Jim Dent, originally from Caddyyards in Augusta, Georgia, made a name for himself by refining his skills at a local course humorously dubbed “Patch.”
He eventually became known as one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, standing out as one of the leading black golfers of his era.
Dent passed away on Friday at 85, just a week shy of his birthday, as announced by his grandson on Facebook.
The PGA Tour shared that Dent had been dealing with health issues, specifically strokes, shortly after August National revealed plans for Tiger Woods to design a par-3 course at the Patch.
“Golf has really shaped my life,” Dent mentioned in a 2012 interview with the USGA.
Dent dedicated himself to improving his golf game, participating in multiple United Golfers Association tournaments focused on black players. He even moved to California to train with the former US Open champion Johnny Goodman.
In 1970, he earned his PGA Tour card through qualifying schools. Although he didn’t clinch a tour victory, he maintained a busy schedule with at least 22 tournaments annually for 16 years.
His notable performance came during the 1972 Walt Disney World Open Invitational, where he closely followed Jack Nicklaus, finishing just two shots behind him in the final round. Nicklaus ultimately won with a score of 64, finishing nine strokes ahead.
Dent also won the Michelob-Chattanooga Gold Cup Classic in 1983, an event featuring players who weren’t fully exempted, allowing them a chance to compete successfully.
Though he was not eligible to compete in the Masters, he made cuts in eight out of the eleven majors he participated in, including six appearances at the PGA Championship and five at the US Open.
His reputation for impressive power on the course was solidified when he won the first World Long Drive Championship in 1974.
After reaching 50, Dent went on to win 12 titles on the PGA Tour Champions.
“Jim Dent’s ability to hit the ball was incredible,” reflected Al Geiberger after Dent posted a score of 64 in a championship event.
Dent was one of six children and lost both parents by his early teens, leading to his aunt, Mary Benton, raising him. She disapproved of him caddying at the patch, warning, “If I learn how to caddy, I’ll learn how to gamble.”
“Kids often think they know everything,” Dent shared in a USGA story. “I learned a lot about playing dice and cards from caddying—she was absolutely right.”
He held a position at the Augusta Country Club and fondly recalled how he could play if caddies were allowed to trim the grass from the greens.
Among the players Dent caddied for at Augusta National were Bob Goalby and Bob Rossburg.
In 2020, the pathway leading up to the patch was named “Jim Dentway” in his honor.
Two years later, he was inducted into the Caddy Hall of Fame.
Dent’s son, Jim Dent Jr., is currently the head pro at Patch.
Augusta National is also investing in improvements to the local courses, collaborating with architects Tom Fazio and Bowelling. This includes enhancements like extended, well-conditioned courses and new short game facilities. Woods has designed a par-3 course, named “The Loop of Patch,” as a tribute to the Augusta National caddies who have worked there.
