in Virginia. It is an unbelievable heritage,
and we want to preserve and honor
that,” Palmer said in a profile article that
appeared in the January/February 2014
issue of Virginia Golfer.
Palmer began talking to a number of
people for guidance. That led to the formation of a nine-person selection committee that represented a cross-section
of Virginia golf. Although it was a VSGA
initiative, Palmer out to other organizations such as the Middle Atlantic PGA
section and other constituencies. He
by the committee. Once the website is
launched, a nomination form will be available. It should come as no surprise that
since the inaugural class was announced,
several people have suggested other names
to be considered. It also should come as no
surprise that some of those names were
among those considered for the first class.
Palmer thought it important to have at
least one or more members of the Virginia
Golf Hall of Fame serve on the selection
committee. Giles will join the committee
next year.
“It is an unbelievable heritage, and
we want to preserve and honor that.”
— GIB PALMER, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE VSGA
wanted players, men and women, and
VSGA staff and board members involved
in the selection process. There are three
non-voting advisors to the committee.
“When you’re going to undertake a project like this, you don’t know where to start.
We were literally starting from nothing,”
Palmer says.
The committee’s first meeting last
February focused on certain points:
categories for election, selection criteria,
what the selection process would be. The
decision was made that there would be
no specific categories. Inductees simply
enter the the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame,
and everyone is honored equally.
“We spent a significant amount of
time discussing the importance of the
inaugural class. That group is unique.
We felt it was important we got it right,”
Palmer says. “It would be different from
all subsequent classes.”
Who would be in the first class?
The committee looked at golfers inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
as a starting point. Committee members
contributed nominations, and the group
developed a list of 16 golfers and four contributors. Men and women were on the
list. Seven votes were required for election.
Each person in the inaugural class was a
unanimous selection.
For the Class of 2017 and beyond, the
public may submit names for consideration
vsga.org
How long do committee members serve?
The Virginia Golf Hall of Fame is a registered corporation. Bylaws will identify
term lengths, but for now Palmer says
each committee member has been asked
to serve a minimum of three years for
continuity in the selection process.
Selecting each future class will continue
to be a difficult task because so many people have contributed to golf in Virginia and
are worthy of consideration.
“The caution I got from a lot of people
was don’t induct too many people at one
time. Don’t dilute it. Make sure it’s meaningful,” Palmer says.
The website will be active and not just
a dry listing of names. The VSGA’s digital design and media partner, Kenmont
Group, is working on the project, and
Palmer lights up when describing what
the site could look like.
“There wi