Dennis Walters (golfer)

Dennis Walters
Personal information
Born September 1949 (1949-09) (age 69)
Neptune Township, New Jersey
Career
Turned professional 1971
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 2019 (member page)
Bob Jones Award 2018

Dennis Walters (born 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.

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 United States Amateur Championship 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 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 for the class of 2019.[13]

Personal life

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

References

  1. 1 2 "Entertainer-motivator Walters earns PGA Distinguished Service Award". PGA. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  2. 1 2 Myers, Alex (21 October 2013). "The inspirational Dennis Walters is no stranger to comebacks". Golf Digest. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  3. 1 2 Tays, Al (23 May 2015). "Dennis Walters: A life of turning tragedy into triumph". Golf Channel. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  4. ↑ Edelson, Stephen. "Edelson: For paralyzed golfer Dennis Walters, Bob Jones Award fitting honor", Asbury Park Press, April 10, 2018. Accessed 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 (30 July 2014). "Archdeacon: Best trick shot is every shot". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  6. ↑ Biggane, Brian (6 May 2018). "Jupiter's Dennis Walters defies spine injury, gets golf's highest honors". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  7. 1 2 Feldman, Dan (28 July 2009). "Dennis Walters, paralyzed below the waist, wows crowd with trick golf shots before Buick Open". Michigan Live. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  8. ↑ Bamberger, Michael (25 April 2014). "Dennis Walters, a trick-shot artist unlike any other". Golf.
  9. ↑ Dorman, Larry (28 January 1995). "GOLF; Paralyzed Golfer Overcomes Doubts". New York Times. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  10. ↑ Rosaforte, Tim (27 February 1995). "A Smash Hit". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  11. ↑ Benzie, Michael (6 February 2014). "The story behind the photo". PGA. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "PGA honorary member Dennis Walters selected as 2018 USGA Bob Jones Award Winner". PGA. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "Dennis Walters". World Golf Hall of Fame. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.