Staff WriterThe PGA of America Hall of Fame once again took centre stage at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort, where the Association’s 2025 Class was celebrated during the 109th PGA Annual Meeting in Frisco, Texas.
It was an evening drenched in golf history, laughter, and heartfelt gratitude — a living reminder that greatness in this game isn’t just measured by trophies, but by the lives it touches.
Since 1940, the PGA of America Hall of Fame has recognised those who’ve dedicated their lives to growing and elevating golf. This year’s inductees were PGA Past President Jim Richerson, PGA Members Ronny Glanton, Jim McLean, and JD Turner, LPGA legend Nancy Lopez, and PGA Honorary Member and trick-shot virtuoso Dennis Walters.
“The PGA of America Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is always a special night, and the 2025 Class truly represents the very best of our Association and the game we love,” said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr. “It’s a tremendous honour to celebrate their profound achievements in growing and elevating golf and the industry. Their collective legacy is inspirational.”
From Small-Town Fairways to the Game’s Grand Stage
First to take the spotlight was Ronny Glanton, a Texas stalwart who’s spent 44 years shaping golf at Sherrill Park Golf Course in Richardson. The man has seen more junior swings than a driving range mat, and now a Ronny Golf Park in his honour stands proudly at PGA Frisco — a two-acre, floodlit playground built entirely on synthetic turf to introduce children to the game.
“About 15 years ago (Northern Texas PGA CEO) Mark Harrison had this idea to build a golf park and allow kids to come participate for free,” said Glanton. “It took a lot of people, but Mark Harrison was the key and he kept it alive. It’s very humbling and an honor to be part of it.”
He also paid tribute to the city that gave him his shot. “First and foremost, the city of Richardson gave me a chance to be their Head Professional at a young age of 25 years old, and then I had to prove myself,” said Glanton. “Their commitment to golf is unprecedented for a municipality. If it weren’t for the people who supported what we do, I would never be sitting here today.”
Teaching Titans and Television Trailblazers
Few names in golf instruction carry as much weight as Jim McLean, PGA Master Professional and founder of the world-renowned Jim McLean Golf School. From Cristie Kerr to Keegan Bradley and Lexi Thompson, McLean has influenced players across generations while shaping the very definition of a golf coach.
“(Mentoring) has been the most important thing in my life, I think,” said McLean. “Working with a lot of juniors, that’s been the most fun thing. We have a great staff and a lot of great young people working for me, and that’s been the most important thing. We built a template for hiring young professionals, and the difference between a good future teacher and a great one is massive. We hire the great ones.”
Then came JD Turner, a Midwesterner with a passion for bringing golf to living rooms across America. From his days at Des Moines Golf & Country Club to a 25-year run on TV with The JD Turner Golf University, Turner proved that good golf and good storytelling make a timeless pairing.
“I played golf with some producers in Des Moines, Iowa, and I said ‘why don’t we start a golf show?’ and they were intrigued,” said Turner. “I put together a resume and they said ‘let’s do it,’ so we started the show. It turned out quite nice.”
Turner also reflected on his father’s influence. “My dad was a school teacher and a coach and he gravitated toward a small town of about 6,000 people, a blue-collar town,” he said. “He had a strong feeling for kids who came from tough places, and he passed that on to me. It was a wonderful quality of his and that was a big influence on me.”
Triumph Over Tragedy and a Champion’s Spirit
If courage had a swing coach, it would be Dennis Walters. Paralysed from the waist down after a 1974 golf cart accident, Walters refused to let adversity define him.
Instead, he reinvented himself as one of golf’s most inspiring showmen — delivering over 3,000 Dennis Walters Golf Shows that blend humour, trick shots, and humanity, often alongside his trusty rescue dog.
“I want to thank the PGA of America for this honor,” said Walters. “I have basically fulfilled my boyhood dream of making it through this world as a professional golfer. That was my original goal, to make it through this world on my golf skills. And I did it.”
His message remains simple yet profound: “If you have a dream and it doesn’t work out, that’s okay because the solution is simple: Get a new dream.”
Nancy Lopez: The Standard-Bearer of Grace and Grit
No ceremony honouring golf’s greats would be complete without Nancy Lopez, a player who redefined excellence and endurance. The only woman to win LPGA Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year, and the Vare Trophy all in 1978, Lopez continues to empower women in golf through her company, Nancy Lopez Golf.
“My dad was my teacher, my hero, my best friend,” she said. “He helped me to learn to love the game. I’ve been very blessed, I have a wonderful family, a wonderful husband and three wonderful daughters.
There was a lot of juggling, but I always looked at it this way: When I was mom, I was going to be the best mom I could be. Once I walked inside the ropes, that’s where I needed my focus, because if I didn’t, I was just wasting my time. Then when I was back outside the ropes, I thought only about my life.”
Leading the Game Forward
Closing the night was Jim Richerson, former PGA of America President and current GM & COO of The Riviera Country Club and Tennis Club. During his tenure, Richerson steered the PGA through one of its strongest growth periods, expanding participation and reaffirming the Association’s influence worldwide.
“It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you don’t care who gets the credit,” Richerson said. “I think anybody that’s had any type of success in our business has a lot of people who have supported them along the way. From a business standpoint, I’ve had great partners, but it starts and ends with my family… You can’t have any success unless you have people supporting you, and I’ve been very fortunate that the little bit of success that I’ve had is because of such great support.”
A Legacy Etched in Fairways
For 85 years, the PGA of America Hall of Fame has immortalised those who’ve not only mastered the game but given it meaning. The 2025 inductees joined a lineage that began with legends like Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen — a living reminder that golf’s true greatness lies in passion, perseverance, and the quiet pursuit of something bigger than oneself.
For the full list of PGA of America Hall of Fame Members, visit pga.com.
