Golfer entertains, inspires at local school

Posted on 22 March 2012 by LeslieM

Golf trick shot artist Dennis Walters, 62, of Jupiter, hits a shot as students from Deerfield Park Elementary look on during a recent show. Photo by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Dennis Walters said he is living a dream, just not the one he originally had 50 years ago after his father took him to a professional golf tournament.

His message today is a simple one.

“If you have a dream and it doesn’t work out, never stop dreaming, get a new one,” said Walters, who was left paralyzed from the waist down when his golf cart flipped over in 1974.

“That’s what I did and I use my own personal experience as an example.”

Since then, the 62-year-old Jupiter man has put on more than 3,000 shows featuring golf trick shots in a 38-year career. He averages between 90 and 100 shows a year.

“Almost every person I met 38 years ago said it would be impossible to play golf because I couldn’t stand up and they were 100 percent correct,” Walters said after performing a recent show for the South Florida PGA Foundation at Deerfield Park Elementary School. “That’s when I started hitting them sitting down.”

Walters’ show featured amazing golf tricks, a message of inspiration, along with a special performance by Bucky, who is best known for his uncanny ability to correctly answer questions by barking out the answers.

“I didn’t think he could play when I first saw him,” said fourth grader Caroline Maya. “He’s very good. I was really amazed because I don’t think I would do that if I was in a wheelchair.”

Deerfield Park P.E. teacher Shelton Smith said this is the annual field trip that the school generally attends in Boca Raton.

“They weren’t able to hold it there this year,” Smith said. “They asked if they could bring it here to the school. My principal thought it would be nice to make it an incentive for third, fourth and fifth grade so they could improve on their academics. The students who scored three or higher on the mock, standardized FCAT tests were allowed to come out.”

“I am trying to grow the game of golf,” Walters said. “Golf is a game for everyone. I am living proof of it. I think if we can [get] more of these young people exposed to the game of golf, some of them will take it up.

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