St. Augustine, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2014) – The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum is proud to announce it has entered into a multi-year strategic partnership with PING. Starting in 2014, PING will become an Official Partner and Official Equipment Supplier of the Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame and the Arizona-based company are ideal partners, as PING founder Karsten Solheim was inducted in 2001. Selected through the Lifetime Achievement Category, Solheim is known as an innovator who revolutionized golf club design and manufacturing by examining the mechanics and technology of the sport.
“We’re honored to partner with the World Golf Hall of Fame by bringing its guests the opportunity to experience PING golf equipment during their visits,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO and youngest son of Karsten and Louise Solheim. “Karsten is the only golf club engineer and manufacturer in the World Golf Hall of Fame. It’s only appropriate we continue his legacy by sharing the latest innovations from the company he founded with all of the golfers who visit the Hall of Fame.”
Visitors to the Hall of Fame will be able to use the latest in PING equipment throughout the St. Augustine, Fla., facility, including its Golf Simulator, the 18-hole, natural-grass putting course and its 132-yard Challenge Hole.
“This is an excellent match of two entities that share a world-class vision,” said Jack Peter, COO of the World Golf Hall of Fame. “We are thrilled to partner with one of golf’s most respected equipment companies.”
Since Karsten Solheim’s enshrinement, the Hall of Fame and PING have enjoyed a strong relationship. In 2007, the Hall of Fame worked with PING, the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour to open a temporary exhibition called “Pride, Passion, Patriotism: A Celebration of The Solheim Cup.” The exhibit featured one of the three original Solheim Cup trophies, along with memorabilia, video and photos from the event.
Most recently, PING provided an exact crystal replica of the Solheim Cup trophy for the Hall of Fame’s Team Gallery. Opened in May 2013, the Team Gallery is an exhibition created to highlight three of golf’s biggest team competitions – The Presidents Cup, The Ryder Cup and The Solheim Cup. The Solheim Cup trophy is one of the highlights of an interactive exhibition that uses memorabilia and photos to showcase the achievements of the players in one of the biggest competitions in women’s golf.
For information about the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org.
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About the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum
The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum preserves and honors the history of golf and the legacies of those who have made it great. The Hall of Fame and Museum, located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., serves as a steward of the game through engaging, interactive storytelling and exhibitions featuring artifacts, works of art, audio, video and photography significant to the history of golf and its members.
The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 nonprofit institution and is allied with 26 national and international golf organizations, including The European Tour, LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA. To learn more about the Hall of Fame or to lend support, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org.
About PING
PING designs, manufactures and markets a complete line of golf equipment including metal woods, irons, putters and golf bags. The family-owned company was founded in 1959 in the garage of the late Karsten Solheim, a mechanical engineer with an extensive background in the aerospace and computer industries. His frustration with his putting inspired him to design his own putter, which created a “pinging” sound when striking a golf ball. This sound was the source of the name now synonymous with innovation, quality and service throughout the world of golf. Solheim and his company are credited with numerous innovations that became industry standards, including perimeter weighting, custom fitting and the use of investment casting in the manufacturing of golf clubs. His insistence on adhering to strict engineering principles and tight manufacturing tolerances raised the level of product performance and quality throughout the golf industry. Solheim is the only person to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as a golf club manufacturer. Today, the Phoenix-based company is under the direction of Solheim’s youngest son, John A. Solheim. PING game-improvement products can be found in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.ping.com.
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As the Founding Partner of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum and World Golf Village, Shell Oil Company played a lead role in supporting the development and growth of the institution, which opened in 1998. Since then, their continued involvement has led the way for others to join in support of the Hall of Fame & Museum’s mission.
