This story was originally published in the Fall 2023 edition of Northern Ohio Golfer Magazine >. Photo courtesy of Marshall University Archives and Special Collections.
Herman Densmore Shute was born in Cleveland, died in Akron, and had a remarkable Hall of Fame golf career in between
In today’s age of wall-to-wall television coverage and never-ending social media, if you are a professional golfer who has won three major championships, was a key figure in three Ryder Cup competitions, and won 16 total PGA Tour tournaments in ten years, you would be a household name, a bona fide megastar.
But if your personality was ultra-quiet and reserved, and the most significant moments in your golf career came during the 1930s, then you’d be Denny Shute.
Herman Densmore Shute was born in Cleveland in October of 1904 to an English golf pro and his wife. They had emigrated to the United States to work as an assistant professional at The Euclid Club, a course owned by John D. Rockefeller, Sr. that sat at Cedar Road and Fairmount Boulevard in Cleveland Heights until it closed in 1912.
Because his father was a golf pro, Denny Shute grew up with a club in his hands. As a child, he and his family moved to Huntington, WV, when his father was named head professional at a brand new club there. Denny continued to improve as he grew, and as an 18-year-old, he won the 1923 West Virginia Amateur, then did it again in 1925 – both played at The Greenbriar Resort, both in match play.
Soon after, Shute returned to Ohio to attend Case Western Reserve University and won the Ohio Amateur in 1927. He turned professional in 1928. In 1929, he won his first of three consecutive Ohio Open Championships, which had national status as a PGA Tour event.
In 1930, he married Hettie Marie Potts, and they had a daughter, Nancy. That same year, Shute won three times on the PGA Tour.
In 1931, he won his final Ohio Open and played in his first Ryder Cup. He won two more Tour events in 1932.
Shute’s first major championship victory came at The Open at St. Andrews in 1933, winning in a 36-hole playoff over Craig Wood. Just weeks before that Open victory, Shute had three-putted the final green in the final match at his second Ryder Cup, costing the Americans the title. He considered the Open Championship victory his redemption.
In 1934, he won three more times and played in the inaugural Masters Tournament.
In 1936 and 1937, he won two consecutive PGA Championships, which were still conducted at match play. He beat Jimmy Thomson at Pinehurst in the first and Harold (Jug) McSpaden at Pittsburgh in the second. He was the last man to win consecutive PGA Championships until Tiger Woods did it in 1999 and 2000.
In 1939, Shute tied for the United States Open title with Byron Nelson and Craig Wood at the Philadelphia Country Club, but he lost in the playoff. He won the final PGA Tour event of his career that year at Glens Falls.
Despite all the major championship wins, the Ryder Cup appearances, and 16 total Tour victories, Shute remained quiet, reserved, and unassuming throughout his life. “He was so guarded against catching the gaze of the spotlight he would, at times, have his wife, Hettie, accept the trophies and checks on his behalf,” his World Golf Hall of Fame bio stated.
Throughout his career, Shute worked as a PGA Professional at various clubs across the country to allow him the opportunity to make enough money to travel and play competitively. One of those early club jobs was at Lake Forest Country Club in Hudson.
After his Tour career ended, Shute remained in Northern Ohio and settled in as the head professional at Portage Country Club in Akron, starting in 1945. He still played at a highly competitive level for many years after that, winning his fourth Ohio Open title in 1950. His Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame bio states he also “won two Cleveland District championships and five Akron Open titles.”
In fact, Shute seemed to focus on playing even after finishing his competitive Tour years. Some Portage Country Club members poked fun at Shute for spending more time practicing and playing than teaching the game. Joked Tom LaRose, a decades-long member at Portage, “The only time you could get Denny to give you a lesson was if you were his partner and you were 2-down.”
Shute remained at Portage Country Club until retiring in 1972.
While it took some time, sport and golf’s organizing bodies began to look past the lack of public name recognition for Denny Shute and instead focus on the incredible tournament record he amassed.
The PGA Golf Hall of Fame inducted him in 1957. Then, in 1976, the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame added his name. The Ohio Golf Hall of Fame followed in 1992.
After that, the national honors came. Jack Nicklaus and his Captain’s Club named Shute The Memorial Tournament Honoree in 2006. Two years later, the World Golf Hall of Fame inducted Shute into their Veteran Competitors category.
The Northern Ohio PGA honors him today by naming one of their top annual Section events, the Denny Shute Match Play Championship.
Because he lived a quiet and unassuming life, Denny Shute may only be known to the most ‘inside baseball’ of golf fans. May this short story about a Hall of Fame career further grow his name recognition here in Northern Ohio.
In the late 60’s to mid-70’s, I grew up caddying at Portage C.C. where Denny was the head professional. He was well-respected by the members and caddies alike. He was very unassuming and you would never know he was one of the best golfers of his prime playing years.
I smiled when I read how Denny gave very few lessons. I remember that as well. But I also know when he did the members hung on his every word.
I had the pleasure of caddying for him many times on a late afternoon throughout the summer months. Unlike most of the members and guest I caddied for over the years, as expected Denny never once asked a yardage or for what my thoughts were on how a putt might break. He could hit all the shots even at an advanced age.
My favorite memory of Denny was during one late afternoon when he played the back nine at Portage. We were on the 11th hole and I asked him how he always seemed to hit the ball dead straight. His response was one I will never forget. All he said with a slight smile was “BECAUSE I CAN”.
That was the Denny Shute I remember and I can’t thank you enough for the article on him. I got to look back in time over 50 years to some of the best days of my life caddying at Portage C.C.
— Joe Reitenbach