After a slow start, the World Golf Hall of Fame, near St. Augustine, Fla., has come on strong as one of the nation’s premier sports attractions.

Several essential factors led to success, including a convenient location just off I-95, interesting and educational displays and a variety of interactive activities.

And then along came movie star Bob Hope. The late comedian’s family created a 3,000-square-foot exhibit called Shanks for the Memories that includes more than 400 artifacts, 300 vintage images and two hours of video that depict Hope’s career and his passion for golf.

The World Golf Hall of Fame was formerly located in Pinehurst but was moved to the outskirts of St. Augustine in 1998. It occupies a 75,000-square-foot building with more than half of that space dedicated to exhibits that pay tribute to the game’s legends. More than 230,000 persons visited the shrine last year.

The hall is the centerpiece of a unique resort village that features a hotel, rental villas and condos, private homes, restaurants, retail stores, a mega golf shop, a huge lake, a golf course and an IMAX theater. There is also a golf academy that offers personal instruction.

Each of the 130 members of the hall — including such illustrious stars as Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Patty Berg — are immortalized. On display are thousands of historic artifacts, memorabilia, photographs and trophies that trace the game from its beginning to the present.

Each of the inductees has a locker in the hall’s locker room that is filled with clubs, clothing, equipment and photographs from yesteryear.

Visitors can also try their hand at putting, hitting balls, playing renowned holes from around the world and viewing old movies and TV clips from famous golf events.

For the active player, there are two golf courses that are part of the entertainment complex, the Squire and the Slammer, named for Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead, located in the village; and the King and the Bear, named for Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, which is a five-minute drive away.

For more information, log on to www.wgv.com or call 1-800-WGV-GOLF.