Dunaway Paved Way For Golf's Big Hitters

 File Photo Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Mike Dunaway, 59, one of Arkansas’ best golf ambassadors, died Monday.
File Photo Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Mike Dunaway, 59, one of Arkansas’ best golf ambassadors, died Monday.

ROGERS -- Arkansas lost one of its best golf ambassadors Monday with the death of former Rogers School Board member Mike Dunaway. Dunaway was 59 and died of complications due to diabetes.

Mike Dunaway helped bring long drive competitions into the main stream of the sport over 30 years ago and he then tutored some of the best golf talent in the area while calling Rogers home over the past several decades.

Dunaway was especially known for his booming long drives and his assistance in the development of the Callaway line of drivers. He once had a free standing $10,000 bet that no one, professional or amateur, could out drive him. That challenge appeared on the cover of Golf Magazine.

Five-time RE/MAX World Long Drive World Champion Bobby Wilson met Dunaway at the 1980 national championships and after finishing fourth became convinced to join the long drive circuit at a time when the sport was in its infancy. Wilson and Dunaway worked closely together between 1993-1996 when Wilson the head golf professional at the Pinnacle Golf and Country Club in Rogers.

Wilson, who won his fifth world title just last month, is currently a teaching professional at Stonebridge Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

"I had so many world champions call me when they found out about Mike and say, 'Bobby, Mike Dunaway started my career,'" Wilson said. "In the long drive scene, Mike started and influenced a lot of careers. Mike is responsible for at least 20 long drivers. Mike brought long driving to a new level, an entertainment level. Mike exposed me to the world of golf entertainment."

Long Drive Association chief executive officer Art Sellinger called Dunaway one of the pioneers of long drive competition.

"We've lost one of the legends of long drive," Sellinger said in a press release. "His creation of the 350 club, long drive celebrity pro-ams and worldwide appearances and events paved the way for many future long drivers success.

"Mike was a tremendous competitor who possessed perhaps the most graceful and efficient swing our sport has ever seen. More than that, though, he was a true gentleman and a class act. He will be missed by many, especially those of us who held him in such high esteem as both a champion and a friend."

Sports on 10/01/2014

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