Catching up with the legendary Dennis Walters

Right around one year ago, Neptune, N.J., native Dennis Walters took his place among an esteemed group of individuals. He was among a privileged few to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game. His presenter was Jack Nicklaus, considered by many to be the greatest golfer of all time.

Just a month earlier, Walters was among the second class of inductees into the New Jersey State Golf Association Hall of Fame. In 2019, the USGA bestowed its highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, on Walters, who at age 24 was paralyzed in a golf-cart accident and reinvented himself an inspirational trick shot artist and golf clinician who has traveled the world to spread his message of perseverance and hope.

These days? With his schedule of clinics throughout the country on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Walters, a resident of Jupiter, Fla., has still been able to do two things he relishes – practice his golf swing and train a new dog as the co-star of his “Dennis Walters Golf Show,” in which Walters demonstrates his remarkable ability to hit a golf ball from a customized cart, outfitted with a specialized rotating seat.

“For the near future there is no tour. Basically, I’m out of business for June and July and hoping maybe by August I might be able to work a little bit up in the New England area,” Walters said. “One thing I’ve learned during this pandemic is a that I am a non-essential business. A person hitting trick shots and telling bad jokes is about as low on the totem pole of essential businesses as you can get,” he joked.

Living in Florida, Walters was able to play close to home in Palm Beach County for a short while. When courses closed there, he took to the road to nearby Marin County, which subsequently was closed to non-county residents. Finally, he found a place in Broward County, an hour away, thanks to friend and PGA professional Russ Holden, who is known for his charity, “Caddies for a Cure.”

“I’ve basically been practicing in a vacant lot for six or seven weeks. I’ve had no business, but I am extremely motivated to work on my golf swing. It helps me to keep my mind occupied and its good for my emotional health as well. For a guy in wheelchair, it’s the only way I can get exercise. I made the decision that I was going to try and maintain a little bit of my normal routine.

“In my case, I felt it was worth the risk of going outside. If I stopped doing this, and laid around and did nothing, not only would my body deteriorate, but it would affect me mentally, too.”

Before his accident, Walters was an outstanding up-and-coming young golfer. At age 17 in 1967, Walters won the NJSGA Junior Championship, the NJSGA Caddie Championship and the New Jersey Public Links Junior Championship, an unprecedented feat. He later earned a golf scholarship at North Texas State. In 1971, he finished 11th in the U.S. Amateur Championship and a year later, was co-runner-up in the NJSGA Open Championship to Art Silvestrone, Sr. He had just reached the final stage of the PGA Tour’s Qualifying School in 1973, when shortly after, the golf-cart accident changed his life.

“When I start my shows again, I’m going to be hitting the ball really good and I’ll have some new stories to tell. I miss it. I still get excited when I’m asked to do a show, even after 3,000 performances. Like everybody else, I’m hoping for the best with this pandemic. As they say, this too shall pass. Hopefully, we can all get back to some kind of normal. At some point, people are going to want and need inspiration and entertainment. I think those two things will be welcomed. I’ve been playing golf for 62 years and I’m still all in.”

As part of his show, Walters hits precise shots with “clubs” made of such items as a fishing rod, a crutch, one with three heads, a radiator hose, and a cell phone (believe it or not). He also hits balls off three-foot high tees, while they roll, and through fire. The shots are entertaining and provide a vehicle for Dennis to deliver his message that with hard work and perseverance almost anything is possible. He has traveled the world encouraging others to reach for their dreams, strive for excellence and to do something positive in their life they didn’t think they could.

Part of his routine is his “co-star,” a Benji lookalike dog, who Walters trains and is always a crowd favorite. His newest discovery is Augusta, nicknamed Gussie, who may become the best of the bunch. After the passing of his fourth dog, Bucky (named after his father), in late 2018, Walters sought a new companion with whom he would perform side-by-side - as he did with Muffin, then Mulligan, and then Benji Hogan. They have all looked similar to the movie-star dog, Benji.

“It took me nine months to find him, and I finally located him in a local rescue group called The Big Dog Ranch in West Palm Beach. He was rescued out of Puerto Rico. He had a few rough edges on him which were improved through behavior training. I knew he was really smart and he has taken beautifully to his trick training, and he’s stunning to look at.”

Walters has befriended Joe Camp, the writer and creator of the Benji movies, and sent him a photo of Gussie. Camp said he looks more like Benji than any dog he’s ever seen.

Dennis has even taught Gussie to hit plastic golf balls. “We practice three or four times a day. He’s got 24 plastic balls. He hits the balls, claps for himself, takes a bow, and retrieves the balls. I’m lucky and grateful to have him,” Walters said.

As for now, Walters hopes to revive his show in the New England area for August and September. He would drive up and stay with a friend in Cape Cod, and hopefully make a side trip to see friends in New Jersey. 

“I’ve never spent a summer in Florida. I’ve been on the road for 43 years. I’m happy I’ve been able to remain healthy. If you have health, you’re a millionaire. It’s the one-year anniversary of my induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame and it was great to be recognized. Now, I’m one of the most non-essential businesses in America. But I’m fine and I wish everybody well.”