Gary Wiren

Gary Wiren (born 1935) is a PGA Master Professional instructor. Wiren was the Director of Education, Learning, and Research for the PGA of America between 1972 and 1985, during which time he produced the "Laws, Principles, and Preferences" of golf swing instruction. He is the founder of three golf schools, and is now the senior director of instruction for Trump Golf Properties. Wiren is a member of both the PGA Hall of Fame and the World Golf Teachers' Hall of Fame. As an author, he has written fourteen books, and Wiren is also the founder of Golf Around the World.

Education and early life Born in 1935, Wiren became an all-state golfer in high school while playing in Omaha, Nebraska. He then attended Huron University in South Dakota, where he played quarterback for the football team and was named an All-American. He also played golf for the college, winning the conference championship. He then received his master's degree in Sport Science from the University of Michigan, and his PhD from the University of Oregon. In 1962, during the completion of his doctorate, he began teaching golf at a local community course. He later received an honorary doctorate from Ferris State University in Michigan. and in two additional events on the Senior PGA Tour. He has also competed in professional long-ball driving tournaments from the 1970s a position he held for fourteen years, leaving in 1985. In 1976, Wiren introduced the "Laws, Principles, and Preferences" of teaching a full golf swing, as a member of a group of instructors working with the National Golf Foundation. The "laws" in the model refer to how physics affect the connection of the club face and the ball. The five factors included are clubhead path, clubface position, clubhead speed, angle of approach, and centeredness of contact.

Following his time with the PGA, Wiren continued instructing for private companies as a PGA Master Professional instructor. He also spent several years hosting a golf instruction television show in Japan, He has also appeared in segments on ESPN and The Golf Channel.

Businesses Wiren is the founder of Golf Around the World, which is a business that tests and sells golf teaching and training aids, and issues reviews and recommendations on each. He is also the developer of the "Impact Bag" golf training aid, which measures the feel of the moment of impact.

Writing Wiren is also the author of The PGA Teaching Manual and The PGA Manual of Golf: The Professional Way to Play Better GOLF. In all, he has written 14 published books.

Recognition In 1989 Wiren was named PGA Teacher of the Year. Wiren has since been inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame and the World Golf Teachers' Hall of Fame. Awards he has received include the National Golf Foundation's Joe Graffis Award and Herb Graffis Award in 1978, the LPGA's Rolex Ellen Griffin Award, and distinguished service awards in Sweden, Japan, Italy, New Zealand, and the US.

Wiren is also known for his collection of golf memorabilia, which includes more than thirty-five hundred clubs and two thousand balls from the 1700s to the contemporary game. His collection has been exhibited publicly at the Cornell Museum in Delray Beach His archive is a three-time national winner of the Golf Collectors' Society wooden-shafted tournament.