NEWS

PGA Museum of Golf Unveils 72nd Senior PGA Championship Exhibit

By PGA of America
Published on

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The 72nd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid is being celebrated at the PGA Museum of Golf, in Port St. Lucie, Fla., with a special exhibit that debuted May 14.

The featured display traces the storied history of the Senior PGA Championship, the most historic and prestigious major Championship in senior golf, which was first contested at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club, and won by Jock Hutchison in 1937. The event was staged at the request of legendary amateur Bobby Jones just three years after the inaugural Masters Tournament. Over the years, many of golf's greatest names have captured the Senior PGA Championship, including Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin and Defending Senior PGA Champion Tom Lehman.

The exhibit will pay tribute to Hutchison, who was just inducted posthumously into the World Golf Hall of Fame, and features memorabilia from the 2011 Senior PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville; a rare family photo of Hutchison playing golf circa 1900; archival photos from the first senior PGA Championship; a tribute to the Lehman's victory last year; and a display of the impressive Alfred S. Bourne Trophy, which is awarded annually to the Senior PGA Champion.

The PGA Museum of Golf has hosted several special exhibits in recent years including tributes to the PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, PGA Grand Slam of Golf, African-American Pioneers, PGA Honorary Members, Dow Finsterwald and Palmer.

"The PGA Museum of Golf is dedicated to providing our visitors with new and engaging exhibits that capture imaginations through the essence of golf and the proud 95-year history of The PGA of America," said PGA President Allen Wronowski.

Additional attractions include the four major Championship trophies of golf; a workbench used by legendary course architect Donald Ross circa 1900; and a tribute to Walter Hagen that includes his original birth certificate.

Admission to the PGA Museum of Golf is free and open to the public. The new museum hours are Fridays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Christmas Eve; and daily from Dec. 26-Easter. Researchers may access the facility during off-hours by appointment.

The 2011 Senior PGA Championship presented by Kitchen Aid will be held at Valhalla Golf Club, May 26-30, and televised live by NBC Sports and the Golf Channel. Tickets are available by calling 800-PGA-GOLF (800-742-4653) or visiting 2011seniorpga.com.

The PGA Museum of Golf is located in PGA Village, which is ranked among the "75 Best Golf Resorts" by Golf Digest, and also encompasses the PGA Golf Club's 54 holes of Championship golf by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye; and the adjacent PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance, a state-of-the-art, 35-acre golf learning, instruction, fitness and technology facility.

About PGA Village
The Ryder, Wanamaker and Dye Courses form a trio of world-class courses at the PGA Golf Club, at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Named by Golf Digest as one of the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America," PGA Village also features the award-winning, 35-acre PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance and the PGA Museum of Golf. PGA Golf Club exists to be one of the premier public-access resort facilities in America, complete with a Private Members Club, and also serves as the home club for our 27,000 PGA Professionals. For more information, please visit pgavillage.com.

About The PGA of America
Celebrating its 95th year, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission of its founders: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in a multi-billion dollar golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.