Local and longtime golf skilled Don Wegrzyn was named as considered one of six inductees of the 2023 PGA of America Hall of Fame Class.
Wegrzyn spent nearly a half-century as an worker, including as director of golf, of Old Elm Club in Highland Park.
In line with a PGA bio of Wegrzyn, he began his profession in golf as a caddie in 1947 on the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest before becoming a door attendant in 1952 at Old Elm Club. He became the interim general manager and the director of golf in the course of the 47 years he spent on the club.
A PGA member since 1962, Wegrzyn became a PGA master skilled in 1994. He frolicked on the PGA board, where he was education chairman and sat on a lot of national committees. He also served on the Illinois PGA Board from 1972-1987, serving as president in 1980-81.
Wegrzyn can also be a member of the state’s golf hall of fame and Northern Illinois Hall of Fame.
Wegrzyn also organized and operated a junior golf program that will later change into The First Tee of Northeastern Illinois. The PGA of American Hall of Fame honor joins a protracted list of accolades for Wegrzyn, including: three-time Illinois Section PGA Skilled Development Award winner (formerly the Horton Smith Award), Illinois PGA Skilled of the 12 months in 1980, Northern Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame, The First Tee Leadership Award, and has had a scholarship named in his honor from the Old Elm Club.
The 2023 PGA of America Hall of Fame Inductees fall under 4 induction categories. Wegrzyn is the choice within the Golf Skilled Category.
The 2023 class also features Robert Dolan, Herb Wimberly, PGA; PGA Past President Suzy Whaley, LPGA Legend Kathy Whitworth, and CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz. The category might be inducted on the 107th PGA Annual Meeting during a special ceremony on Nov. 8 on the Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Frisco, Texas.
“It’s an incredible honor for the PGA of America to acknowledge and rejoice our six inductees who’ve made an actual impact on the sport of golf and the countless individuals they’ve inspired along the way in which,” PGA of America President John Lindert said in an announcement. “Whether or not they proudly wear the PGA of America logo of their every day efforts or have inspired golfers nationwide through their voice with continuous support of not only the game however the PGA of America, we honor their contributions to this great game all of us love.”
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