Reed on the Greens Jan. 17, 2020
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com

Father Time hasn’t been kind as of late to Londoner Walt Cherwaty, but ongoing health concerns haven’t slowed down the Godfather of Golf Balls, who this year is collecting, washing and selling golf balls by the thousands in order to raise money for local charities.

For a 50th year, Cherwaty, 79, continues his philanthropy from his Colborne Street heritage home which all year long acts as a drop-off and pickup location for local golfers donating and purchasing discounted golf balls. They range from new Titleist Pro V1s in unopened sleeves, to gently-used logoed balls lost and found in the rough at golf courses around the globe.

When Cherwaty launched his charitable deeds in 1971, astronaut Alan Shepard hit two golf balls on the moon at the end of the Apollo 14 mission. Golfers still used persimmon drivers, and we were one year away from Spalding’s introduction of the revolutionary two-piece Top Flite golf ball. And Disney World opened in Orlando, Florida.

Walt Cherwaty. Photo: Jeffrey Reed/LondonOntarioGolf.com.

Since 2005 alone, Cherwaty, a retired school teacher, estimates he has collected and sold more than 75,000 golf balls and has helped raise close to $50,000 for scores of local not-for-profit groups.

In March 2005, Cherwaty and his wife, Diana, lost their daughter, Jacqueline, to cancer. His parents suffered heart problems in the 1970s. It’s no surprise, then, that Cherwaty’s charities of choice are the Canadian Cancer Society, and Heart and Stroke.

It was Jacqueline’s dying wish that her father take his efforts of raising money through golf balls sales to a much higher level.

“Her last request was more like an order,” said Cherwaty. “She said, ‘You better have the best golf ball sales ever. Get off your fat ass and do it.’ She passed the next night.”

When Cherwaty began his charity work in 1971, he canvased for Heart & Stroke and donated golf ball sales to that charitable group, raising money and awareness for the fight against heart disease and strokes. Today, when someone purchases golf balls, he encourages them to choose their charity of choice. Cherwaty then donates 100 per cent of sales to not-for-profits.

Once an avid golfer boasting a 9.4 handicap index, and a member of now ClubLink-owned Greenhills Golf Club from 1979 to 2011, Cherwaty is no longer able to golf. Bad knees saw him exit the links, but he still finds room at home for indoor chipping, despite the wall-to-wall crates and boxes of balls.

“I used to be a good bogey golfer who could really chip and get it going with the putter, hence my personalized licence plate, CHP N PT,” Cherwaty said.

During the late-2000s, Cherwaty, long with a rotating group of Greenhills regulars including Bob Shirley, made the trek to numerous ClubLink courses, including Blue Springs, Caledon Woods, Cherry Downs, The Club at Bond Head, The Country Club, DiamondBack, Eagle Ridge, Emerald Hills, Clencairn, Greystone, Heron Point, Kings Riding, National Pines, Rattlesnake Point and Wyndance.

“My favourite by far is Rocky Crest Golf Club,” said Cherwaty. “Spread my ashes there, or on the putting green at Greenhills.”

It’s a well-known fact that no sport gives back as much as golf. Oversized cheques presented to charities may grab the TV spotlight, but what Cherwaty has done for 50 years is nothing short of incredible, and honourable.

There are endless stories about Cherwaty’s golf balls. A bride and groom once purchased 60 dozen to use as wedding guest giveaways – truly better than stale mints or wedding cake.

One of the more touching stories stemming from Cherwaty’s efforts is that local golfers have purchased his golf balls and had them flown to Canadian soldiers serving overseas, so that they may enjoy the game they love during the toughest of times away from family.

“That is just one story that is so touching, and so true to form of golfers,” Cherwaty said. “So, I’ll continue with this indefinitely. It has become quite a hobby.

“Collecting and selling all these balls has really taken on a life of its own,” he added, “but I’ve encountered so many nice people over the years. A bank teller even recognized me as the ‘Golf Ball Guy.’ But honestly, all I get out of it is a good feeling.”

While Diana has told Walt that there is an ample supply of golf balls at the Cherwaty house, Walt said he has a hard time saying no to anyone who wishes to donate them.

“We have golf balls under our piano, behind our furniture, but it’s all part of the process,” he said.

Cherwaty may not have acquired Shepard’s golf balls, but if NASA shows up at his door you can bet he’ll gladly accept the balls in the name of charity.

As always, the Godfather of Golf Balls can be reached at 519-433-7955 or by email at wallyndiana@cherwaty.com. After all, there is always room for more golf balls at the Cherwaty home, and room for charitable deeds in his Walt’s heart.

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Jeffrey Reed has covered the Southwestern Ontario golf scene since 1980. He’s a three-time author and multiple writing award winner from the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. Reach him at jeff@londonontariogolf.com.