Category: General

Executive Director Fred Corcoran is pleased to announce Bob Beach has been named the Director of Golf for Golf for All. For Bob, life will always be about giving back. His charitable, lifelong work and free clinics with veterans and special needs golfers is legendary. “The benefit to me has been it has made me a much better teacher. It allows you to take a complex game and make it very simple. Every day at GFA is a great day of golf and fun for us and those with special needs. I consider myself lucky to be involved with the great team at GFA and Fred. Our hope is to reach as many new golfers as possible.”

Bob’s career is legendary. He is a Francis Ouimet Scholarship winner. Beach received the New England Section of PGA’s Junior Golf Leader Award. He was recognized as the NEPGA Teacher of the Year in 2005. Bob was named the top golf instructor in Massachusetts by Golf Digest for 2011-2012. He is also the inaugural recipient of the NEPGA Patriot Award, which is presented to a PGA professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America. In 2014, Bob was inducted into the New England PGA Hall of Fame.

 

Longtime friend and inspiration of Golf for All, Dennis Walters, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in Pebble Beach, CA. Executive Director Fred Corcoran took in the ceremonies as a personal guest of Dennis and ambassador of GFA.

Dennis Walters is an elite golfer who was paralyzed from the waist-down at the age of 24 following a golf cart accident. He has since dedicated his career to sharing life lessons and inspiring fans and disabled golfers of all ages through golf clinics and special performances at more than 3,000 worldwide appearances. Former spokesperson and national ambassador for The First Tee, his message is to always continue hoping and dreaming. He is one of only 11 honorary lifetime members of the PGA of America. Walters was also honored with the 1978 Ben Hogan Award and was a 2018 recipient of the USGA’s Bob Jones Award.

Fred said the experience was a dream come true. “My late uncle and namesake, Fred Corcoran, was one of the first inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame. This year, my dear friend Dennis Walters, was inducted into this elite pantheon of greats. I have known Dennis for almost 20 years and have been privileged to host his amazing show several times.The induction ceremony took place a few days before the start of this year’s U.S. Open. Dennis’s sponsor was the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus. Jack sponsored and introduced Dennis at the ceremony. It was beyond a thrill to spend time with Jack and his wife, Barbara.”

Fred spent the evening following the reception visiting and discussing GFA with some of golf’s greatest players of all time and some of this year’s inductees including Jack Nicklaus, Nancy Lopez, Gary Player, Billy Payne (Augusta Nationnal), Jan Stephenson, Lee Trevino, Annika Sörenstam, Nick Price, Pat Bradley, and others. “What struck me was how available and gracious these superstars were in this relaxed atmosphere. I’m forever indebted to Dennis for remembering me and sharing his moment.”