Robert (Bob) Edward Dean
Sport: Golf
Year Inducted: 1988
Like so many professional golfers, Robert “Bob” Edward Dean started out in his early teens as a caddy at the Toronto Golf Club.
The club pro soon recognized his potential and dedication to the game, and appointed him senior assistant at the age of 17, a position he held for seven years.
At the age of 24, Bob was hired by the Cornwall Golf and Country Club as a pro in 1952, and quickly established himself as an outstanding player.
In fact, he was one of the best in Eastern Canada as well as proving to be an excellent teacher of the game. Over the next few years, he probably played the most prominent part in expanding the Cornwall course from 9 to 18 holes.
He was a three-time winner of the Professional Golfers Association and British American Oil Bursary.
He was a participant in the California to Florida Winter Tour, and twice runner-up in the Quebec P.G.A. Championships.
He was exempt from requiring to qualify for the Canadian Open until 1965; he was a three-time winner of the Cornwall Open. It was then designated as amateur only. He was a member of the Quebec winning team over Ontario in both 1957 and 1958.
His competitive records include a 67 in the first round of the Canadian Open in 1955, a course record of 65 at the Lasalle Golf Club, as well as a 67 in Cornwall in 1957.
Other tournament wins include: a 67 at Carleton Place (1956), 70 at the Chaudiere Open (1956), 70 at the Dow Pro/Amateur (1958), 68 at the Bay of Quinte Open (1965), and a 67 at the Pro-Press (1966).
Bob was a class “A” member of the Canadian Golf Course Superintendents Association for 20 years, and also a class “A” member of the Professional Golfers Association for 35 years.
He was born in 1927, and he died in 1984.