Golf Keeps 103-Year-Old Bob Walls Active and Thriving

Bob Walls, at 103 years old, continues to impress on the golf course. Last week, as he prepared to tee off at his home course in Omaha, his playing partners suggested a change. “We’re playing blues today,” Dawn Dozier said, indicating a harder set of tees.

Walls was unfazed. “When you’re over 100, you can hit from anywhere you want,” he replied. His smooth swing from the forward white tees sent the ball just short of the green on the 180-yard hole. This performance is extraordinary, especially for a centenarian.

“I don’t feel 103. I don’t act 103,” Walls shared. “To me, it’s no big deal.”

The National Golf Foundation reported 6.3 million Americans aged 65 and older played golf in 2025. While the exact number of golfers in their hundreds isn’t tracked, Walls stands out for his skill and frequency of play.

Born in 1923 in St. Marys, Kansas, Walls moved to Omaha in 1947 after serving in World War II. He ran a janitorial service before retiring at 74. With encouragement, he took up golf. Taught by Steve Hogan, Nebraska’s first Black PGA professional, Walls became dedicated to the sport. He now volunteers daily at the renamed Steve Hogan Golf Course.

Walls spends his days in a cart, repairing the course and occasionally playing a hole or two. He also gives golf lessons, fostering young talent in the community.

“The first time I beat him, I needed a hole-in-one,” said course manager Mike Rice, reflecting on Walls’s impressive 180-yard shots.

When in Phoenix for the fall and winter, Walls regularly frequents golf courses, driven by his love for the game.

James King admires Walls’s dedication. “He practices every day. I love playing with him. I think he’s one of a kind.”