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The Florida Swing: Golf in the Sunshine State

Tallahassee, FL—Secretary of State Kurt Browning is pleased to announce a new exhibit opening at the Museum of Florida History on February 22 and extending through May 20, 2007. The exhibit is titled The Florida Swing: Golf in the Sunshine State, and it traces the history and development of the game in Florida. The increased popularity of the game of golf has played an important role in residential as well as resort development in the state.

"Not only can we have a lot of fun with this subject, but we can also inform the public about how golf became so important to the residents of the state and to the thousands of tourists who travel to Florida every year," said Secretary Browning.

According to sources at the Orange County Regional History Center, it is possible that the first person who brought golf to Florida was John Hamilton Gillespie, a Scotsman, who played an important role in the early development of Sarasota. In May 1886 Gillespie laid out a miniature course consisting of two greens and a long fairway on Main Street so he could practice everyday. He convinced Henry Plant on the value of golf as a tourist attraction and was hired to lay out courses for the Plant Investment Company in Winter Park, Tampa, Belleair, and Havana, Cuba. During the Florida Land Boom of the 1920s, golf again became integral in drawing people to cities and towns across the state.

As golf has increased in popularity, so has the number of clubs and organizations associated with the game. Today, the PGA has more than 28,000 members comprised of players, instructors, business people, and community leaders. Other organizations closely associated with golf are the National Golf Foundation, the Women’s Golf Association, the Ladies Professional Golf Association, and the Florida State Golf Association. The World Golf Hall of Fame is located between Jacksonville and St. Augustine in the World Golf Village. The Hall of Fame is made up of 26 major national and international golf organizations that recognize the need for one facility to honor the game’s great players and contributors.

The Museum of Florida History exhibition, developed by The Orange County Regional History Center, covers more than 2,000 square feet and includes over 100 PGA artifacts, 40 images, a kiosk containing The PGA Tour 2004 Game with Tiger Woods, books, interactives, hickory clubs, gutta percha balls, and more.

The Museum of Florida History is located in the R. A. Gray Building at 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday and holidays 12:00 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Visit the Museum website at www.museumoffloridahistory.com. The History Shop has items of interest to golf enthusiasts, as well as other specialty gift items related to Florida.

This exhibit has been made possible through the Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando, Florida, the PGA of America, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida.