Love of the Game Keeps Redding Senior Above Par

REDDING, CT — As golf teed off at this summer’s Olympics for the first time since 1904, Redding Tony Wiggins watched every drive, chip and putt in between his own rounds of course. Wiggins, a resident of Meadow Ridge senior living community in Redding, has been swinging a club since he was 12-years-old, and now at nearly 85, not much has changed in retirement.

"I was 12 when I started playing," he said. "My dad played and he would take me along and give a few instructions. I was inspired when my father gave me some old clubs to use, and when I began caddying at a course just three blocks from my home in Duluth, Minnesota."

Wiggins said he won the Caddy Championship against older high school kids when he was just 13-years-old, shooting a 78, and he was hooked. "My favorite golfer was always Sam Snead, also known as 'Slammin’ Sammy.' I tried to copy his swing, since we were close to the same size."

Wiggins said that he liked watching Olympic golf and the format is better than “Team Golf” like Ryder Cup.

"After all, golf is an individual game where you test yourself, all alone, with nobody else to blame."

When he’s not on the course, or spending time with his wife of 62 years, chances are you’ll find him working on his short irons at Meadow Ridge. "My wife Rosie would often played when we were courting. Then when we were married and had children, we would often go on Sundays, either by ourselves or in couples events," Wiggins said.

Wiggins was the driving force behind the creation of three shorter practice holes on Meadow Ridge's 136-acre campus. About three times a week he plays at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton.

With his wife needing more attention in recent years due to health concerns, Meadow Ridge has provided Wiggins the flexibility and peace of mind to continue his passion, playing golf, knowing she’s receiving the best possible care.

With this assurance that his wife is in good hands, the Minneapolis native is taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip with his son back to Minnesota in September to watch the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Photo by Ben Green, used with permission from Meadow Ridge