Born in Cleveland on October 25, 1904, Densmore “Denny” Shute was best known for his quiet, unassuming demeanor in regard to his talents as one of the best professional golfers to come out of West Virginia.

Shute’s father gave him his first set of clubs at just 30 months old. An English pro, Shute’s father taught the young golfer the game in Huntington, W.Va. One of the shorter drivers of his time, his deadly accuracy with his iron play more than made up for it.

In 1923, Shute won his first West Virginia Amateur Championship, at just 17 years old. He then went on to win another title in 1925.

As the golfer moved on to the professional circuit, Shute won three major Championships, including the 1933 Open Championship and back-to-back PGA Championships in 1936-37. Through his career, he won an additional 12 PGA titles and competed on three Ryder Cup teams. Although Shute did not play the tournament circuit with as much frequency as others of his time, his list of accomplishments speaks volumes.

Fellow West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame inductee, Sam Snead, once said of Shute, “If he ever had the fever to play tournament golf, he’d of been the equal of me.”