Wally Hopp
Wally Hopp was a dominant sand greens golfer in the days when green grass courses were only found in Omaha and Lincoln.
A Hastings native, Hopp was the Hastings City Champion for five consecutive years (1946-50). He prodded that string of victories by winning the State Sand Greens title in 1945, then added three more state championships to his trophy case in 1952, 53, and 56.
A lover of competition at any level, Wally was a familiar figure at the many one and two-day weekend “open” tournaments in Nebraska and Kansas, wining more than 50 championships.
Before his untimely death, in a letter to the Hall of Fame selection committee, former Lt. Governor Gerald Whelan wrote, “Charisma is an overworked word, but whatever it is, Wally Hopp has it. On the golf course, Wally’s stories and jokes were always flying — but never did a club fly.”
“Wally was and is a rough and ready guy, but his etiquette is always impeccable. His language on and off the course is fit for the seminary. Wally was always the premiere shooter in any foursome. But, if paired with a high handicapper, he always went out of his way to make that person feel comfortable. Both as a champion golfer and a great person, Wally Hopp belongs in the Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame.”
