Walter Burkemo
Name:
Walter E. BurkemoCountry:
USALived:
[1918-1986]. Born on Oct 9, 1918 in Detroit, Michigan. Died on Oct 8, 1986 in Fenton, Michigan (aged 67).Original/Home Club:
Lochmoor CC, Detroit.Occupation:
Club pro and professional golfer; World War II soldier.Turned Pro:
c.1938MAJORS (1): US PGA Championship (1953). Ryder Cup player (1953). Total professional wins (8), including PGA Tour wins (2). As a World War II infantryman he won two Purple Hearts, was seriously wounded twice, and fought at The Battle of the Bulge.
Burkemo was the youngest of 13 children of Norwegian immigrants who settled in Detroit, Michigan. Like many of his generation, Burkemo lost several of his potentially best years as a professional golfer to military service in World War II.
America
Mayfair Inn
Played as the Sanford Open (Dec 12-15). Second-placed Jay Hebert (USA) and Ed "Porky" Oliver (USA) finished 1 shot behind 39-year-old Walter Burkemo (USA), who recorded his first regular PGA Tour win in a strokeplay event. [Mayfair CC, Sanford, Florida].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (35th) (July 1-7). Local hero Burkemo (USA) beat Felice Torza (USA) 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final, to win his first and only major championship title. [Birmingham CC, Birmingham, nr Detroit, Michigan].
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
