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Adkisson still honing his craft “I love people. I love golf. And I love to teach.” by ken macleod
Dean Adkisson has a simple philosophy that makes every day a fresh adventure for the 87-year-old PGA golf professional. “I love people. I love golf. And I love to teach,” Adkisson said. “That’s what keeps me going.” Adkisson can be found at Page Belcher Golf Course inTulsa, giving lessons to folks from 8-to-80. He still gives about 12 lessons weekly and as many Dean Adkisson as five daily. The Wichita native was a fine player who competed in two PGA Championships, including the last match-play version in 1957. He also played in 1970 at Southern Hills Country Club, where he served as head professional from 1964-76. Adkisson got his start in the business working for legendary Wichita pro Tex Consolver at Sim Park Golf Course. He later taught at McDonald Park, then L.W. Clapp Golf Course, and then on to Riverview GC, which is now called Hidden Lakes, in Derby. After leaving Southern Hills, Adkisson returned to Kansas to help open and run and build junior programs at Hesston Golf Course. The central Kansas course thought so much of Adkisson it named its
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Bo Van Pelt with an admirer at the Patriot Cup. Patriot Golf Day is fast approaching.
teaching center, built after he had retired in 1991, the Dean Adkisson Learning Center. Retired is not the right word. Adkisson returned to Tulsa where he started giving a few lessons with Jack Higgins at the Higgins Golf Academy. A year or so later, George Glenn, then the head professional at Page Belcher Golf Course, called with an offer to teach at Page Belcher. Twenty-two years later, his second career is still going strong. “I’ve seen a lot of changes in the game,” Adkisson said, referring to technology and swing speed. “But the things that always stuck out to me as the most important are a good grip and good posture. You’ve got to have a good grip and good posture before you can learn the rest of the golf swing.” The Dean Adkisson Learning Center in Hesston. 22 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org
Patriot Golf Day coming up Labor Day Weekend Although the Folds of Honor Foundation has branched into many different activities, still the core fundraiser that allows the organization to help many military families is Patriot Golf Day. On Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30-Sept. 1, golfers are asked to donate an extra dollar or more per round at participating courses. In 2013, nearly 5,000 golf facilities participated, raising a record of more than $5 million. You can check for participating facilities on the PGA of America website. The FOH Foundation recently got a huge boost when new sponsor Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches agreed to donate $1 million. “Through the stars aligning and a gentleman’s handshake, we are honored to support Folds of Honor,” said Jimmy John Liautaud, CEO and founder of Jimmy John’s. “Jimmy John’s is proud to be an