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World Golf Hall Of Fame Honors Late Member Bob Hope ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (July 28, 2003) - World Golf Hall of Fame is recognizing the passing of Bob Hope, inducted in 1983, by flying its flag at half-staff and placing a large commemorative photo in the museum lobby, where it will greet visitors in the days to come. World Golf Hall of Fame staff and volunteers are wearing special ribbons in his honor and one has been placed on his crystal, which marks his membership into the Hall of Fame. Gary Player, Global Ambassador to the World Golf Hall of Fame, said from St. Andrews in Scotland, where he is currently working on a new golf course design project, "I am saddened by Bob Hope's passing away, but know that he would want us to celebrate his life, not mourn his death. He was a great friend to golf and we will all miss him." "Bob Hope was a tremendous asset to the game and a constant reminder that golf is meant to be enjoyed," said Jack Peter, Chief Operating Officer of the Hall of Fame. "He will be remembered fondly each day at the World Golf Hall of Fame. Our warm thoughts go to out to Mr. Hope's family." Since the 1920s, Hope had been one of the sport's great ambassadors. As he traveled the globe entertaining both black-tie audiences and battalions of soldiers, he made a second career of teeing it up with Presidents, Princes and "the King," Arnold Palmer, with whom he won the pro-am portion of the Palm Springs Desert Classic in 1962. Three years later, in 1965, Hope took the reigns of the Palm Springs Desert Classic and it has borne his name ever since. It is currently called the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Though Hope always liked to poormouth his abilities, he was a four handicap "for about twenty minutes" in his youth, and even teed it up at the 1950 British Open at Troon. Hope became a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1983. His membership crystal, located in Shell Hall at the museum, reads: Bob Hope--One of America's most revered entertainers, Hope united golf, entertainment, and politics. He was a favorite playing partner of U.S. Presidents from Eisenhower to Clinton. The tournament bearing his name in Palm Springs was one of the first professional events to make significant contributions to the community through charitable donations. About World Golf Hall of Fame World Golf Hall of Fame, located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., is a collaboration of 26 national and international golf organizations, including the PGA TOUR, LPGA, USGA, Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Augusta National Golf Club and the PGA of America. The museum houses interactive displays, historic artifacts, a special exhibit gallery, an IMAX Theater and the Hall of Fame itself, which honors the game's greatest players and contributors. As sole founding partner of World Golf Hall of Fame, Shell Oil Company provides financial support and plays the lead role in charitable initiatives aimed at introducing golf to young people, and through the golf experience promotes scholastic achievement, community service and those values intrinsic to the game of golf: honesty, integrity and sportsmanship. |