Background
Balding was born in Toronto, Ontario.
Balding was born in Toronto, Ontario.
After the war in the late 1940s, Balding worked at a Toronto tire manufacturing company. He had played golf only occasionally as a youth, but began playing more after the War ended, improving his game rapidly. Balding became a professional golfer in 1950, working as a club professional in Toronto.
Balding began on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour, winning his first two tournaments in 1952. Balding played on the Canadian National Team in the Canada Cup / World Cup from 1956 to 1970, except in the years 1962, 1965 and 1966. Balding was named Ontario Athlete of the Year in 1955 and 1957.
He was elected to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1968. Balding was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1984. He was also inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
He was one of the 40 original seniors on the U.S. Senior PGA Tour in 1980. Balding Court, a street on the former St. Andrew's Golf Club in Toronto is named in his honour (it is north of York Mills Road, between Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue). Balding died in Mississauga, Ontario from cancer.
PGA Tour wins (4) 1955 (1) Mayfair Inn Open Canadian Tour wins (10) Other wins (2) Other senior wins (2).
1955 (1) Mayfair Inn Open
1957 (3) Miami Beach Open, West Palm Beach Open, Havana Invitational
1952 (2) Quebec Open, Canadian Match Play
1954 (1) Canadian Match Play
1955 (1) Canadian PGA Championship
1956 (1) Canadian PGA Championship
1958 (1) Canadian Match Play
1961 (1) Canadian Match Play
1963 (1) Canadian PGA Championship
1970 (1) Canadian PGA Championship
1973 (1) Alberta Open
1963 Mexican Open
1968 World Cup (team event with George Knudson and individual event)
1994 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Jay Hebert)
2000 Canadian PGA Seniors' Championship.
He served for three years as a member of the Canadian Army during World War II, and saw duty in France and Germany.
