ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Barbara Joyce has been coming to the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine for more than 15 years.
“We come to the Hall of Fame; we come every couple of weeks,” she said.
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She and visitors like David Sambuch are saddened to hear the news: the World Golf Hall of Fame will be moving to Pinehurst, North Carolina after its lease ends at the end of 2023, according to a press release.
“I’m sorry to hear that it’s going to move to North Carolina,” Sambuchi said.
The hall of fame had been in St. Augustine’s World Golf Village since 1998, honoring the history of golf and legacies from the past.
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“This is a main attraction. It has documentaries. School kids come here; they come by the buses,” Joyce said. “The retired people love it here.”
A spokesperson didn’t go into much detail about the move, and why, but did say: “The World Golf Hall of Fame acknowledges that today’s generation of golf fans consume the sport and its history differently, and the decision to expand its partnership with the USGA will position the Hall of Fame to be able to evolve in the same manner.”
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The Hall of Fame declined to give specifics or comment on the financial impacts of the decision, let alone the economic impact the Hall of Fame had been having on the area.
Joyce says things just won’t be the same without it.
“It’s gonna be rough,” she said. “I’m gonna miss it.”
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The Hall of Fame will open in its new location in North Carolina in 2024, according to a press release.
As for future use of the building, a World Golf Hall of Fame spokesperson said the following:
“The Hall of Fame has been meeting with stakeholders for months – including St. John’s County officials and World Golf Village partners – to evaluate options for the future of World Golf Village. That process also includes hearing from the World Golf Village community on what they believe to be the best future use for the area. Additional details will be made available at a later date.”
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