KINGSLEY, MI – The globe-trotting "golf doctor" is in, mixing some vacationing in northern Michigan with some golf at The Kingsley Club, south of Traverse City.
Golf and vacation go together like corn on the cob and butter but to many, Dr. Gary Wiren’s life is a working vacation. Wiren is one of the top golf teachers in the world and his three week stay at The Kingsley Club, teaching and playing with members, follows a CEO organization cruise down the Danube River and golf in Germany, Austria and Hungary followed by a month at Trump National Golf Club in New York.
Wiren’s winter quarters are at Trump International in West Palm Beach, FL, and he has just been appointed Senior Director of Instruction at all of Donald Trump’s golf properties, courses in New Jersey and California as well as New York and Florida plus several other outside the United States.
"Donald loves golf," Wiren said.
And so does Wiren. He is a Professional Golfers Association of America Master Professional, has written and contributed to more than 200 magazine articles, written 11 books, done four instructional videos and taught in 34 countries. No surprise with those stellar credentials, Wiren is the 12th ranked teacher in the U.S. by Golf Digest magazine.
With all that, Wiren regards Michigan as a special place. He took a master’s degree at the University of Michigan, met his wife, Ione, at Michigan, and started a friendship with Rolland Stewart, assistant director of the U of M Graduate Library who gave him a book on Walter Hagen that led to a lifetime of collecting so much golf memorabilia – clubs, balls, books, tees, everything — that he has his own museum.
And when Kingsley Club co-founder and club chairman Ed Walker met Wiren in Florida a few years ago and invited him to spend some summer time at the club it was a natural – Ione Wiren is from Traverse City.
"We’re so pleased to have Gary back," Walker said. "He epitomizes the spirit of the club, people who love the game, the experience they get from playing it, and the enjoyment of something special."
And the sentiments are mutual for Wiren. "I just fell in love with The Kingsley Club and all it represents as pure golf."
The Wirens’ route back to The Kingsley Club and Traverse City a few weeks ago took them through Ann Arbor and it was a flashback to 48 years ago when Wiren first drove into the city.
"It was 1958 and it was the first time I saw a famed Michigan three-lane highway. I was driving in the middle lane and passed a guy. A cop was right there and followed me and I stopped in front of the house where my mentor and friend lived.
"It was Labor Day weekend and the cop asked me if I knew how many people were killed in traffic accidents that weekend," Wiren said. "I told him 196. I had just heard that on the radio and he was stunned. That threw him off his rhythm and he asked for my license.
"I had a South Dakota license – it was a piece of paper with a picture of Mt. Rushmore on it and a hole in the middle. You only had to pay 50 cents for one at the time and that threw him off. Fortunately he didn’t notice it had expired six months earlier. But he let me off. That was 48 years ago.
"So the week before last, Ione and I visited a lot of the places we went to when we met, stopped at the Graduate Library and at the golf course. I told Ione we’d drive by the house I first stayed at. We went out Washtenaw Avenue, looked for Cambridge Road and I saw it and turned left and as we stopped in front of the house, a motorcycle cop pulled in behind, lights flashing.
"I got out of the van, laughing. I said, ‘What did I do?’ He must’ve thought I was crazy. I said ‘You won’t believe this’ and told him the story of my first visit to Ann Arbor 48 years ago. He said left turns off Washtenaw were prohibited and I said I was so intent on looking for the street sign that I didn’t notice it. He still asked for my driver’s license and told me not to do it again."
Wiren made all the right turns when he returned to the Kingsley Club with its rolling fairways, waving fescues and big greens which he called "a delight."
"The naturalness here is part of the beauty. A 2-handicapper comes in here, sees it’s 6,600 yards (par 71), thinks it’s a piece of cake and shoots 81. I had a typical Kingsley day for nine holes the other day. The first hole was downwind and I got my drive over the big hill, hit a rescue club to three inches for a tap-in eagleâ?¦and then double bogied the (par 3) second hole.
"I don’t know better putting surfaces anywhere or as challenging," Wiren said. "It’s just a delightful course. It’s wonderful to be here."
The Kingsley Club is ranked 19th among the Top 100 modern courses by Golfweek magazine and it reflects the Old World experience as still enjoyed in Ireland and Scotland. It is a private club located a few minutes south of Traverse City, Michigan. It has an extensive practice area with a range and separate areas for the short game and putting green. In the tradition of old links, the club encourages walking which is supported by its caddie program. There are picturesque golf cottages for the use of members and guests.
Currently a limited number of annual guest rounds are made available for players who enjoy and respect the traditions of the game. To learn more about The Kingsley Club, or to arrange a visit, call 231 263-3000 or visit www.kingsleyclub.com
Contact:
Jack Berry, All About Golf
jtb100731@aol.com
248 535-2660
Terry Moore, All About Golf
tmoore@usxchange.net
616-247-1931
