To the residents of Eatonton, Ga, Larry Dunn is a local golfer. He loved growing up in the close-knit community that always showed him lots of love. While many in the community, and around the world, know him for his legendary and outstanding golf accomplishments, few actually know the struggle that it took to get him there.
Photo left: Dunn proudly holds his trophy at the Forest Hills Invitational. A tournament with over 300 players that he won 2 times. circ 1998.
As a young man starting a family in his 20s, Mr. Dunn began to caddy at the age of 12, as a way of earning extra money. From that experience—and personal intervention from a man by the name of Tyson Basin—Dunn, self taught, became the first African American man to play on the Uncle Remus Golf Course, a public course in Eatonton. He has been a member there for over 20 years now. Dunn completed school at North GA Tech earning a trade degree in auto body repair and he holds a Fork Lift Certification Class B Truck License. Most days you can find him staying busy as an Associate at the Eatonton, GA WalMart where he most enjoys the fact that “The direct deposit is always on time,” he chuckles.
Photo: Larry Dunn circ. 1999.
Trailblazing, or being the first person to do anything is always difficult, but being the first Black man in a predominately White sport in 1970s small-town Georgia was unimaginably hard. Playing through ridicule and solitude not only strengthened Dunn’s golf game, it strengthened him as a man. A lesser man would have walked away, but Mr. Dunn was determined to set an example for his daughters. “Life won’t always be easy or fair; there will be many times that you will have to fight your way through things that are easily provided to others,” he says. Despite the difficulty, Mr. Dunn endured.
Above L-R: Larry Dunn wins first place at the SCLC Atlanta Championship. The late Walt Bellamy, formerly of the Atlanta Hawks, and tournament manager (name unknown)
Conversations with Mr. Dunn, now age 61, are inspirational and motivational. The 5’9”, 235 pound athlete shares stories of hardships and triumphs. One highlight was the story of his breaking the 9-hole record that was held by the person he caddied with. Another involves his unlikely participation in a tournament that took place in Monticello, GA. There was a group of 4 white men that were set to play in a tournament, but one of the men felt that it was about time for people to see past race and accept Mr. Dunn as a golfer. This particular man told the other three players that he was too sick to play and suggested that they have Mr. Dunn play in his spot. The three men agreed and the team, Mr. Dunn included, won the tournament. It was at that time the local white golfers started to recognize Mr. Dunn as a truly skilled golfer and not as just a black man on the golf course. Since winning this tournament, Mr. Dunn has traveled quite a bit and won roughly 52 tournaments. Today his he carries a 7 handicap.
When given the opportunity to become a professional golfer, Mr. Dunn declined. Even though he had come to love and respect the sport he fought so hard for, he loved his family more. He put his family’s comfort and closeness over his golf own personal aspirations.
Photo: Larry Dunn playing at his home course, Uncle Remus Golf Course, a public course in Eatonton, GA.
What is he doing now, you ask? He plays roughly three times a week and is proudly watching his dreams and aspirations come to fruition through his daughter Patrina, a golfer and founder of Golf Women Mean Business. His daughter Solita and wife Julia are avid spectators of the sport but do not play. When he is ready for a round he can always count on his golfing buddies Omar Reid and Eugene Warren. And when he’s not out on the course you may find him in church or feasting on his favorite meal of pork chops.
On his love for golf: “It opens a lot of doors to new opportunities and serves as a teacher of life. It also allows me to meet interesting people,” says Mr. Dunn who makes it clear that he gives all credit and glory to God.
