Introduction
Larry Hinson (born August 5, 1944) is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour from 1968–1976.
Hinson was born in Gastonia, North Carolina, but has lived almost his entire life in Douglas, Georgia. Despite having a left arm slightly withered from boyhood polio, he was able to compete in amateur and professional golf. Hinson attended East Tennessee State University and was a member of the golf team. He was the individual medalist at the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships in 1967.
Hinson had more than 30 top-10 finishes during his PGA Tour career including a win at the 1969 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational. In that tournament, he defeated Frank Beard on the third playoff hole. He finished the 1975 San Antonio Texas Open tied for first place in regulation play at 13-under-par 275; however, he lost in a playoff when Don January made a birdie on the second extra hole. His best finish in a major was a T-4 at the 1970 PGA Championship. Hinson was the recipient of the 1971 Ben Hogan Award.
Hinson is the general manager and head professional at Hinson Hills Golf Center in Douglas, Georgia, a family-run 18-hole par-3 course. He invented a device he calls the Stance Minder to help a golfer establish the proper set-up position.
Amateur wins
- 1967 NCAA Division II Championship
Professional wins
PGA Tour wins
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 4, 1969 | Greater New Orleans Open Invitational | −13 (69-68-71-67=275) | Playoff |  Frank Beard |
PGA Tour playoff record (1–1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1969 | Greater New Orleans Open Invitational | Frank Beard | Won with par on third extra hole |
| 2 | 1975 | San Antonio Texas Open | Don January | Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
Other wins
- 1990 Dan J. Parrish Pro-Am Golf Classic