As Nelly Korda nears LPGA Hall of Fame, it's time to bring back induction party

Nancy Lopez arrived at her 1987 LPGA Hall of Fame celebration at Tiffany & Co. in a Rolls-Royce and is still in love with the black dress she wore that evening in New York City, calling the whole thing a thrill. 

“I had two friends who got engaged that night,” she recalled of the sparkling affair. 

Lopez won her 35th LPGA title in Sarasota, Florida, earlier that year – the same city where she won her first – but had to wait until the summer of ’87 to reach the now-defunct 10-year Hall of Fame requirement. The tour hosted Lopez’s party on a Monday in between the Boston Five Classic and the U.S. Women’s Open in New Jersey. She was the Hall's 11th inductee.

Patty Sheehan’s 1993 party at the MGM in Reno was hosted by Joanna Kerns, the actress who played Maggie Seaver on the ABC sitcom “Growing Pains.” Betty Hicks, a legendary player, teacher and pilot who competed on the tour in the 1950s, wrote Sheehan’s speech.

Sheehan wore a showstopping turquoise sequined dress that shocked everyone – including her – because she’s not one who typically wears dresses. But this one called her name.

“It’s one of the few nights that I didn’t go to bed,” exclaimed Sheehan of her Hall of Fame soiree. 

With world No. 1 Nelly Korda standing on the doorstep of the LPGA Hall of Fame, the tour has an opportunity to bring back what should be the best party in decades. The tour hasn’t thrown a Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 15 years.

At Se Ri Pak’s 2007 celebration at the Ritz Carlton in Orlando, Florida, the trailblazing player looked like a blushing bride in her elegant white traditional Korean gown. 

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for 15 years,” Pak told a packed ballroom before breaking down in tears. She later hit the dance floor with friends.

The LPGA Hall of Fame is often called the toughest Hall in sports. With only 35 members, including eight who are honorary members, it takes a Herculean effort to qualify. There’s no voting. No grey area. Get the points, or don’t get in.

Korda, a 19-time winner who has four majors and Olympic gold, is two points away from the 27 needed to qualify. A victory next week at Royal Lytham would get her there, making her the first American to play her way in since Juli Inkster in 1999.

The World Golf Hall of Fame is a televised affair with plenty of spotlight. By contrast, Inbee Park (2016), Lorena Ochoa (2022) and Lydia Ko (2024) got little more than a press conference, a bouquet of flowers and a pat on the back after joining the LPGA’s elite club.

Korda’s induction should be an impressive affair. It should gather not only all the people who mean much to her personally, but all the LPGA greats who built the tour. It should be a chance for media who don’t come out to many – or any – LPGA events to meet and mingle. 

There is no LPGA Hall of Fame building. No dedicated website. No shrine. There ought to be, at bare minimum, one memorable night.

Betsy King celebrated in 1995 in her hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania, with about 400 of her nearest and dearest. Singer-songwriter Amy Grant emceed King’s party and played a couple songs. LPGA legends Patty Berg, Betsy Rawls and Louise Suggs were all in attendance.

“I felt like I was planning a wedding reception,” said King of the table assignments. “At one point, my dad goes, ‘You can’t put him there, he’s your mother’s uncle. He has to be closer to the front.’ ”

Juli Inkster had her party at the San Francisco Giants stadium in 2011, having to postpone it one year after the Giants made the World Series. There was batting practice and a bar set up on the field.

“I had to put in some of my money,” recalled Inkster. “I can't remember. I think they gave me like $50,000 or $40,000.”

When Korda gets into the Hall of Fame, the tour should endeavor to celebrate her as quickly as possible. Maybe not U.S. Women’s Open week, as Lopez did, but certainly within the same year. Timeliness matters.

After Korda’s party, the tour can rewind to celebrate Park, Ochoa and Ko in meaningful ways. 

It’s important to amplify the totality of the accomplishment. Ko’s Hall of Fame moment was wrapped up in Olympic glory. Not to say that it was forgotten, but there wasn’t room to properly give Ko’s journey its due. Not to mention the fact that it was all the way over in France.

The party isn’t just about the woman of the hour; it’s about the institution. It’s about the 35 other players who are already in it.

“There’s quite a few of us still around,” said 69-year-old Sheehan. “You don’t hear much about us.”

Is a Hall even a Hall if it can’t afford a proper induction? Surely there are LPGA partners that would get involved.

This is a worthy investment. 

Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA and all things women's golf.

(Editor's note: This story was corrected to include the correct hotel location of the 1993 party)

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: As Nelly Korda nears LPGA Hall of Fame, it's time to bring back induction party