THE LPGA UL INTERNATIONAL CROWN, coming July 19-24 of 2016 to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. Sign up now to volunteer, buy corporate hospitality, or purchase your weekly ticket option. Team Spain is the defending champion, see ULCrown.com. The home of american golf, the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Play the Donald Ross masterpiece Pinehurst No.2. Pinehurst now with 9 courses, see Pinehurst.com.   ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the Olympia Fields South Course.

Welcome to Bonnie Dundee, The Bonnie Dundee Clubhouse.

One never knows what kind of golf course they will find when they arrive to play a course for the first time.

Golfers are usually looking for a challenge, some fun, and hopefully a few nice scores or shots to talk about when the round is complete.

Bonnie-Dundee located on Rt.25 in Carpentersville is a course that was new to the Gog Blog. 18 holes later it made it’s way on to the fun list, with some challenges, and yes when 18 holes were completed, there was some good scores and shots to talk about.

Bonnie Dundee was built in 1924, by famed architect C.D. Wegstaff has 18 holes, wide fairways, and some well positioned bunkers, most of them around the greens. But there are some grass bunkers around the fairways that come into play around a few doglegs that are found on the course.

Water comes into play on the par 3, 6th hole.

One thing that can catch the eye of the golfer, is the unique par of 69 for the course. Due to some recent tree removal behind the second green, and the space behind the first green to add a new tee box. It wouldn’t be hard for the golf course, to make the second hole a Par 5 at some point, which would increase the Par to 70.

Bonnie Dundee regardless of the par leaves the golfer with fun holes to play, the greens are complete with an extra set of holes for the growing sport of Foot Golf. The Foot Golf holes are located far enough away from the golf holes as not to interfere with golf approach shots or putts.

The Par 4 17th green at Bonnie Dundee.

Bonnie Dundee has holes with rolling terrain that can give the golfer some added distance, especially with drives that are well placed.

While the holes provide a fun challenge, they are not extremely difficult so that pace of play becomes a problem.

The club has a good-sized putting green, that allows golfers to get a good feel of what to expect on the golf course.

Jim Opp is the club’s PGA Professional and clubhouse manager. Opp is additionally known for the fact he is a great chef. Golfers who visit the club, love the days that Opp fires up the stove or grill, when he is not too busy with golf duties.

So before the snow lands, enjoy the rest of the fall golf season outside, and if you need a course that you get around when the sun continues set earlier each day, check out Bonnie Dundee Golf Club. 270 Kennedy Drive in Carpentersville, by calling (847)-426-5511 or visit www.dtpd.org.

 The LPGA UL International Crown coming July 19-24 of 2016 to Rich Harvest Farms, 32 Players, 8 Countries and just 1 Crown. Who is the best golfing country in the world, find out by being apart of the International Crown, Chicago’s premier golfing event of the summer, see ULCrown.com to volunteer, or purchase corporate hospitality and some tickets options. Pinehurst Resort, the home of American Golf, come be part of the best time of year in Pinehurst, the fall golf season. visit Pinehurst.com. Pinehurst home of the 2019 U.S. Amateur and the 2024 U.S. Open.

What is the International Crown, Click here to hear the UL LPGA Crown promotion.

One year ago today at Shinnecock Hills. The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content, Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

The fall golf season moves on, hopefully there is at least another 30 days to enjoy it.

Earlier this week those who showed up at Cog Hill in Lemont expecting to play the famed Course #4 “Dubsdread” were in for a surprise.

It was closed for 3 days to complete fall maintenance. Sanding and aeration were the biggest projects that had to be completed. So if you are headed out to Cog Hill now, the good news is that course has reopened, and the aeration holes are slowly starting to disappear.

The Cog Hill grounds crew sands the 7th green on Dubsdread.

In addition to Cog #4 reopening, there will be some other work done on Courses 1-2-3. In fact on Course #2 the Ravines Course, there are some trees that have been taken down, mostly on the Par 5, 9th hole.

But work on the courses is not all that is going on at Cog Hill.

There are plenty of fall events to play before the snow falls. Don’t forget that even when the snow falls, Cog Hill will not close, in fact it stays open all-year round.

SPECIAL EVENTS include the Donuts and Doubles, to be played on Friday October 16th at 7:30 am on courses 2 & 4. Coffee, donuts and special events on the course.

