Larry Shute, 88, former owner of Bluffton Golf Club from 1971 to 1989, died May 3, 2020, in Bayside Nursing Home, Pensacola, Florida. For several years he was also golf coach at Bluffton College. He was born in Cleveland to Herman and Bernice Shute.
Several of his golf-related awards follow:
1978 - Northern Ohio PGA Professional of the Year
1978 - Hoosier-Buckeye Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
1986 - Greater Cincinnati PGA Hall of Fame
1987 - PGA Section Professional of the Year
1987 - President, Ohio Association of Public Golf Courses
2007 - Tennessee PGA Distinguished Career Award,
plaque located in the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame, Brentwood, Tennessee
Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, and his eldest son, Larry.
Survivors include a son, Christopher (Rhonda) Shute, daughter Debra Shute, and son, David Shute and fiancé, Julie Callahan. Also surviving are several grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Larry’s wishes were to be cremated. No live memorial service is planned. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to local Animal Shelters or Alzheimer’s Association, www.ALZ.org.
Larry’s father was a MacGregor golf club maker from England. His brother, the late Densmore “Denny” Shute, was a PGA golfer, who won several PGA championships in the 1920s and 1930s, as well as winning the British Open in 1933.
The only PGA golfer to beat his brother’s PGA record winnings is Tiger Woods. Due to those influences, Larry began playing golf as a toddler. As a result, Larry went on to become a Master PGA golf professional for over 50 years. Many golfers have gone on to play on professional levels due to his coaching and mentorship, according to his family.
