GLENVIEW, Ill. — PGA of America Distinguished Service Award winner and honorary PGA Lifetime Member, Dennis Walters, will bring his “Golf Lessons, Life Lessons” trick shot golf show and inspirational messages to Chicagoland area golfers this season. The tour kicks off Tuesday, May 29 at Renwood Golf Club in Round Lake Beach with a show hosted by The First Tee of Greater Chicago and continues throughout June.
“Dennis is a very inspirational person who puts on an entertaining show and delivers valuable messages to audiences both young and old,” said Carrie Williams, Executive Director of the Illinois PGA. “We’re thrilled to partner with KemperSports and The Glen Club to bring Dennis to the Chicago area.”
The Dennis Walters Golf Show schedule for the Chicago area is as follows:
- Tuesday, May 29: Renwood Golf Club, Round Lake Beach
- Saturday, June 9: Exmoor Country Club, Highland Park
- Thursday, June 7: The Glen Club, Glenview (5:30pm start; show open to the public)
- Friday, June 8: Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, Lemont
- Sunday, June 10: Twin Orchard Country Club, Long Grove
- Saturday, June 16: Sunset Ridge Country Club, Northfield
- Wednesday, June 27: Ruth Lake Country Club, Hinsdale
The Glen Club will host the only public Dennis Walters Golf Show on Thursday, June 7th on the range of the Glenview golf facility. Louis Sauer, 2017 Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year, and Patrick Flavin, Highwood native, Highland Park H.S./Miami University graduate and 2017 Illinois Open champion, will open with a golf demonstration followed by the Dennis Walters Golf Show. After the show, Illinois PGA Professionals will be on hand to provide complimentary golf tips to those in attendance.
The show is free of charge and open to children, teens and adults. The Glen Club will provide a meal deal special including hot dog, chips and a drink for $5.00. All attendees must register for The Glen Club event.
CLICK HERE to register for the Dennis Walters Golf Show at The Glen Club.
The Dennis Walters Golf Show is a demonstration of precision golf from start to finish. The show begins with a question and answer session and includes his opening act – Super Dog, Bucky – who does a variety of tricks, but is best-known for his uncanny ability to correctly answer questions by barking out the answers. The trick shots, or as Dennis likes to call them, shots from unusual lies, come next. Dennis's theory is that if you have a good swing you can hit good shots with almost anything and he proves this by hitting precise shots with clubs made from a fishing rod, a crutch, a radiator hose and a cell phone. Woven throughout the show is Dennis's powerful motivating message that dreams can come true and with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.
Dennis's dream was always to play successfully on the PGA Tour but he had an accident in 1974 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. After his accident, the first thing Dennis had to figure out was a way to play golf again. Since he could not stand, he started by hitting golf shots from his wheelchair. He then progressed to a swivel seat mounted on the passenger side of a golf cart and since 1977, he has made over 3,000 appearances, performed in all fifty states, Mexico, Canada and The UK, and has traveled over 3.5 million miles.
“I enjoy performing my show for people all around the world and especially enjoy my visits to the Chicago area with its rich golf heritage and history and passionate golf fans,” said Walters. “Bucky and I look forward to seeing everyone at the shows soon.”
Dennis will add to his prestigious award collection when he receives the Bob Jones Award from the USGA at a ceremony on Wednesday, June 13 at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York. Presented annually since 1955, the Bob Jones Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates the spirit, personal character and respect for the game exhibited by Jones, winner of nine USGA championships.
About the Illinois PGA/Illinois PGA Foundation
The Illinois Section of the PGA of America is a professional organization serving the men and women golf professionals in northern and central Illinois who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf. The Illinois PGA Foundation focuses its community efforts on promoting the goodwill and growth of the game with an emphasis on activities that benefit youth. For more information about the Illinois PGA and the Illinois PGA Foundation, please visit www.www.ipga.com and join us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
About The Glen Club
Glenview, Ill. – The Tom Fazio-designed Glen Club opened in 2001 as part of The Glen which transformed the former Glenview Naval Air Station into a multi-use development including homes, condominiums, a downtown shopping center, golf course and more. The course routing features dramatic elevation changes – up to 40 feet on certain holes – mature trees and natural areas, lakes and streams. Many elements of a superb Fazio design are here and offer a challenge in many forms, from the classic perched greens undercut by bunkers to peninsula greens surrounded by water. The Glen Club is currently ranked 90th on Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses You Can Play list and No. 2 on the publication’s list of Best Courses You Can Play In Illinois. The course measures 7,170 yards from the back tees playing to a par 72. Please visit www.theglenclub.com
About KemperSports
Northbrook, Ill. –based KemperSports builds, owns and manages golf courses, resorts, athletic clubs and lodging venues across the U.S., Caribbean and Central America. The company’s award-winning portfolio includes nationally-ranked courses and tournaments venues such as Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, named the No. 1 Golf Resort in North America by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine; The Glen Club; Desert Willow Golf Resort; Harbor Shores, site of the 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship; and Chambers Bay, host of the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open. For more information about KemperSports, please visit www.kempersports.com