It’s hard to imagine any Illinois club professional contributing more to golf in the state of Illinois than Don Wegrzyn.
Wegrzyn (pictured below with his wife, Gail), who died June 11 in Libertyville at the age of 88, entered golf as a caddie at Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest in 1956 as he was beginning his freshman year at Northern Illinois University (NIU). 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 was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in 1999 and the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2023.
After college, Wegrzyn spent seven years as a physical education teacher and coach at Warren Township High School in Gurnee. While there, he founded the school’s cross country team. Then, it was one golf project after another.
His starting position at Old Elm in Highland Park was as the front door boy. He stayed at the club for 46 years, progressing through a number of jobs, rising to head professional, general manager and director of operations. The club now offers a college scholarship in Wegrzyn’s name.
Wegrzyn’s work extended far beyond Old Elm. He also was 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 PGA of America also benefited from the Wegrzyn touch. He started as a PGA member in 1962, became a Master Professional in 1994, and was on the PGA National Rules Committee.
His position with the PGA was a key factor in the PGA Championship coming to Kemper Lakes in Kildeer in 1989. Payne Stewart won his first major championship there, and it became one of the more popular majors 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 KemperSports staff at that time. “He was a true professional and will be missed by all who knew him.’’
Even in retirement, Wegrzyn was a frequent rules official at Chicago-area tournaments.
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.’’
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, Florida, returning to the area during the summer.
The Wegrzyns had three children – Cheryl [Jeff] Matheson, Karen and Douglas – three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. — Len Ziehm
