He attended Santana High School in Santee, California, graduating in 1967.

He then attended San Diego State University, where he was a member of the golf team.

Hinkle won three tournaments in his career on the PGA Tour, all of which came in the late 1970s.

In 1979, he earned $247,693, finished 3rd on the money list, and won two Tour events, including the World Series of Golf.

That year in the first round of the U.S. Open at Inverness Club he took a shortcut, cutting the dogleg on the par-5 8th hole by hitting onto the 17th fairway.