At $3million each, the statues would explain some of the disappearing funds the Hall of Fame board handled.
The soon-to-be-dissolved Georgia Golf Hall of Fame's most famous residents will remain in hibernation until their ownership can be determined.
"What we've decided to do is to seek a legal opinion from the Attorney General's office," said Brian Persons, the hall of fame's chairman, on Thursday. "We all felt that was the best and fairest way to go."
The popular bronze statues of golf greats Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan and Ray Floyd were the signature features of the Golf Hall of Fame's botanical gardens on Reynolds Street.
The statues were taken to storage areas in September 2007, about three months after the gardens closed when the organization ran out of money on June 30 of that year.
Mr. Persons said the statues are carefully packed and fully insured and will remain stored at the hall of fame's maintenance building until a final disposition can be found.
The attorney general's office, Mr. Persons said, is the best resource to consult to determine their fate.
"They represent all state agencies and can answer the questions," Mr. Persons said. "Once I receive that opinion, we'll be happy to share it with everyone."
The Hall of Fame announced Wednesday it was petitioning the Georgia General Assembly, which created it in 1986, to formally dissolve the organization.
Mr. Persons said an effort will be made to reconstitute the hall of fame later as a private, nonprofit group.
City of Augusta officials are seeking title to the Hall of Fame's 17 acres on Reynolds Street. One possible use for the site would be a baseball stadium.
Reach Rob Pavey at (706) 868-1222 or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
At $3million each, the statues would explain some of the disappearing funds the Hall of Fame board handled.
You mean "Mishandled"!
Another money pit down the drain by our elected officials. If anyone ever wants to hire someone to waste taxpayer money? We have plenty people they can choose from.
I wonder why they never did a statue of Tiger, the greatest player the world has ever seen. But then he is black , isn't he?
No, they like Tiger but a statue is in honor of all your accomplishments later in life. Not so near the beginning of your career.
Patricia, I hope your figures are wrong, but I tend to beliece them.
Patricia, where did you get your figures? Dissman, the primary reason Tiger doesn't have a statue is timing and where he was born, not the color of his skin. The GGHOF was conceived as a hall of fame focusing on Georgia Golfers. First, he is not from Georgia. Second, they ran out of funds for statues not long after he started winning big.
I never knew the Golden Bear was from Georgia. If anybody actually paid $3 million each for these statues, they shouldn't be in Georgia either. They should be in Washington among their profligate peers.
Put the statues out around the Masters along Washington Rd. or the gateways to Augusta.
dashiel, when I typed conceived, I meant conceived. Oversight was not what it should have been.
LOL...they can't put the statues out anywhere...because some stupid knuckle dragging thug would try to destroy them...no matter where they are ..unless Inside the National......so sad that the city is hostage to its own people..........................
Point.... You are absolutely wrong on all points. One Nicklaus was born in Columbus Ohio. Two he is still alive. Three, he and Tiger were famous at the time the statues were made. BTW Floyd was born in North Carolina. Makes you wonder - Georgia Golf Hall of Fame" what did it mean? I wonder if the taxpayers are still paying for the facility? Can't really tell because of the murkiness of the budget process.
disssman, of course it might be because the HOF opened when Tiger was SEVEN yrs old. But, hey that wouldn't help make your racist cause now would it? The reason it is the GA GHOF is because it celebrates Georgians who have had an impact in golf. Like Jim Dent.
Diss, I will admit to not being a golf fanatic, or even fan. But, I have more than passing knowledge about the GGHOF. And no, the taxpayers (at least at the local level) are not paying for the HOF. At this point they are not paying for upkeep of the "garden". I wasn't here, but I suspect the concept was in response to things like the GA Music Hall of Fame in Macon. Everyone thought they could attract tourist $$$ with these facilities. There may be a handfull nationwide that are making enough to cover operations, but not many. Limiting the focus to a single state is not of interest to that many people.
pointstopper, my figures are simply recalled figuring I did when an article detailing the total put into developing this parcel of land was in the AC . About 15 to 18 million just seemed to evaporate into golf mist.
YES! I can now sleep in peace. I now know what will happen to those statues. Is there really nothing better going on in the world?
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