Dennis Walters (golfer)

Dennis Walters (born September 14, 1949) is an American trick-shot golfer. He won the Bob Jones Award in 2018 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame with the class of 2019.

Dennis Walters
Personal information
Born (1949-09-14) September 14, 1949
Neptune Township, New Jersey
Nationality United States
ResidenceJupiter, Florida
Career
CollegeNorth Texas State
Turned professional1971
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame2019 (member page)
Bob Jones Award2018

Early life and education

In 1949, Walters was born and raised in Neptune Township, New Jersey, where he attended Neptune High School.[1][2] Before starting his golf career, Walters played Little League softball and bowling during his childhood.[3][4] For his post-secondary education, Walters went to North Texas State on a golf scholarship. At North Texas, he captained the winning team of the Missouri Valley Conference four years in a row.[5]

Career

In 1967, Walters won the New Jersey Junior Championship, Public Links Junior Championship, and Caddie Championship.[6] At the time, Walters was the first golfer to win all three New Jersey amateur tournaments.[7] In 1971, he participated at the U.S. Amateur and came in eleventh place.[8]

Walters began his professional career in 1971 after graduating from North Texas. After failing to earn a Tour card at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament in 1972, Walters began golfing on the South African Tour.[1] In July 1974, Walters had finished playing on the South African Tour before becoming paralyzed in a golf cart accident. At the time of his accident, Walters was working at the Wykagyl Country Club.[9]

As a wheelchair golfer, Walters continued to play golf in 1975 and had a customized golf cart made for him.[3] Walters decided to perform wheelchair trick shots after he was inspired by golfers Paul Hahn Jr. and Joe Kirkwood Sr.[7] His first event was at the 1977 PGA Merchandise Show and he appeared in a 1979 episode of That's Incredible!.[10]

Walters currently lives in Jupiter, Florida.[11]

Awards

In 2018, Walters was given the Bob Jones Award by the United States Golf Association.[12] He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame[13] for the class of 2019 alongside Retief Goosen, Billy Payne, Jan Stephenson and Peggy Kirk Bell. The induction ceremony was held near Pebble Beach, California at the Sunset Center, kicking off the men's U.S. Open.

Personal life

In 2013, Walters broke his tibia during an accident while going out for groceries.[2]

References
  1. "Entertainer-motivator Walters earns PGA Distinguished Service Award". PGA of America. May 13, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  2. Myers, Alex (October 21, 2013). "The inspirational Dennis Walters is no stranger to comebacks". Golf Digest. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  3. Tays, Al (May 23, 2015). "Dennis Walters: A life of turning tragedy into triumph". Golf Channel. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  4. Edelson, Stephen (April 10, 2018). "Edelson: For paralyzed golfer Dennis Walters, Bob Jones Award fitting honor". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved October 13, 2018. That's why the United States Golf Association's decision to tap Neptune native Dennis Walters as the recipient of the 2018 Bob Jones Award, the sport's highest honor, is so important.... Walters, who played at Neptune High School and North Texas State, and lives in Jupiter, Florida, will spend a month this summer performing shows in the Philadelphia area.
  5. Archdeacon, Tom (July 30, 2014). "Archdeacon: Best trick shot is every shot". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  6. Biggane, Brian (May 6, 2018). "Jupiter's Dennis Walters defies spine injury, gets golf's highest honors". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  7. Feldman, Dan (July 28, 2009). "Dennis Walters, paralyzed below the waist, wows crowd with trick golf shots before Buick Open". Michigan Live. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  8. Bamberger, Michael (April 25, 2014). "Dennis Walters, a trick-shot artist unlike any other". Golf.com.
  9. Dorman, Larry (January 28, 1995). "Golf; Paralyzed Golfer Overcomes Doubts". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  10. Rosaforte, Tim (February 27, 1995). "A Smash Hit". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  11. Benzie, Michael (February 6, 2014). "The story behind the photo". PGA of America. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  12. "PGA honorary member Dennis Walters selected as 2018 USGA Bob Jones Award Winner". PGA of America. April 13, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  13. "Dennis Walters". World Golf Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
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