don’t put myself on the same pedestal as
them. But I’m glad that my contributions
had some equaling amount to what
they’ve done.”
junction with the PGA Tour event.
Walker has been called the hardest working golf volunteer in the state, and his contributions to Wisconsin golf have been felt
on and off the golf course.
In 1998, Walker was honored for his efforts when the MCPLA changed the name
of its 36-hole tournament to the MCPLA
Arnold Walker County Championship.
“I was totally shocked,” he said. “I had
no inkling it was happening.”
At 88, Walker has worked as a volunteer,
rules official and administrator for roughly
the past 50 years. It is because of devotion, selflessness and an impressive body
of work that Walker was elected into the
WSGA Hall of Fame.
“The principles involved (in golf), I
think, are wonderful. People like
competition, and through that
they learn things they can carry
out into their personal lives and
be better people for it.”
“I was humbled,” Walker said of receiving
the news. “It’s quite an honor. There are a
lot of good names in there who have contributed mightily to the game.”
— Arnold Walker
Walker has been a rules official for 30
years, working countless WSGA and Wisconsin PGA Section tournaments during
that time. A longtime WSGA board member, he began his association with the
WSGA in 1986, serving as vice president.
For the last 14 years he has served as
WSGA secretary.
Since retiring in 1988 as a stockbroker
with Merrill Lynch, Walker has devoted his
time to various golf organizations.
“I’m probably as busy now as I’ve ever
been,” he said. “Although I have been
continuing on, I have been a little more
selective because I can’t do as much as I’ve
done in the past. But I’m still involved.”
Walker was also president of the Milwaukee County Public Links Association for 28
years prior to stepping down in 2009.
When asked why he chose to remain
behind the scenes all these years rather
than out on the course itself, he had a
simple explanation.
Walker was chairman of marshals for the
former Greater Milwaukee Open and
worked closely with Milwaukee County as
the tournament made the transition to
Brown Deer Park GC in 1994. He also coordinated the Merrill Lynch Shootout in con-
“Well, I don’t have much of a game
myself. But I thoroughly understand it. The
principles involved, I think, are wonderful.
People like competition, and through that
they learn things they can carry out into
their personal lives and be better people
for it.” ;;
