Bruce Miller is a businessman, world traveler, golf enthusiast, Golf Rules Official, and author of over 50 books. He spends his days writing, studying, and constantly learning of the astounding, unexpected, and amazing events happening in the world today while exploring the brighter side of life. He founded Team Golfwell, Authors, and Publishers. He is a member of the New Zealand Society of Authors, Australian Golf Media, and Independent Book Publishing Association. Bruce talks to NZ Booklovers.
Tell us a little about Guy Wilson Creating Golf Excellence: The Genesis of Lydia Ko & More Stars.
This book tells the full story of Guy Wilson, his techniques, personality, humour, and the amazing people around him.
Sir John Key wrote the Foreword of this book and perhaps described Guy Wilson accurately when he wrote, “Guy is an outstanding coach because he can combine extreme knowledge of the game with a personalized approach to improvement. He doesn’t apply the same prescription to every golfer. Whilst doing this, it’s always mixed with humour, encouragement, and the power of positive thinking.
“Guy has a dogged determination to ensure his clients maximize their abilities. Lessons are challenging but fun. Away from my engagement over the years, I’ve witnessed firsthand him teaching young people to play. He is patient, and fun and they love him.”
This book explains all this beginning with the time Guy was in the pro shop when Tina asked him about giving her 5-year-old daughter, Lydia, her first golf lesson. Lydia couldn't even speak English and could barely see over the counter.
Guy agreed and over the next 11 years, he helped Lydia develop one of the most envied swings in golf! At the end of 2022, Lydia Ko was ranked the No. 1 female golfer in the world for the second time in her record-breaking career.
Guy didn’t stop with Lydia, and he quietly continued to coach more champion golfers such as helping another one of his students he taught at the Institute of Golf in Albany. Her name is Ruoning “Ronnie” Yin and she is on the LPGA Tour. She recently won the LPGA LA Open, in April 2023 winning $1.75 million!
He’s also coaching numerous children who have gone on to play on professional golf tours, and gain golf scholarships at major universities around the world.
What inspired you to write this book?
I met Lydia and Guy years ago when they were winning many events in New Zealand and Australia when Lydia was growing up. I also met her lovely parents and other family members.
My inspiration came in late 2022 when Lydia was winning many tournaments and ranked as the No. 1 woman golfer in the world for the second time in her career and that’s almost unheard of and made me curious. I wanted to know more about how Guy, a relatively little-known golf instructor in a small country who amazingly coached her, and continues to coach golf stars and champions at his golf instruction facilities in New Zealand.
I also learned he uses Artificial Intelligence in parts of his coaching to analyze data and that fascinated me.
What research was involved?
In late 2022, Guy took time out of his full schedule to speak with me in the early mornings and we had seven long interviews. He also introduced me to many amazing people who knew him very well such as Sir John Key, Michael Hendry, Greg Thorpe, New Zealand Golf High-Performance Manager, David Niethe, Sports Performance Coach for World Champions Israel Adesanya, Lydia Ko, and many more fascinating people.
What was your routine or process when writing this book?
Being retired allows me to follow a standard routine of researching and writing about 4-5 hours a day for 5 days a week. Mostly in the late morning to the late afternoon.
If a soundtrack was made to accompany this book, name a song or two you would include.
That’s a difficult question since in my view, no song has yet been written to describe the unique, highly creative, humourous, and genius of Guy Wilson.
What do you hope readers will take away from reading your book?
It’s an intriguing story and any young person or parent who wants to enjoy and achieve in life (no matter what their vocation) can learn about how success is achieved.
What did you enjoy the most about writing this?
Meeting and talking with Guy and discovering his creative genius and meeting and interviewing the incredible people around him.
What did you do to celebrate finishing this book?
Sorry, that’s a bit personal.
What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?
“Still Secrets Run Deep: A tale of passion, intrigue and peril” by a new Hawkes Bay writer, Ian Toynbee.
In my opinion, Mr. Toynbee masterfully combines the excitement and historical depth of a Wilbur Smith adventure with the intrigue and suspense of a Dan Brown masterpiece creating a perfect fusion for a captivating read.
What’s next on the agenda for you?
As Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." So, I like to write gift books. Right now, I’m working on another book for my “For People Who Have Everything” Series, which is a series of 18 humourous gift books.
These books are selling well and make perfect fun gifts for people who are hard to buy for.
I find that there is certainly truth to the axiom that, “The most remembered gifts are the ones that make you laugh!” and it seems people love the laughs and little-known fun facts, jokes, etc. in these books. brings.
The sports titles in this series, “For the Great Fisherman Who Has Everything: A Funny Book For Fisherman”, “For the Golfer Who Has Everything”, and the tennis book “For a Tennis Player Who Has Everything”, e.g., the cover of the Tennis book has “Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row,” said Vitas Gerulaitis when he finally beat Jimmy Connors after losing 16 straight are popular. All are available through Ingram Spark.