Dexter Johnson put a ticket in the union picnic raffle without knowing the prizes.

He could have won a stereo, maybe a table lamp, or a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant.

He won a putter.

“It was the first thing I ever won in my life,” Johnson said. “It was a sign from God — play golf. I couldn’t run, couldn’t play basketball and no tennis. So God said go play golf.”

Knee surgery prevented Johnson from playing the sports he grew up with. He’d had an inkling to try golf but never acted on it until winning that Palmer AP2 in 1990.

The evening he won the putter he realized something was missing. He didn’t have any golf balls, so he couldn’t putt in the house.

“It took two hot days,” Johnson said. “After the putter, I went to the nearest pawn shop and they had a set of Maxfli Australian Blades. Knowing I’d heard of Maxfli before, I paid $125 for the full set, and it was on and popping.”

Johnson has become a regular at Brainerd Golf Course, where he competes in low-ball tournaments. Knee-replacement surgery slowed him in March.

“When I could get back to walking and chipping, that’s what I did,” Johnson said. “With golf you have camaraderie with your friends, and you think about how you can get better and you think about how you can beat them.”

Every week, Inside Area Golf will profile someone or some people who play the game or have made a contribution to golf. To suggest a person or group, please contact staff writer David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or at (423) 757-6484.