It’s hard to imagine any Illinois club professional contributing more to golf in the state than Don Wegrzyn.
Wegrzyn, who passed on at the age of 88 in Libertyville on June 11, entered golf as a caddie at the Onwentsia Club, in Lake Forest, in 1952 as he was entering his freshman year at Northern Illinois University. He was the NIU golf captain as an undergraduate and an inductee into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.
That was one of three Halls of Fame that would honor Wegrzyn. He also went into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in 1999 and the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2023.
After college he spent seven years as a physical education teacher and coach at Warren Township High School, in Gurnee, and founded the school’s cross country team while there. Then is was one golf project after another.
His starting position at Old Elm Country Club was as the front door boy. He stayed at the club for 46 years, progressing through a number jobs to head professional, general manager and director of operations. The club now offers a scholarship in Wegrzyn’s name.
Wegrzyn’s work extended far beyond Old Elm. He was also a leader in the Illinois Section of the PGA, serving on the board from 1972-87 and holding the presidency in 1980-81. Along the way he was the IPGA Professional of the Year in 1980 and a three-time winner of its Horton Smith Award.
The national PGA of America also benefitted from the Wegrzyn touch. He started as a PGA member in 1962 and became a Master Professional in 1994. He also was on the PGA National Rules Committee and a key factor in the PGA Championship coming to Kemper Lakes, in Kildeer, in 1989. With Payne Stewart becoming the champion, that was one of the popular major championships of that era.
Not only did Wegrzyn participate in the campaign to land the major tourney in the Chicago area, he also led the recruitment effort to bring 2,200 volunteers to the tournament.
“Our event wouldn’t have been nearly as successful without his awesome help,’ ‘ said Doug Schmidt, a member of the Kemper Sports staff at that time. “He was a true professional and will be missed by all who knew him.’’
Danny Mulhearn, long-time head professional at Glen Oak Country Club in Glen Ellyn, was among the many who felt the same way.
“(Wegrzyn) is what legend is defined as – both as a golf professional but more importantly as a humble human,’’ said Mulhearn. “I was so fortunate to have known him and to learn to be human from him.’’
Even in retirement Wegrzyn was a frequent rules official at Chicago area tournaments.
A lifetime Lake County resident, Wegrzyn married wife Gail in 1961. They raised their family in Lake Bluff and Gurnee and spent their later years as residents of PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, FL.
The Wegrzyns had three children – Cheryl (Jeff) Matheson, Karen and Douglas – three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.