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NORTON - Nine hundred kids on a golf course is almost never a good idea.

Thursday afternoon, as a horde of third and fourth graders cheered as loud as they could, golfers on the driving range in the distance threw up their hands in disbelief. The shrill explosion of noise was not exactly helping them perfect their swings.

But, hey, what can you do? It was for charity.

Each year, the TPC of Boston in Norton invites elementary school kids from Norton and Mansfield to come to the course and see the Dennis Walters Golf Show, an hour-long performance of trick shots and strong life lessons. This year, students from the Henri Yelle and J.C. Solmonese elementary schools in Norton and Jordan/Jackson Elementary School in Mansfield attended the event.

Walters has been paralyzed from the waist down for more than 30 years. He travels around the country in a large RV with his well-trained dog Bucky, using his story to inspire children to go after their dreams. "(Playing golf) is what I wanted to do, and for a while there, it didn't look that that could happen," Walters told the children before his grand finale, long-driving five balls in rapid succession. "I want to encourage you to do what you want, no matter how impossible it may seem. Persevere because almost anything is possible."

Danny Meadows, a fourth grader at Henri Yelle, took that message to heart. Although the show was very entertaining - with exciting shots, prize giveaways, one child getting an egg cracked over his head and a lot of laughs - it was Walters's inspirational story that really got the kids thinking.

"It made me want to go to college," said Meadows, whose personal dream is to be an archeologist when he grows up. "It taught me to never stop my dream."

Meadows's teacher, Debbie Soaras, has even bigger aspirations for him. She said that Meadows, who wrote a letter to President Obama after his election, will someday "invite his fourth grade teacher to his inauguration."

President Meadows does have a nice ring to it, but until then, Soaras was just glad Meadows and his classmates had the opportunity to hear the lessons that Walters's "classroom outdoors" provided.

"It's important for these kids to see someone who has succeeded despite having so many challenges in life," Soaras said. "They need good role models."

Walters's dog, Bucky, was another crowd favorite. Although he's young and hasn't been completely trained yet, he did wave to everyone and bark out the answers to the crowd's math problems. Soon enough, he'll even be able to tee up a ball for Walters.

Walters was sure to give proper credit where it was due. Several times, he asked the crowd to give a round of applause to the golf course and its staff, because they are essential in bringing Walters and Bucky to Norton every spring.

The TPC of Boston golf course, which will host the PGA's Deutsche Bank Championship Sept. 1-7, paid for everything Thursday, including the bus fees, the show, the pizza party the kids got afterward and anything else necessary for the event.

The message is an important one for the youngsters to learn, and the teachers and schools are very grateful for the TPC of Boston's commitment to the show. "It's wonderful that this place gives back to the community," Soaras said. "This means a lot to the kids."