World Golf Hall Of Fame Moving To Pinehurst In 2024, Partnering With USGA

The World Golf of Fame is headed to the home of American golf: Pinehurst, North Carolina.

As part of a partnership with the United States Golf Association, the hall will relocate its physical presence and displays from St. Augustine, Florida, to the USGA’s new Golf House campus on the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club property.

The World Golf Hall of Fame was actually founded in Pinehurst in 1974 and was operated by the resort’s management company until 1983. It’s been in its current facility in St. Augustine since 1998, but attendance has dwindled over the course of its 25-year lease, with many nearby stores and restaurants having been shuttered, as was the facility’s putting course. The current location will close late next year at the conclusion of its lease and the new location will be opening in 2024, the same year the 124^th U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst and its No. 2 course.

The move to Pinehurst – and alignment with USGA – is intended to “cement the long-term relevance and viability” of the Hall of Fame, says PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, who is also chairman of the World Golf Foundation.

The Hall of Fame will continue to operate as an independent organization as part of the WGF, serving as sole administrator of the hall’s Fame induction process, along with the criteria and ceremony. The USGA, however, will be responsible for day-to-day operations, management and artifact preservation related to displays, as well as the content, presentation and overall look and feel of the visitor experience at its Golf House campus. Golf artifacts and assets from the USGA Golf Museum and Library in New Jersey will augment the effort.

“Simply put – it just makes sense, and together with the Hall of Fame, we’re more committed than ever to delivering experiences that build even deeper connections between golf fans and those who have truly led the way in this great game,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan.

The USGA broke ground on its new six-acre Pinehurst campus last month. And the North Carolina General Assembly recently awarded the USGA $7 million toward the World Golf Hall of Fame project.

“North Carolina is home to legendary golf courses and it makes perfect sense to have The World Golf Hall of Fame here in Pinehurst,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said. “Golf brings communities together, increases tourism and creates good jobs, and I’m excited to continue working with the USGA to grow the game and our economy here in North Carolina.”

The World Golf Hall of Fame’s induction ceremonies will be held in Pinehurst in both 2024 and 2029, years which coincide not only with the 2024 U.S. Open, but also the return of back-to-back men’s and women’s Opens in 2029 on Pinehurst’s No. 2 course. The resort in 2014 hosted the major championships in back-to-back weeks for the first time ever. As an anchor site for the U.S. Open, Pinehurst is hosting five future U.S. Open championships between 2024 and 2047.