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Since his own childhood growing up on the links in upstate New York, Bob Duval has lived a life of golf in all its incarnations--as a student, a mentor, a teacher, a playing professional, and, more recently, as a proud parent of a star player on the PGA Tour. Whether telling a story about his son David playing with Tiger Woods, or revealing the secret of hitting a long bunker shot, Duval has always shown a remarkable ability to find an emotional and highly personal resonance when communicating with other people.
In 2008, Duval’s ability to communicate did start to become much more challenging for him. He began to experience trouble hearing people in restaurants, which caused him to rely more on his wife to carry the conversation with others. Duval also began turning the TV up louder than usual, and he even began struggling to hear conversations on windy days at the golf course. These were the first warning signs for Duval and the reason he initially contacted Beltone Hearing Aid Centers. Fast forward to three years later, Beltone proudly announces Bob Duval as their company spokesperson.
In the summer of 2011, Duval was fitted with the award-winning technology and innovative design of the new Beltone True™. “The difference was instantaneous,” says Duval, “no whistling on a breezy course and I can even hear the ball drop! The new wireless True™ is even better than my previous Beltone hearing aids!”
Bob Duval – Golfer
Bob Duval picked up a golf club at age 6 and became hooked for two reasons: He loved the individual, competitive nature of the game, and it was a way to spend time with his father, professional golfer Henry “Hap” Duval. It wasn’t long before he became one of the top junior players in the Northeast. Duval attended Florida State University on a golf scholarship. He met and married his first wife and after finishing school, took a job as an assistant pro at the Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, one of the area’s oldest and most prestigious clubs.
Duval worked at Timuquana for a year, and after four years at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Course, and a brief stint at Amelia Island Plantation, he returned to Timuquana as Head Professional at the age of 27. Duval stayed there for 13 years while raising his children: Brent, David, and Deirdre.
His son David learned to play golf under Duval’s instruction while at Timuquana. David became US Junior Amateur Champion as a senior in high school and continued his amateur career at Georgia Tech. In 1993, David began his professional golf career and went on to earn the #1 ranking in the world.
It was son David who encouraged then 50 year old Duval to join the Senior PGA Tour (now known as the Champions Tour). During this time, Duval met and married his second wife Shari. On the Senior PGA Tour, he had about two dozen top-10 finishes, including a wire-to-wire win at the 1999 Emerald Coast Classic. His win came on the same day that his son David won The Players Championship on the PGA Tour and ascended to the #1 ranking in the world – a first in father/son golf history.
Bob Duval – Author
In 2001, Duval was asked to write a book for the Art of Mentoring series. He was directed to give advice and guidance to his son and other family members or friends, but delivered in the form of a personal letter rather than a commentary. It was suggested that he write what he would have written at significant milestones in his or the recipient's life, and include humorous or life-changing stories. In Letters to a Young Golfer, Duval writes to David, sharing not only his wisdom as a golfer and a father but also expressing his bond with David as a friend and fellow professional. Other letters address golfers of every age and ability who seek to improve their game, from Sunday amateurs to seasoned Tour professionals. With stories from his own career playing with and observing golfers both famous and unknown, Duval goes beyond the sport and explores what it means to live a fuller life.
Bob Duval – Philanthropist
Bob Duval is privileged to support K9s for Warriors, a non-profit organization he founded with his wife, Shari, dedicated to raising awareness and funds to pair trained, donated companion dogs to our deserving American warriors who have suffered injuries due to conflict as a result of wars since 9/11. Through its training facility in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, K9s for Warriors helps to reduce injured service members’ reliance on others and return to civilian life with dignity and independence by pairing them with a service dog trained to perform tasks designed specifically for each individual. In addition to those who have given limbs or have other physical disabilities resulting from their service to our country, service dogs are a proven recovery tool for those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.K9sForWarriors.org.
