Bob Duden
Encyclopedia
Robert W. Duden was an American
professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
in the 1950s and 1960s.
A life-long resident of Portland, Oregon
, Duden compiled a remarkable record in sectional golf
competition. He won over 50 tournaments in a 40 year career that included 23 major Pacific Northwest Section events including a record 7 wins of the Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship
; he won the Oregon Open
a record eight times. In competition on the PGA Tour, Duden's best showings were three 2nd place ties between 1959 and 1964. His best finish in a major championship
was T-46 at the 1954 U.S. Open
.
Duden invented and patented the croquet style putter, which he named "The Dude". When other well-known professionals like Sam Snead
adopted this revolutionary putting technique, its popularity began to surge; however, the USGA
banned it when tradionalists like Bobby Jones
objected.
Duden had 22 holes-in-one during his career. In his later years, he worked as a teaching pro at Glendoveer Golf Course, where an annual tournament bears his name. Duden was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Section PGA Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
in 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
in the 1950s and 1960s.
A life-long resident of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Duden compiled a remarkable record in sectional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
competition. He won over 50 tournaments in a 40 year career that included 23 major Pacific Northwest Section events including a record 7 wins of the Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship
Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship
The Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship, also known as the PNW Senior PGA Championship, is a golf championship for senior players held annually, usually in September in the Pacific Northwest. It is affiliated with the PGA of America...
; he won the Oregon Open
Oregon Open
The Oregon Open is the Oregon state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1905 and has been played annually since 1925 at a variety of courses around the state...
a record eight times. In competition on the PGA Tour, Duden's best showings were three 2nd place ties between 1959 and 1964. His best finish in a major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
was T-46 at the 1954 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
.
Duden invented and patented the croquet style putter, which he named "The Dude". When other well-known professionals like Sam Snead
Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
adopted this revolutionary putting technique, its popularity began to surge; however, the USGA
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
banned it when tradionalists like Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
objected.
Duden had 22 holes-in-one during his career. In his later years, he worked as a teaching pro at Glendoveer Golf Course, where an annual tournament bears his name. Duden was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Section PGA Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
in 1995.
Regular career wins (18)
this list is incomplete- 1952 Oregon OpenOregon OpenThe Oregon Open is the Oregon state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1905 and has been played annually since 1925 at a variety of courses around the state...
- 1953 Oregon OpenOregon OpenThe Oregon Open is the Oregon state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1905 and has been played annually since 1925 at a variety of courses around the state...
- 1958 Almaden OpenAlmaden OpenThe Almaden Open was a golf tournament that began at the Almaden Country Club in San Jose, California in 1958, mostly with local pros. It became a PGA Tour event, the Almaden Open Invitational, in 1961 and was played until 1965. After the 1965 event, the course underwent a major overhaul for...
- 1959 Oregon OpenOregon OpenThe Oregon Open is the Oregon state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1905 and has been played annually since 1925 at a variety of courses around the state...
, Northwest OpenNorthwest OpenThe Northwest Open is golf tournament played in the Pacific Northwest, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America... - 1960 Washington OpenWashington OpenThe Washington Open is the Washington state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America...
, Sahara Pro-Am - 1962 Oregon OpenOregon OpenThe Oregon Open is the Oregon state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1905 and has been played annually since 1925 at a variety of courses around the state...
- 1967 Oregon OpenOregon OpenThe Oregon Open is the Oregon state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1905 and has been played annually since 1925 at a variety of courses around the state...
- 1968 Northwest OpenNorthwest OpenThe Northwest Open is golf tournament played in the Pacific Northwest, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America...
- 1969 Oregon OpenOregon OpenThe Oregon Open is the Oregon state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1905 and has been played annually since 1925 at a variety of courses around the state...
, Washington OpenWashington OpenThe Washington Open is the Washington state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America... - 1970 Oregon OpenOregon OpenThe Oregon Open is the Oregon state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1905 and has been played annually since 1925 at a variety of courses around the state...
, Washington OpenWashington OpenThe Washington Open is the Washington state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America... - 1973 Oregon OpenOregon OpenThe Oregon Open is the Oregon state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1905 and has been played annually since 1925 at a variety of courses around the state...
- Two British Columbia Opens
- Pay Less Classic
Senior career wins (7)
this list is incomplete- 1971 Pacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipPacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipThe Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship, also known as the PNW Senior PGA Championship, is a golf championship for senior players held annually, usually in September in the Pacific Northwest. It is affiliated with the PGA of America...
- 1973 Pacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipPacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipThe Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship, also known as the PNW Senior PGA Championship, is a golf championship for senior players held annually, usually in September in the Pacific Northwest. It is affiliated with the PGA of America...
- 1975 Pacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipPacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipThe Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship, also known as the PNW Senior PGA Championship, is a golf championship for senior players held annually, usually in September in the Pacific Northwest. It is affiliated with the PGA of America...
- 1976 Pacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipPacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipThe Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship, also known as the PNW Senior PGA Championship, is a golf championship for senior players held annually, usually in September in the Pacific Northwest. It is affiliated with the PGA of America...
- 1978 Pacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipPacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipThe Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship, also known as the PNW Senior PGA Championship, is a golf championship for senior players held annually, usually in September in the Pacific Northwest. It is affiliated with the PGA of America...
- 1979 Pacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipPacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipThe Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship, also known as the PNW Senior PGA Championship, is a golf championship for senior players held annually, usually in September in the Pacific Northwest. It is affiliated with the PGA of America...
- 1982 Pacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipPacific Northwest Senior PGA ChampionshipThe Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship, also known as the PNW Senior PGA Championship, is a golf championship for senior players held annually, usually in September in the Pacific Northwest. It is affiliated with the PGA of America...