THE GOG BLOG’S SUNDAY MORNING SHORT GAME

THE VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP, defending champion Paul Casey, and World #1 Dustin Johnson in the final group. Catch all the final round action on NBC. The New 11th box on the Baer Nine at the Schaumburg Golf Club is taking shape for it’s around July 1st opening. Currently the simulators are open call the club at (847)-885-9000.         _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin or Facebook. On the par 3, 17th hole tee box of Copperhead, home of the this weeks Valspar Championship.

What a great final round shaping today at Innisbrook on the Copperhead Course, with World #1 Dustin Johnson in the final group with defending champion Paul Casey. It should be a good one.

Just a reminder, Copperhead part of the Innisbrook Resort is a course you can play, yes it’s open for public play. Visit Innisbrookgolfresort.com for details on booking your stay and play. The resort has four golf courses, and is home to the Packard Steakhouse named after golf course architect Larry Packard, who designed all four of the resorts golf courses.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS men’s golf team is in the hunt at the Tar Hell Intercollegiate at the UNC Finley Course in in Chapel Hill North Carolina. The first two rounds were played Saturday, with the final round getting underway early Sunday morning, with an 8 AM start EST. No.24 Illinois will be joined by ranked teams No.13 North Florida, No. 30 North Carolina. Other Big Ten teams include Michigan and Michigan State, with Notre Dame also competing. A final wrap up will appear in our Sunday column. Illinois holds a 1 shot lead headed to the final 18 holes over host North Carolina. Illinois as a team is 2 under par for 36 holes.

NORTHBROOK BASED KEMPERSPORTS recently held it’s annual company award dinner, held at the end of the KSM leadership conference.

Facility of the Year: Desert Willow Golf Resort-CAL. General Manager of the Year Randy Morrison of Colwood Golf Center and Heron Lakes GC-ORE. Home office staffer of the Year- Bryan Howell. Emil Esposito Golf Professional of the year, Ryan Young of Chambers Bay. Retailer of the Year-Streamsong Resort FL. Salesperson of the year, Todd Elder, The Governors Club-TENN. Superintendent of the Year, Will Bell Forest Creek Golf Club-Round Rock Texas. Hospitality Professional of the Year, Chris Pieters of Cantigny Golf in Wheaton IL. Staffer of the Year Yolanda Porras-Butterfield Trail Golf Club-Tex.

For more information on Kemper Sports please visit Kempersports.com.

Golfers on Golf Radio returns this Saturday March30th at 10 AM on the BIG AM 750 WNDZ. Ed Stevenson-Bill Berger- and Rory Spears L-R are your hosts.

It might have been a long and cold winter, but the good news that when Golfers on Golf Radio is back on the air, warm weather and outdoor golf season in Chicago is right around the corner.

The first show will welcome the Director of Golf Marketing Brendan Sweeney of the French Lick Resort, the former caddie at the Medinah Country Club will bring us up to speed on everything French Lick Resort.

The resort will host two professional tournaments in 2019, including the Road to the LPGA Symetra Tour in July on the Donald Ross Course, and the Senior LPGA Championship in October. More details on both events and tickets at Frenchlick.com.

THE BEN HOGAN GOLF COMPANY has announced the release of it’s milled FORGED putter line. It first new line of putters in 15 years. A new forged process has created a putting face that creates a true roll of the golf ball. The 1020 carbon steel in a multi-step process, purifies the molecular structure of the metal according to Hogan. The goal is to unify the density across all of the face. Eliminating hot spots or dead area’s on the putter face, allowing for a consistent feel and a true roll of the golf ball.

The new line of the four milled putters sells for $250.00, over $100 cheaper than many of the top leading brands. The four new models include the Plumber’s Neck Blade 2 degrees of loft and 355 gram head weight. Player’s Blade with a double bend shaft, a full shaft offset, 2 degrees loft with 355 gram head weight, with a balance face for the straight back and through putters.

Iconic Player’s Blade with a flowing neck. 50 degrees of toe-hang, made for the opening and closing style of putting. Players Mallet, single bend shaft and 1/2 shaft offset, 2 degrees of loft with a 370 gram head weight. The face comes balanced for a straight through stroke. Putters are 35″ long. Hogan has partnered with the SuperStroke putter grip company, and the three popular grips are available, Flatso 1.0, MidSlim 2.0, Slim 3.0. For more details visit BenHoganGolf.com.

The Gog Blog Speaks Out returns tomorrow. RS

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About Rory Spears

Rory spent over 8 years growing up working at Rob Roy Golf Club in Prospect Hts.IL, then two years at Chevy Chase in Wheeling. He has covered golf in Chicago since 1986. Rory was one of the initial members of WSCR all-sports radio Chicago and covered golf there for 5 seasons, before moving on to work for ESPN/Sportsticker and ESPN Radio. In addition to hosting Golfers on Golf Radio on WCPT AM820 Chicago, he writes for both the Chicago District (CDGA) Magazine, and formerly Chicagoland Golf. Rory has played over 525 courses in 39 states, and rates golf courses. He does golf course management and communications consulting, within the golf industry.