October 18th Sunday from 11 AM until 3 PM see the releases from Titleist. The new 916 Irons and 816 Hybrids are there for demo day. Be the first member of your foursome have the newest and latest in the world of golf equipment.

Saturday October 17th at 9 AM on Course #1, the Trick or Treat Open, are you to play some “Closest to the Pumpkin” contests.

The Cog Hill Turkey Shoot is Saturday November 7 (course 1) and Sunday November 8 (course 3), both days are 9 Am shotguns. You could win a turkey.

BLACK FRIDAY November 27th on Course #2 a 9:30 AM start, who needs the crowd at the shopping malls, come play a final round for the season at Cog Hill.

For all of these events, visit Coghillgolf.com/tournaments, or call (866)-264-4455. Cog Hill Golf in Lemont, where golf season never ends.

  THE LPGA UL INTERNATIONAL CROWN coming to Rich Harvest Farms July 19-24 of 2016, the newest professional golf team event brings the excitement fans experienced at the 2009 Solheim Cup played at Rich Harvest Farms, and the 2012 Ryder Cup played at Medinah. Be a part of the golf event that will be the landmark of the Chicago golf scene in 2016. Sign up to volunteer, some ticket options and corporate hospitality now available ULCrown.com. What is the Crown, click on to the LPGA promo below.

THE GOG BLOG, by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

For Illinois PGA information, visit IPGA.com.

The final major of the year for the Illinois PGA Section is in the books.

Kyle Bauer of the Glen View Club in Glenview, came from behind to win the 2015 IPGA Players Championship, held on the North Course at Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena.

Bauer’s second round of the 36 hole championship, saw him shoot a 3 under par 69, which put him at 3 under par for the championship. That gave him a 1 shot win over Scott Baines from Bryn Mawr Country Club, Baines recorded a pair of 1 under par 71’s.

Rich Dukelow of Medinah Country Club who was the first round leader after shooting a 5 under par 67, followed that with a 5 over par 77. His even par finish left him T-7 with Ivanhoe’s Jim Sobb, and Danny Mulhearn of Glen Oak, who was in second place after the first round, Mulhearn fell back with a second round 76 (+4).

Medinah’s Travis Johns lead the field with 11 birdies over 2 days, but could only finish at 1 over par, and a T-10.

Mistwood Golf Club’s Brian Brodell finished in a T-3rd, that gave him enough points to earn the 2015 IPGA Player of the Year award.

For more information on the Players Championship or the IPGA, please visit IPGA.com.

 The main golf events of the 2016 Chicago Professional Golf Season. The Web.com comes to Ivanhoe Club in June 6-13. The LPGA UL International Crown comes to Rich Harvest Farms from July 19-24, sign up now to volunteer, or purchase corporate hospitality or some tickets options. It’s Country vs Country now in a team competition.

Click here to hear an interview with Team Australia’s Minjee Lee. 32 Players, 8 Countries and 1 Crown. You want to play, better bring your best. ULCrown.com              _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. In the new Glenview Park District Golf Course clubhouse with the new Sand Valley Hat.

The world of golf has not seen to many new courses being built of late, the trend is now to take the great locations where other courses have been built and make them better.

That however is not the total trend in Wisconsin where some new courses are still getting built.

A few of them are in the central part of the state where there have also been a few renovations.

The new courses are coming from Mike Keiser and his new Sand Valley project, that will have even more golfers flocking to the Dairyland state. Even though Herb Kohler has one in the works, and Erin Hills is likely to add another when they are done hosting the 2017 U.S. Open.

   In August of 2014 (L) I went to Sand Valley in Wisconsin, over 600 acres had been cleared to start work on the first golf course. By August of 2015 the first course had started to take shape as seen by Len Ziehm (R) Picture by Joy Sarver.

Bandon Dunes or Pinehurst No.2, Sand Valley is not yet, but it is taking shape. So is the routing for the second course, being designed by Bandon Dunes architect David McLay-Kidd.

When will the courses open, what else is going on at Sand Valley. Our BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm found out during his most recent visit.

For those details see Lenziehmongolf.com.

Golfersongolf.com will have more details on Sand Valley as they become available.

Click here to hear the LPGA’s Kraig Kann talk about next years main golf event in the Chicago area, the 2016 LPGA UL International Crown at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, July 19-24. 32 Players, 8 Countries and 1 Crown. Sign up now to be a volunteer, purchase your corporate hospitality, some ticket options now available ULCrown.com. Fall is the best time of the year to visit PInehurst, play the U.S. Open Course NO.2 the Donald Ross Masterpiece, Pinehurst now with 9 Courses, see Pinehurst.com. Mistwood Golf Club is close to the grand opening of the new clubhouse, see Mistwoodgc.com.       ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. At the Glen View Club with Chick Evans Portrait.

