300-seat theater with an 80 feet (24.4 m)-wide by six-story-high screen.
The Murray Brothers Caddy Shack restaurant is located along the Walk of Champions and is owned by actor Bill Murray
Bill Murray
William James "Bill" Murray is an American actor and comedian. He first gained national exposure on Saturday Night Live in which he earned an Emmy Award and later went on to star in a number of critically and commercially successful comedic films, including Caddyshack , Ghostbusters , and...
and his five brothers. Their slogan is, "Eat, Drink and Be Murray!"
For fine dining, 500 South (formerly the Cypress Pointe Restaurant) is located within the Renaissance Resort. The Fairways Café is part of the World Golf Hall of Fame and offers casual and takeout fare.
The 31000 sq ft (2,880 m²) PGA Tour Stop is situated along the Walk of Champions, and is the largest golf store in Florida.
Historic St. Augustine and the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
are nearby, and WGV is part of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area, with over 1 million residents.
Other development
The 40000 sq ft (3,716.1 m²) St. Johns County Convention Center was constructed within the WGV and is connected to the Renaissance Resort. An assisted livingAssisted living
Assisted living residences or assisted living facilities provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living ; coordination of services by outside health care providers; and monitoring of resident activities to help to ensure their health, safety, and well-being.Assistance may...
facility for aging golfers, Glenmoor, is located nearby. A timeshare sales office is located on-site, and several nearby subdivisions will sell homes or homesites to golfers looking for a Florida vacation home.