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The Senior Golfers
Association of America


3013 Church Street
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

306 25th Street
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

1508 Kirkwood
Austin, TX 78722

Phone: (843) 626-8100
Fax: (843) 448-0433

info@seniorgolfersamerica.com



© Senior Golfers Association of America

SGA Hall of Fame 2009


Roger Dionne with wife Irene,
The Cloister, December 2009.

Roger Dionne, 2009 Senior Golfers of America Hall of Fame inductee, is an interesting man, to say the least. His favorite tournament site with SGA is Cabo San Lucas.  He found the golf courses tough, but— standing on the tee overlooking the Sea of Cortez, watching whales spouting in the ocean — according to Roger, "There's nothing like it!"

Roger and his winsome wife Irene are favorites of the SGA and are known for their friendliness and enthusiasm.  They have two daughters, Lynn and Christy, and three grandchildren. Roger was born and raised in Hampden, Connecticut, a metropolis of 1800, and is still enjoying life there to this day.  He was elected town selectman in November, and will be working on budgeting and other issues for the city goverment.  

Beginning his career as a hourly mechanic for Pratt-Winfrey Aircraft Engines, Roger was an engine assembler for 18 years.  After graduating from college, he began working in aircraft engine design and testing for Pratt-Winfrey, and kept that job for 40 years until he retired in 2002.

Retirement brought all sorts of new activities.  He became interested in antique Corvettes and restored two of the vehicles.  He now owns as 1961 Corvette, and has become a judge for NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society). Up to 200 people attend the shows two or three times a year in the New England Chapter.

Roger began playing golf in 1982 when a friend at work talked him into trying it.  "I was immediately hooked," he tells us.  "I took lessons, read books about golf, and found that all in all, it was just my kind of sport."  He has been enjoying his sport ever since, and was recently crowned as Low Gross Champ at SGA's End-of-Summer Jubilee at the Balsams Resort in New Hampshire.

When not playing golf in winter, Roger keeps himself busy converting his and Irene's home to being completely energy-efficient.  He himself installed solar panels on their house. It was necessary to take down thirteen trees to allow the correct sunlight to reach the panels; Roger took them down himself and then cut the wood to use to heat the house.  "We have almost no utility bills," he declares.

With golf as just one of his many interests and talents, Roger is a true ambassador of the game and is an inspiring representative of the Senior Golfers of America.  We congratulate him on his 2009 induction into the SGA Hall of Fame.


Catherine Powell, Dave Watts, & Roger Dionne.
   

Bob Swanson 1995

Burwell Jones 1996

Harreld Kirkpatrick 1997

Bobbe Gaskin 1998

L.A. Koenenn 1999

Horace Meredith 2000

Arlene McKitrick 2001

Miles King 2002

Dick Askew 2003

Jack Threet 2004

Taylor Brown 2005

Bunny MacAlpine 2006

Dave Watts 2007