The fall golf season that runs through September and October, and then a small part of November if we are lucky is halfway over. Take advantage if you still can, the days and daylight are fading. Those days of being back in the golf domes are staring us right in the face, along with the winter golf shows.

Right now my concerns are for those who are facing inches of rain in the southeast from the hurricane, there is no doubt that several courses are under water as you get closer to the coast line. If you are traveling that way, do check in before you go and make sure things will be dried out before you get there. Golf trips are no fun sitting inside with golf courses underwater on the outside.

THE ZIEHM MACHINE is on the road again. BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm has taken off for the great northwest, with stops at several courses. Follow his trip at lenziehmongolf.com his first stop on his current trip is in Nebraska at the new Tatanka golf course, that comes complete with grave sites in one fairway, and live Buffalo roaming nearby as well.

The entrance to the Ivanhoe Golf Community

It’s to see another new golf tournament coming to the area,and starting in June of next year.

Congrats to the Ivanhoe Club on being selected to host the Rust-Oleum golf tournament on the Web.com tour. It will be played the week before the U.S Open in June. Currently it’s only for next year, but the plan is for a three-year contract, let’s hope that happens.

I wrote a few weeks back that Chicago could use a few tournaments, that things were a bit lite from the USGA, PGA of America, and the PGA Tour is still coming and going every other year. So it seems other tours are stepping up and moving into town.

Chicago will be a hot bed for woman’s golf over the next three years, with the LPGA UL International Crown at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove in 2016, the KPMG/PGA Woman’s PGA Championship in 2017 and 2018, various women’s events are moving in to town. Now the Web.com tour is coming in and that is exciting for the golf fans.

Fans of the LPGA will apparently soon have another option in Wisconsin the Gog Blog hears. The LPGA is about to add an event up near the Green Bay area, starting in 2017, toss in the Champions Tour event in Madison with Steve Stricker being involved next year, and the Dairyland state will be doing well on the golf side. The U.S. Open comes to Erin Hills in 2017 as well.

A tip of the cap and or golf visor to Jordan Spieth who was named the Player of the Year on the PGA Tour, well deserved. Daniel Berger was named rookie of the year, beating out Tony Finau.

US AMATEUR CHAMPION Bryson DeChambeau could be bailing out of SMU because of the silly NCAA sanctions against the school, he could finish the fall semester and fall events with the SMU golf team and hit the road. Stay clicked in for details.

THE PRESIDENTS CUP tee’s off this week in South Korea, with the time change about 12 hours different from Chicago, it will be shown at some weird times around here. You could be watching coverage from yesterday, while the next days matches will have already started according to one report. Jim Furyk’s wrist injury will keep him off the team, and he will be another vice-captain. JB Holmes will replace Furyk on the team.

The weather starts warming up tomorrow, lets get back on the golf course. While you are there, pick up the latest and last edition of Chicagoland Golf for 2015. RS

    The 2016 LPGA UL International Crown, coming to Rich Harvest Farms July 19-24, sign up now to volunteer, buy corporate hospitality, some tickets options on sale now. 32 Players, 8 Countries, 1 Crown, visit ULCrown.com for more information. Chicago’s premier golf championship for 2016. Play where the pro’s play, Destinationkohler.com there is still time to play Whistling Straits in 2015, some fall rates kicking in now. It’s the home of American Golf, the Pinehurst Resort, home of the Donald Ross Masterpiece Pinehurst No.2, Pinehurst now with 9 golf courses, visit Pinehurst.com for details.

Click here to hear an interview with team Spain’s Belen Mozo, Spain won the first International Crown in 2014.

The Gog Blog, by Rory Spears Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

 The Chicago Area gets a new professional golf tournament in 2016, when the Web.com Tour makes it’s debut at the Ivanhoe Club from June 6-12. The Sponsor of the tournament is the Vernon Hills based Rust-Oleum Company.

In the clubs 25th season, Ivanhoe made one of the biggest announcements in it’s history, when it told it’s members that the Web.com Tour was coming starting in 2016. While the tournament is a 1 year deal for now, the plan is to get the contract in place for 3 years.

