USGTF MEMBER PROFILE – ROB WILD

It isn’t often that someone comes to a USGTF course, passes away and still earns their certification, but that’s exactly what happened to Rob Wild of Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Thankfully, Wild is back to full health and is doing great. Wild attended a certification course in Phoenix led by USGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional Bill Picca when he fell ill. Wild had forgotten to take his heart medications that day, and after suffering what he described as two mini-seizures and passing out, Wild reluctantly went to the hospital at the insistence of Picca. There, while in the MRI machine, Wild’s heart stopped beating for a full two minutes. After being revived, he underwent an angioplasty and “died” again. Revived a second time, Wild began his road to recovery. After the daily class was completed with the rest of the candidates, Picca would go to the hospital and teach the course to Wild, who had insisted on continuing. He passed the academic portion of the class while in the hospital, and when he returned home and was healthy enough, he passed the playing ability test. Wild is the owner of Swing Vision Pro Hawaii, a state-of-the-art training center on the big island of Hawaii (www.SwingVisionPro.com). He was also the exclusive distributor of tickets for the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai on the Champions Tour this past January. Wild has been teaching for five years, and is a well-respected instructor in Hawaii. The USGTF would like to recognize Bill Picca for his outstanding service, and also Rob Wild for his perseverance and dedication to the game.