Six exceptional figures entered the PGA of America Hall of Fame this week. The ceremony takes place during the 109th PGA Annual Meeting at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Frisco, Texas. Jim Richerson, Ronny Glanton, Jim McLean, J.D. Turner, Nancy Lopez, and Dennis Walters have each carved unique paths through the game, whether through competition, instruction, or sheer inspiration. Their collective wisdom and examples offer practical guidance for anyone looking to improve their game.
The following are tips for any golfer inspired by their stories.
Jim Richerson: Lead with Purpose
FRISCO, TX – NOVEMBER 05: PGA of America 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Jim Richerson, PGA, poses for a photo before the Hall of Fame induction ceremony during the 109th PGA Annual Meeting at the Omni Frisco Resort on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ryan Lochhead/PGA of America)
Jim Richerson’s tenure as the PGA of America President saw record growth for the organization. Multiple Wisconsin PGA awards punctuate his career. His leadership approach? Everything needs structure.
Stop mindlessly hitting balls at the range. Every session should target something specific. Maybe you need eight out of ten drives in the fairway. Maybe you want approach shots landing within fifteen feet. Define what success looks like before you start, then measure whether you got there. Richerson applied this same methodical thinking to building up the PGA of America. It works just as well for building a better golf swing.
Ronny Glanton: Master Your Home Course
FRISCO, TX – NOVEMBER 05: PGA of America 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Ronny Glanton, PGA poses for a photo before the Hall of Fame induction ceremony during the 109th PGA Annual Meeting at the Omni Frisco Resort on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ryan Lochhead/PGA of America)
Since 1984, Ronny Glanton has been a PGA of America member and currently serves as head professional at Sherrill Park Golf Course in Richardson, Texas. He’s won multiple Northern Texas PGA Major Championships and played a role in the PGA’s relocation to Frisco.
Glanton’s decades at Sherrill Park highlight something most golfers ignore: truly knowing their home course. Not just playing it, but understanding it. Where does the ball kick left on the seventh fairway? Which pins are sucker locations? How does the afternoon wind change your club selection on the back nine? Map these details. Study them. Use them. Course management beats raw talent when it comes to posting lower scores.
Jim McLean: The X-Factor and Rotation
FRISCO, TX – NOVEMBER 05: PGA of America 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Jim McLean, PGA, poses for a photo before the Hall of Fame induction ceremony during the 109th PGA Annual Meeting at the Omni Frisco Resort on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ryan Lochhead/PGA of America)
Jim McLean founded the Jim McLean Golf School at Doral and has taught more than 100 touring professionals across the PGA, LPGA, and Champions Tours. He’s written 15 books. As a PGA Master Professional, he’s best known for his “X-Factor” theory.
The concept is straightforward. Your shoulders should rotate about 90 degrees during your backswing. Your hips? Only 45 degrees. That gap creates torque, like winding a spring. The bigger the differential, the more power you’ll unleash through impact. Try this drill: hold a club across your chest and make practice backswings. Keep your lower body quiet while your shoulders turn. You’ll feel the coil immediately.
J.D. Turner: Consistency Through Fundamentals
FRISCO, TX – NOVEMBER 05: PGA of America 2025 Hall of Fame inductee JD Turner, PGA, poses for a photo with PGA of America President, Don Rea, before the Hall of Fame induction ceremony during the 109th PGA Annual Meeting at the Omni Frisco Resort on Wednesday, November 5, 202,5 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ryan Lochhead/PGA of America)
J.D. Turner won five Iowa Open Championships and entered the Iowa PGA Hall of Fame in 1995. As an Iowa PGA Section member and former head professional, he built his game on basics that never changed.
Turner’s fundamentals-first philosophy points to basic checkpoints most golfers overlook. One of those includes how you hold the club, and more specifically, your grip pressure. Think of holding a tube of toothpaste —firm enough to maintain control, light enough that nothing squeezes out. Tension kills clubhead speed. It destroys feel. Keep that pressure constant from address through impact, and you’ll develop repeatability. Your scoring shots around the green will especially benefit from this sensitivity.
Nancy Lopez: Tempo and Confidence
FRISCO, TX – NOVEMBER 05: PGA of America 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Nancy Lopez poses for a photo before the Hall of Fame induction ceremony during the 109th PGA Annual Meeting at the Omni Frisco Resort on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ryan Lochhead/PGA of America)
Nancy Lopez won 48 LPGA Tour events and three major championships. She’s in the World Golf Hall of Fame. What set her apart wasn’t just talent but an unshakeable presence under pressure.
One of her core secrets? Routine. Same number of practice swings every time. Same visualization process. Complete commitment to every club choice. Lopez never rushed. Her swing had a rhythm you could count: one-two-three on the backswing, one-two-three coming down. That tempo held up in majors just as well as it did in practice rounds. Build your own version. Trust it. Golf happens one shot at a time, and confidence grows from preparation you can rely on.
Dennis Walters: Adaptability and Mental Strength
FRISCO, TX – NOVEMBER 05: PGA of America 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Dennis Walters, PGA poses for a photo before the Hall of Fame induction ceremony during the 109th PGA Annual Meeting at the Omni Frisco Resort on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ryan Lochhead/PGA of America)
Dennis Walters became paralyzed from the waist down in 1974. Rather than leaving golf behind, he became a PGA of America Honorary Member and one of the sport’s most renowned trick-shot artists. He’s been inspiring audiences for decades.
Walters offers something beyond swing mechanics: perspective. Golf throws problems at you constantly. Bad lies. Weather. Physical limitations. The shot never goes exactly as planned. So adapt. Get creative. Focus on solutions instead of obstacles. Walters performs trick shots that able-bodied professionals wouldn’t attempt. His career proves that most limitations live in your head. When you face a difficult shot, treat it as a puzzle worth solving instead of a reason to complain.
Inspiration Comes in Many Forms
These six inductees reached excellence through different routes. Richerson through leadership and disciplined practice. Glanton through strategic course knowledge. McLean through technical innovation. Turner through fundamental consistency. Lopez through tempo and mental composure. Walters through resilience and creativity.
These lessons can work together. Structure your practice sessions. Learn your course intimately. Build rotational power properly. Control your grip pressure. Develop reliable routines. Stay adaptable when things go wrong. Apply these principles consistently, and your game will improve regardless of your current skill level. The 2025 Hall of Fame Class leaves behind more than trophies and titles. They leave behind a roadmap.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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