Rust-Oleum President and COO Tom Reed is an Ivanhoe member, so the selection of the club based in central Lake County was an obvious selection. But this past summer, Web.com Tour officials brought in some of it’s players to play the course, and offer feedback. Ivanhoe received rave reviews from them, including Deerfield’s Vince India, who finished second in this years Illinois Open.

Ivanhoe has three nines, the Forest, the Marsh and the Prairie. The Forest Nine will be used as the front nine during the tournament, with holes from both the Marsh and the Prairie being used for the back-nine. Tour officials and the players that were brought in during the summer, all said the course was tournament ready without changes being made. It does appear there will be a couple of minor tweaks made, and most of that could be some tree-trimming, but not removal.

    The opening hole (L), will be the first hole on the Forest Nine a par 4. The par 4 ninth hole (R) on the Prairie Nine, will serve as 18.

Ivanhoe’s Director of Golf Jim Sobb, who will enter the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame later this month, says the club membership is very excited about the tournament, and will be very active as volunteers or in other capacities.

                Sobb (L), recently won the Illinois Sr. PGA Championship and will compete in the Senior PNC Championship later this month. (R) The Ivanhoe Clubhouse that overlooks the 18th green of the tournament.

Par is expected to be 71 for the tournament, and the yardage should play between 7100 and 7200 yards.

Click here to hear an interview with Jim Sobb, Ivanhoe’s Director of Golf about the new Rust-Oleum Championship coming next June. The tournament will have all four rounds televised on The Golf Channel. The tournament will be played the week before the U.S Open, being held next year at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh.

For more information on the Web.com Tour, please visit PGATour.com/Webcom.

 The LPGA UL International Crown coming July 19-24 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, 32 Players 8 Countries and 1 Crown. Chicago’s Premier golf event for 2016, be a part of it, sign up now to volunteer, get your corporate hospitality, and some ticket options now for sale. Visit ULCrown.com for more details. Links & Tee’s, one of Chicago’s few year-round golf facilities. Right now play and practice outside all day for just $25, coming next month take your game indoors to the Golf Dome for the winter season. See addisonparks.org or call (630)-233-7275. The Mt. Prospect Golf Club has reopened from renovation to rave reviews, play this 1926 classic style golf course, make your tee time today at (847)-259-4200. Mt.Prospect where what’s old is new.

What is the UL International Crown, click here to hear UL SVP Terry Brady, speak about his companies involvement in the Crown Championship.                                         ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. By the Chick Evans portrait at the Glen View Club.

****BREAKING NEWS****

BIG 3 PARTNER Len Ziehm is reporting a new tournament will come to the Chicago area in June of 2016.

The WEB.com Tour is moving here from Cleveland. The sponsor is the Rust-Oleum company.

The new site for the tournament is the Ivanhoe Country Club in Lake County.

The Gog Blog will have more details shortly, so stay with us,and stay clicked in to this site. Congratulations to everyone at the club for being selected as the new host site for the tournament.

Marlene Streit (middle) with the 2015 Woman of Distinction Award.

The 2015 Woman of Distinction Award presented by the Woman’s Western Golf Association, was awarded to Canadian Golfer Marlene Streit.

The award was present at the associations annual meeting and luncheon, that was held at the Glen View Club.

Streit started as a caddie in 1947, but was a golfer by 1949 and went on to an outstanding amateur career, as she said at the ceremony, “I had no desire to turn professional.” Had she done so, she still could have gone onto a great career is the feeling of many who saw her play.

Streit is the only woman to in history to have won the following tournaments. The British Ladies Amateur, the USGA Women’s Amateur, the Australian Women’s Amateur and the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur three times.

The list of championships she won also includes, the famed North/South Amateur at Pinehurst Twice, Low Amateur at the U.S. Women’s Open, a 4-Time Helen Lee Doherty Champion, and a 7 Time Doherty Senior Champion. Women’s International Four-ball Championship twice, and she is a 5-Time winner of the U.S National Mixed Foursome Championship. In her career she won 30 national or international amateur championships, and she won in three countries outside of her home country of Canada.

Streit is a member of Five different Hall of Fames, including the World Golf Hall of Fame, where she was the first Canadian inducted. She holds 16 Honorary Life memberships at various Canadian golf clubs.

For more information on Streit, plus the tournaments and scholarships held or offered by the WWGA, please visit wwga.org.