Dena Dills Nowotny
Inducted 2006
Dena Nowotny has been in love with the game of golf for more than 50 years. She was abundantly successful as a player. Perhaps more importantly, Dena has demonstrated her willingness to give her time back to the game that shaped her life and the life of her family.
Born in Alabama, but raised in Oklahoma, Dena played semi-pro basketball while still in high school. After high school, Dena played professional softball and baseball.
Dena was introduced to golf in 1951 while living in Enid, Oklahoma. Dena’s list of accomplishments as a player includes 33 club championships as a member of three different golf clubs. Dena won the National Ladies Club Championship in 1982 in the Dominican Republic. She has won the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association Senior Championship three times and has competed in the U.S. Women’s Amateur, the Senior Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Open.
Dena was a finalist five times for the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association State Amateur Championship, a title her daughter-in-law, Sheila Dills, has won four times.
Since 1971 Dena has served on numerous USGA committees and has given thousands of hours of time to USGA, National, and International events. In 2002, the USGA presented Dena the Isaac Granger Award, signifying more than 25 years of Outstanding Volunteer Service to the game of golf.
