"Bush has no place in Golf Hall of Fame"

Adam Schupak takes issue with George Bush's selection to the World Golf Hall of Fame and takes a closer look at the group who selected him.

Which brings me to the bigger problem: the Lifetime Achievement and Veterans categories are determined by the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors (Can anyone say “popularity contest’’?). According to the WGF’s Web site, this cushy group consists of:

Joe Steranka, CEO of the PGA

Jim Armstrong, executive director of Augusta National

Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A

David Fay, executive director of the USGA

Tim Finchem, commissioner of the PGA Tour

George O’Grady, executive director of the European Tour

Michael Whan, commissioner of the LPGA

Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation

Not only have the power brokers of the game proved unqualified to make these decisions, but this reeks of conflict of interest. For instance, should Finchem be voting on the candidacy of Pete Dye, the 2008 Lifetime Achievement selection, when Dye has built countless TPCs for the Tour? Or Steranka, who has scheduled majors at Dye courses such as Whistling Straits this year and Kiawah Island in 2012? Instead, members of the Golf Writers Association of America, who vote on the PGA Tour and International ballot, should vote for this, too. Otherwise, “golf’s highest honor” will remain just what it is – another empty slogan.

It should be noted that Schupak worked for the PGA Tour and Hall of Fame for seven years. Some might say that clouds his judgement, but I think his knowledge and passion for the Hall of Fame runs deep.

And while I'd be nice to lump some of the overpaid, mail-it-in types on the list above, this was a Finchem operation. He wanted Bush and he got Bush. Why, I have no idea and don't care. But it's a terrible blow to the Hall's credibility, especially when coupled with yet another silly induction of an active player who has several good years still in him (as Jason Sobel notes).