Golf tips, life lessons

Noaki Schwartz

Dennis Walters may not be able to hit a golf ball like he used to, but

the dreams he inspires among children travel far beyond the length of any

fairway.

“Dream is a word I want you to think of -- not just today, but every day

of your life,” he said Tuesday to a group of at-risk teenagers attending

a golf clinic at the Toshiba Senior Classic in Newport Beach.

More than 100 students from the county Department of Education -- many of

whom had never set foot on a golf course -- came to pick up some golf

tips from Walters, and learned a few life lessons in the process.

“I wanted to show them the positive side of life,” said Santiago

Magallon, a spokesman for the department. “A majority of these kids have

been dealt a bad hand.”

By sharing his own life experience and persistence in the face of

overwhelming obstacles, Walters tried to show the kids that they too

could achieve their goals.

Walters, 48, began golfing before he was 10 years old.

As a child, Walters said he was fascinated at how much farther he could

hit the ball than throw it. “I loved the game from the beginning,” he

said.

He began cultivating a dream of playing on the PGA Tour and even won a

golf scholarship. But his dream nearly ended when, at the age of 24,

Walters suffered a back injury in a golf cart accident. He ended up in a

wheelchair.

“I couldn’t see living my life without hitting the ball,” Walters said.

As soon as he was able, Walters was back on the golf course trying to hit

balls while he sat in chair. He eventually did, but found that he

couldn’t maneuver around the green.

One day, a friend surprised him by combining Walters’ wheelchair with a

golf cart. For the last two decades, he has used a similar device to play

golf.

Since then, Walters has appeared on a variety of national television

shows, started his own Web site and traveled all around the country

speaking to people about his life.

Students at the clinic appeared to be touched by Walters’ advice on life.

However, they were less confident about their golf skills.

“I don’t think I can hit it that far,” said Charles Placencio, 15, after

watching Walters. “I’m going to practice.”