Grant Bennett

Grant Bennett is no stranger to Halls of Fame.  Prior to his induction into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame, the tall Winston-Salem, NC native was inducted into the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame (1978), the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame (1980) and the Carolinas PGA Section Hall of Fame (1985).  Additionally, for a number of years, he served as either Vice President or President of the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame.

Bennett is best remembered as a fine teacher and promoter of junior golf.  His multitude of pupils included fellow Hall of Famers Randy Glover, Jack Lewis Jr. and Carolyn Cudone.  A long-time head professional at Florence (SC) Country Club, Bennett established a junior program that produced many outstanding players; and the high school team he coached won a number of Southern Interscholastic titles.

Although he had moved to Columbia in 1979, the folks in Florence didn’t forget him.  In 1984, he became the first non-Rotarian to be named a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest honor bestowed by the Florence Rotary Club. 

Early in life, Bennett dreamed of being a big-league baseball player and later a tour golfer, but freak injuries ended the possibility.  Thus, he turned to teaching golf to youngsters.  He served as head professional at Country Club of South Carolina for 13 years, and later at two clubs in Columbia.

He served on the USGA Junior Committee for more than two decades, served as chairman of the PGA of America’s Junior Committee in 1959-’60, was twice named South Carolina Professional of the Year and was named Carolinas PGA Professional of the Year in 1956.

Grant Bennett was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame in 1988.